Ngivuyoni Naparana

Ngivuyoni was a pupil at Lesiraa Primary School.  Her mother died with AIDS in 1995, and her father died with AIDS in 2003. Ngivuyoni was herself diagnosed with AIDS in 2010. She was living with her father’s first wife who was very old and unable to work.

Ngivuyoni started Einoti Secondary School in January 2010. She completed her secondary education in November 2013, and was due to apply to Arusha Vocational Training Centre in September 2014.

Nigivuyoni became ill in May 2014, she was initially taken to Monduli District Hospital, then transferred to Mount Meru Regional Hospital in Arusha. Her condition worsened, and she was transferred to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, in Moshi, where she passed away on 14 June 2014. Her funeral took place four days later. Two trustees from The Meserani Project visited Ngivuyoni’s grave in August to pay their last respects to an amazing young lady.

Ngivuyoni was sponsored throughout her secondary education by Amanda Hughes, a member of staff at Acklam Grange School, and her husband Colin. Amanda and Colin had already offered to sponsor Nigivuyoni through her time at Arusha Vocational Training Centre, before they learnt of her untimely death.

Whilst we mourn the passing away of a lovely person, we can only be thankful that the final years of her young life were spent gaining self-respect and hope through being educated at Einoti Secondary School. She was looking forward to starting a course at Arusha Vocational Training Centre, and this would have given her great hope in her final months.

The letter below was sent by Ngivuyoni to Amanda and Colin in August 2010, informing them of her AIDS diagnosis. It is certainly worth reading and reflecting on.

Dear Hughes family,

It is with my big hope that you are doing well in England. I’m doing well too here in Tanzania. I’m very glad to take this opportunity to thank you for all your help which makes me able to continue with my education which was like a dream for me to continue with further studying.

I am a girl of 17 years old and we are three in the family. I have one sister and one brother. I am the last born, the first born is my sister, her name is Koko and she is married already. The second born is my brother known as Leviro, he is not educated so just stays at home with no job.

My mother passed away in 1995 and my father died too in 2003, and he was very ill. I am very sad to tell you that my mother dies with AIDS and I am born with it too, so now I am taking the medication since this year 2010. I used to go to the clinic every month to have some CD4 tablets. Sometimes I get more sick and I have to go more often to the clinic, this is why my examinations tests is not very good. Sorry for that. But I promise you that I will try to do better the coming test because I am feeling better now. Don’t worry very much because I’m using medicine in a proper way so that I can live for thirty years. I have lots of hope to live longer because I was thinking about my parents – now I have new parents, Amanda and Colin.

Thankyou very much for all the gifts you sent to me. Thanks a million. God bless you and your family.

Asante Sana