*Kilimanjaro Film Institute recruits its students from local organizations that focus on

Aisha Hassan

• Age: 21
• Born: Arusha
• Family: Father, mother, 2 brothers and 4 sisters

Aisha Hassan Education: I did my primary education in Olasiti primary school but didnt go to secondary school despite doing well because my parents had no means to take me. My father is a painter while my mom is a house wife. In 2006 I joined UAACC where I studied English for a while. I tried my first interview at KFI and failed to qualify. It was difficult to take but I did not give up. I went back, worked hard and tried out again in 2008. I made it!
KFI: I feel relief and pride for finally making it into KFI because I have dreamt of making films for a while now. I consider film editing an art and I want to be an artist with the quality of films I edit. This is my ambition and I hope to realize it.
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Alex Lazaro

• Age: 18
• Born: Dodoma Region
• Family: Father, Mother and 3 brothers

Alex Lazaro Education: I went to Leganga primary school in 1996 till 2004. I was selected to join secondary school but wasnt able to for financial reasons. Both my parents are small scale farmers and could barely make ends meet. I stayed home for 2 years before joining TEKUA in 2007.
KFI: I am very happy now because I have a chance of becoming a camera man. When I finish my training, I will work towards being self employed and support my family. I have had to do many odd jobs to support my family but mow I want to use the camera to support them. I am working on doing that.
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Brandina John

• Age: 20
• Born: Arusha
• Family: Mother and a younger sister (father died in 1989)

Brandina John Education: I went to Ngarenaro primary school after which I went to Oldadai secondary school. I however only did 2 years of secondary school due to the huge financial burden it placed on my mother. She simply could not cope with my other sister in primary school. I had to sascrifice in order for her to finish her education. When I tried to join KFI in 2007, I did not make it as my English was poor. I went back to MKOMBOZI and studied Englsih hard. In the end, I was very nervous when I tried again in 2008 but thanks to God as this time I made it.
KFI: I feel priviledged to be here. I want to do all my best to be a very good planner and take care of my family.
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Ezra Akyaa

• Age: 22
• Born: Tengeru Region
• Family: Mother, 3 brothers and 2 sisters (father diseased in 1998)

Ezra Akyaa Education: I started primary in 1995 and finished in 2000. I was lucky to go to secondary school between 2001 and 2004. I only have a mom who could not afford to get me beyond this point. My dad died in 1998. This was a very difficult period for me and my mom as she was left to fend for her self. I decided to find work to support her and therefore became a porter going up mount Kilimanjaro. I used to carry supplies for the climbers. It was a difficult job but I had to do it to support my family. I joined WAMATA where I volunteered to encourage youth with HIV. I spent time with them and played with them.
KFI:I am very very happy to be at KFI. I love the learning environment here and look forward to becoming a film maker. I want to make films about HIV/AIDS and highlight the risks for the youth.
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Gideon John

• Age: 23
• Born: Arusha
• Family: Father, mother, 3 sisters and a brother

Gideon John Education: I went to Loibosoita prmary in 1999. Government schools were too expensive for my family and therefore I did not continue beyond primary school. Besides, a family of 5 is quite a task to support for my pastoralist parents. nevertheless, after a year at home, my dad sold a cow and sent me to Arusha to learn some English. This is because we learn in Swahili in primary school and therefore end up speaking little or no English. After that, I went to Mererani and started mining. Thereafter I went to Ilaramatak Lorkonerei pastoralist group through who I got to KFI. I had tried to join KFI in 2007 but failed. I did not give up hope but went back, worked hard and tried again in 2008. I succeeded this time. A fact which makes me very happy.
KFI: I now enjoy every moment of my learning in KFI. I am learning new things every day and my dream of a career in film will hopefully be realized in future since I hope to get a very good foundation in KFI. I am confident this will happen because the teachers take their time to explain things to us. Thank you KFI.
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Godson Reuben

• Age: 19
• Born: Arusha
• Family: Mother, father, 3 sisters and 2 brothers

Education:I was enrolled in Poli Primary in 1999 and completed my primary edication in 2005. I then stayed home for a year helping my parents who are both farmers. I helped in the firm for a whole year before I eventually joined TEKUA and took the English course. I am greatful to TEKUA because through them I got a chance to joing KFI.
KFI: I am greatful to KFI because I have learnt quite a lot already. Everyone cooperates so well and I like the fact that we live so well together. It feels like a family away from home. I am looking forward to becoming a professional journalist one day and KFI is a very good starting point for me.
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Haika Mrema

• Age: 22
• Born: Kilimanjaro region
• Family: Mother, father, 5 brothers

Haika Mrema Education:I started primary education at Fukeni primary school in 1994. This was quite a challenge for my family but I completed successfully in 2001. That was as far as my parents could take me because they could not afford to take me to secondary school. After a year at home, I eventually got a chance to join an adult education programme in Munduli. This was my only chance to learn some more. I waited A community based organization that helps the econically challenged. After that i joined UAACC where I learnt some English. I learnt there for 6 months before getting a chance to come to KFI.
KFI: I thank God for KFI. I have many goals and I strongly feel KFI is helping me towards them. I want to be a professional and to encourage other young girls to join in this peceived male domain. I am happy that though I sometimes felt hopeless, I now have a real chance at a professional career.
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Kephas Gerson

• Age: 23
• Born: Arusha Region
• Family: Mother, father, 4 sisters and 5 brothers

Education:I joined Moivaro primary school in 1999. I completed my 7 year primary education there in 2005. I worked hard in school and managed to get good grades there. Unfortunately, despite my perfomance, I couldnt continue further because my parents couldn’t afford it. My parents are subsistence farmers and therefore couldnt cope with the fees. In 2007, I tried and succeeded to join TEKUA, a community based organization that helps the needy. I could not speak any English then but I learnt the basics of the language there.
KFI: I thank God for being at KFI. I thoroughly enjoy the learning environment and the accoommodation we get here. It is a special programme and it targets only those who cannot afford to pay for themselves. The teachers care about us and they make it much easier to learn new things. I want to work hard and get a job in order to support my huge family.
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Lightness Gideon

• Age: 17
• Born: Arusha Region
• Family: Mother, father, a sister and 2 brothers. Father is sick and cant work. Mother is a farmer

Education: I went to Sura primary in 1998 and completed my primary education in 2004. I always thought that education would be the key for me to bring my family out of poverty and therefore took my studies very seriously. I passed well and was called to a secondary school. I couldn’t join because I had no money to. I therefore had no choice but to stay home which I did for 2 years. I went through a lot throughout this time. Life was quite hard. I joined TEKUA thereafter and after a while I was invited to KFI for an interview. I was very nervous as this was a chance of a lifetime. Luckily I passed.
KFI: I have learnt a lot at KFI. I had never touched a computer yet now am learning how to use one. I want to learn all I can and be all I can. Chances like these are hard to come by and it is for this reason that I want to work hard to become a professional editror. This would be a dream come true.
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Lightness Josephat

• Age: 18
• Born: Terrat, Manyara region
• Family: Father, mother and 3 sisters The parents are pastoralists moving from place to place to find food for their animals

Education:I went to Terat primary school between 1997-2003. I didnt get a chance to do secondary education and therefore stayed at home for a year. I was lucky to get some free training in animal husbandry where I learnt how to take care of sick animals. This is an improtant skill given that I come from a pastoralist community. This course was between 2005 and 2006. It is through Ilaramatak Lorkonerei pastoralist group in Terat that I got a chance to come to KFI
KFI: I feel priviledged to have been chosen among many others. I want to work hard to show I deserve it. I want to be a very good editor and edit very nice films. I am very thankful for the chance to be a student of KFI. There are many issues that affect the girls in our community and I hope that once I have he skills i can sensitize people about these.
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Living Anselin

• Age: 21
• Born: Kilimanjaro, Moshi
• Family: Mom died in 1995. he doesnt know his real dad. She was a farmer

Education: In 1996, I joined Huruma primary school and finished in 2004. After that, I had nothing to do but help my mother. After she died of a suddden illness, I stayed with my step father before moving to Arusha. I joined UACC in 2007 and took and English course. I learnt about KFI and presented myself for selection. I luckily made it.
KFI: I feel very happy now. I still cannot believe my luck. I cannot believe I am in a caring nurturing environment and am going to learn about film. When I finish, I hope to be involved in the film making process at Kilimanjaro Film Production Company. I would like to use film to address societal issues like HIV/AIDs.
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Ramadhan Suleimani

• Age: 21
• Born: Morogoro Region
• Family: Mother, father, 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Parents are small scale farmers

Education: I n the years 1992-1998 I went to Rudewa Batini primary. I had no money for secondary education and therefore couldn’t proceed further. I helped my parents farming for 2 years before I started hawking cheap consmetics on the streets of Morogoro to make some money to support my family. I came to Arusha to see if I can find better opportunities to help my family. I joined Tekua to learn English to improve my chances in life.
KFI: It is a golden chance and good fortune for me. I am happy everytime I wake up to learn at KFI. I am at a very happy time in my life as through education a lot of doors are opened. I hope to open the doors to my career through film and I am optimistic i will succeed because everyone is working so hard to give me the best chance. Thank you all for that.
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Rogathe John

• Age: 20
• Born: Arusha Region
• Family: Father and a brother. Mother passed on in 2004. My father is a farmer.

Rogathe John Education: I went to Nshupu primary school between 1996-2003. I did domstic chores at home after that until I joined UAACC. Life was slow and difficult. It was difficult to see light at the end of the tunnel but I remained hopeful that I would get a break. I believe it has come through KFI.
KFI: I feel happy to be a student in KFI. I would like to be a renown jounalist in order to encourage young Tanzanian girs.
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Joseph A Salam

• Age: 22
• Born: Arumeru district hospital
• Family: Mother in Moshi, father in Usa River. 2 sisters, 2 brothers

I started school in Imezu primary school at age 9 and left aged 14 with no qualifications. I Had to find work to support myself. At this time, I was living with his grandmother. Worked at rice plantations for 2 years. Then collected some money to come to Arusha to find my father. In Arusha, I went to UAACC to study English, computers and yoga. Then I came to KFI.
KFI: It was a wonderful thing to find out about KFI. I want to be a camera man because I like to start a revolution using a camera. Tanzanian television is not perfect, I want to make it better than it is. I want to do all kinds of films, documentaries, feature films, news coverage and anything that involves a camera! Since I came to KFI I am now a different person, I am happier and more confident after learning so much at KFI.
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Goodluck Mushi

• Age: 21 (born on Christmas Day!)
• Born: Kilimanjaro
• Family: Father, 2 sisters, 2 brothers (mother died 2 years ago)

Education: I went to primary school at age 6 years, finished at age 17 with no qualifications. When I left school, I went to UAACC to learn computers and English for 6 months. Then to KFI.
KFI: After meeting UBF at UAACC and they told me they were going to start a film school, I was so interested to be involved as a camera man. I was so excited I couldn’t think of anything else. I think KFI is the kind of organization which empowers Tanzanian youth, especially me, to get professional training as a cameraman, this is something which is so rare. I appreciate those who sit down and plan and have this kind of spirit of wanting to help Tanzanians and have this kind of institute. The most special thing about KFI is just the way UBF team teach us. The way they use their skills to teach us in each different discipline. They use the kind of techniques which are so helpful to us to become what we want to be, especially the trainers in my discipline, camera operating. As a cameraman it is not just technical, we have to learn to speak out and be talkative, to be self confident.
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