Pictured above: Eripoto founder Esuvat Lukumay shows construction plans for the safe house addition to LPGM travelers in September 2024.

Eripoto Breaks Ground on a New Building

October 2024

Eripoto for Girls & Women runs a safe house for survivors of forced early marriage and pregnancy in Tanzania. Safe house residents receive a secure place to live during school breaks, as well as meals, healthcare, counseling, school supplies, child care, vocational training, and more!

The current safe house, completed in 2023, accommodates 25 survivors. Currently, 24 girls, three toddlers, and two boys live there. However, the need is rising, and Eripoto’s founder, Esuvat Lukumay, felt called to plan an expansion project for 2024. 

While expansion is a huge undertaking, Esuvat and her board of directors are committed to housing even more survivors. More bedrooms means more housing for girls who have nowhere safe to go, so they can stay in school and work toward brighter futures.

Pictured above: The foundation is laid for the new building.

Thanks to your generosity, Eripoto has broken ground on a new building next door to the original safe house. The new building will have additional bedrooms, bathrooms, and an administrative office. The cost of this current expansion is $120,000 for construction, plus paint, furnishings, and supplies like bedding. According to Esuvat, “Each new room represents a safe space and a fresh start for someone, and we couldn’t do this without the continued support of our incredible partners like you.”

Pictured above: Eripoto staff and participants pitch in to help with construction efforts.

Once this new building is complete, Eripoto has set their sights on even bigger dreams. With LPGM’s help, Eripoto has purchased additional land as part of their 10-year strategic plan. The plan includes an even larger safe house with a health center, nursery school, playground, vegetable garden, dining hall, and conference halls. The current expansion would be converted into a safe house for women escaping domestic abuse. The goal is to provide comprehensive and sustainable support to survivors.

Friends like you are turning the vision into a reality! Your gift of any size will help protect girls (and boys) in need.

Support Eripoto's expansion project!

Construction Update: Six Months Later

Pictured above: The new building on Eripoto's campus has a shiny facade. There are two completed rooms, and the kitchen will be completed soon. 

April 2025

This past fall, Eripoto was just beginning the construction process, but now, about six months later, they have made great progress on the first floor.

According to Esuvat, "Both of the two big rooms are now completed. When the girls were home for the school break, they used one room for sleeping and the other for learning, meals, and other daily activities. Now that they’ve returned to boarding school, our preschoolers are using the rooms, and it’s working out wonderfully."

Pictured above: Safe house girls settle into their new sleeping quarters.

Esuvat shares that they are close to finishing the building's kitchen, and that it should be completed in the coming days. Not surprisingly, it has "required extra care and detailed work."

While they continue to advance forward, there have been a number of frustrating barriers throughout the process. 

Challeges faced by Eripoto during this process include:

• Weather delays- Unpredictable rains caused delays.
• Skilled labor availability- At various points, they had to wait for specific skilled workers to become available for technical work.
• Budget constraints: Aware of funding limitations, they made compromises where necessary, while making sure that the building was safe and sustainable. With the funds available to them, they will be able to finish the first floor and to buy a small plot of land around the safe house for a fruit and vegatable garden.
• Water damage: It has been raining consistently from October to April, so the cement slab serving as a temporary roof has absorbed a lot of water. They've started to notice some water lines forming. They are counting on the LPGM community to make gifts that will allow them to add a roof this year. A roof will protect the building, and they are hoping to have a new roof before the rainy season begins again in September or October.

Pictured above: A different perspective on the exterior of the new building.

Despite these challenges, "We’re truly encouraged by how far we’ve come. The enthusiasm and joy from the girls and preschoolers remind us of the purpose behind this work, and we’re so grateful."

Projects like this are made possible by your support. Give today to support Esuvat's bold vision. 

Support Eripoto's expansion project!

Pictured above: Eripoto girls attend a workshop in one of two newly completed rooms.