Zanzibar seems like a dream island at first glance, giving locals and other Tanzanians false hopes of making a living and surviving. "The reality is brutal, with most of the infrastructure owned by foreigners who exploit the local workforce for their own luxury. Europeans spend thousands of euros sleeping in resorts, while on the street people bargain for every cent. The impoverished population is drowning in deprivation and extreme poverty," Tomaž describes what is happening. When he noticed what was happening, he decided to really get to know the people. He was intrigued by their stories, which are harsh and bitter, but they do not feel sorry for them, they are trying to be inspired for a better future. "They are true masters of survival and what I saw gave me no peace, so I decided to do something for them."
But Tomaž says it's not really about help, it's about encouragement, because they don't want a handout, but a chance to work hard to earn their money. "The biggest problem is that there are no regular jobs. So they live day to day in uncertainty about how to feed the little ones. My heart broke when my African brother shared with me how he came from the Arusha area to Zanzibar. He had the stomach to send his daughter to school, because in their culture it is considered that you are an incompetent parent if you do not give your children the opportunity to go to school. I was so moved by his confession that I immediately sprang into action and decided that at least he and his family would not live a miserable, miserable life. The circle of acquaintances then grew. I rolled up my sleeves and started raising funds in different ways," Tomaž describes.
First, he was taken on an authentic African experience by his cocoa - Swahili for brother. "John Andrew comes from a religious family, like most of them. I was adopted by the Maasai, indigenous people from the savannah plains, and my mission began. My main goal was to provide them with the basic living conditions to live a life worthy of a human being." So he founded the Sister Marlene Institute, through which he raises funds for Africa, and he wrote a book 33: This is not another Camino book, the proceeds of which go directly to the Institute.
"I have gone to Tanzania many times and spent months in villages where there is no running drinking water, no food, no electricity and everything else we take for granted. For them, it is a luxury. It is not fair that we in Europe live in luxury at the expense of people on the other side of the world living in squalor. Many people turn a blind eye, but our technology and other goods are due solely to the natural resources of Africa, which we have been plundering for so many years. I set up the Institute because I have enough evidence that we cannot trust charities that profit from poverty, because they make billions under the guise of charity," explained Tomaž.
But because he had encountered problems with the bureaucracy, he wrote a book and intended to use the money from the sale of the book to pay for the children's school fees, their medical care, to buy cows and goats and to build a house; in short, for everything that would ensure a decent life. "We have already provided schooling for dozens of children who are achieving outstanding results. We have bought many animals to ensure the livelihoods and employment of the local population. We have saved lives by paying for health services, because the concept of public health care is a disaster. We have already built houses and set up a platform so that families can live on a subsistence basis in Kimundu, a beautiful village on the outskirts of Arusha. We have forged strong bonds and not a day goes by that we do not hear from each other on WhatsApp. In the autumn, I embarked on another major project to raise enough funds to bring water to two Maasai villages. We can do this with allotments, but they cost about 15 000 - a pittance for a business. It is hard for me to look at this double standard. But I believe in the power of a community made up of committed individuals. Some may think that they cannot change the world on their own, but that is wrong. Each one of us can contribute to a better future if we care enough."
Klavdija Rupar Vuga
English (UK) 
Slovenščina 
Italiano 
Magyar