Kilimanjaro Film Institute recruits its students from local organizations that focus on underprivileged youth in and around Arusha.

Laurence Peter

• Age: 19
• Born: Arusha Region
• Family: Mom, 1 sister and a brother. Doesn’t know the father. Mom couldn’t support him and left him at grandparents’ place who supported him.

Education: I did my primary education in Koanenkoli primary between 1998 and 2004. Since my mom left me with my grandparents, they too could not manage the cost of further education which they consudered high. I decided to start working at 14 in order to support my grandparents since they had done their best for me too. I started by hawking in the streets selling ground nuts. I later started working as a tout assisting in calling out for people to fill buses in the local transport business. At one point I got arrested because a pasanger lost their laugage and I had been the one who parked it in the bus. I dont know what hapenned enroute but the laguage was somehow lost. I was taken to the cells and stayed there for 3 days before they set me free. It was a painful experience because I was honest in my job. After this experience, I stopped touting and joined TEKUA where I took an English course. Through them I came to KFI.
KFI: I feel very happy now because I have hope. I have had a pretty hard life compared to others who I could see going to school and living in a functional family. Until this opportunity to join KFI came to me, I considered myself unlucky. Through the training and one to one talks in KFI, I am feeling much more positive and I now set goals for the future. I didn’t dare do this in the past. I lived day by day. I intend to be a technician in future and step by step I will get there.
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Neema Siphaeli

• Age: 20
• Born: Simanjiro, Manyara region
• Family: Mother, father, 1 brother and 3 sisters. The parents are pastoralists.

Education: I went to Terat primary school in 1997-2003. I live in a pastoralist family and my father occassionally had to go further to find pature for the livestock. This was in times of drought. I was unlucky because when I completed my primary education, father had wondered far to find pasture for the animals, my mom couldn’t afford to take me to secondary school. When my father came back in 2007, it was decided to give the younger children a chance at primary school instead of furthering my education. I had to sacrifice for my little sibblings.
KFI: I had lost any hope of ever studying again but thanks to KFI, I now am a student learning film and my hope is restored. I will do all my best to make the best use of this opportunity. I want a career in film making and I believe I can do it.
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Ramadhan Hamadi

• Age: 19
• Born: Tanga Region
• Family: Step mother, father and 2 sisters. Mother died while still very young. Father is a self taught village electrician

Education:Between 1998 and 2004, I was in Leganga primary school in USA River. After this period, I joined TEKUA where I learnt English for a while. I then was given a chance to interview at KFI and suceeded.
KFI: I am proud of myself for making it through the selection at KFI. I did not believe I could make it. I look forward to be a first class electrician and teach my dad some things about tehnical work to reduce the risks he faces as an amateur electrician.
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Akyoo

• Age: 24
• Born: Arumeru district
• Family: Mother and father living in Arumeru district. One brother and three sisters.

Elibahati Akyoo Education: I started primary school aged 7 and left at aged 18 with no formal qualifications. I then joined Imbaseni Vocational Training Centre in Arusha to learn about brick laying for one year. Afterwards, I joined Kibo Driving School for one month. I proceeded to joined UAACC for 2 years learning computers and architectural design software.
KFI: I want to be a film maker because that is my dream from my heart because I would like to be a journalist as a mirror to our society. As we know politicians often work in oblivion to what is going on in society so I would like to be a journalist to help pass information and to keep them honest. If I get the opportunity I can take my camera anywhere to broadcast what is happening in Africa, and I will be able to tell people the truth they are looking for.
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Timothy A Shirima

• Age: 24
• Born: Arusha City
• Family: Mother in Dar es Salaam, father in Arusha, 2 sisters, 3 brothers

Timothy Shirima Education: I started primary at aged 6, left aged 18 and passed Division 4. I Went on an electronic course at Zion College, Arusha for one year, then to Arusha college to study electronics for one year. I got some work as electronics engineer in Arusha. I proceeded to UAACC to learn computers and English.
KFI: At KFI I’ve learnt a lot about broadcasting equipment at KFI and I would like to continue so that I can become a qualified technician for broadcasting. The way we live at KFI is so different to any other school, we don’t pay anything, food is good, shelter is good. We have to learn to be part of a team at KFI and to be responsible for ourselves and others around us.
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Christine Lyimo

• Age: 22
• Born: Kilimanjaro Region
• Family: 1 brother, 2 sisters. Both parents passed away.

Christine Lymo
Education: I started primary school aged 7 and finished at 17. Passed Form 4 exams. I stayed at home for 3 years, not working, desperate and living with my brother. I went to Tekua to learn English and computers and finally came to KFI.
KFI: I wanted to come to KFI because it’s free and it helps Tanzanian youth. I thought it would help me with my future because I need my life to be better. I like to be a planner because it is good work and you can work for any company. I enjoying learning and living with my friends at KFI. My most favorite subjects are computers and planning. And what I think as a planner is to sit down and to think more about film.
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Neema Gideon

• Age: 21
• Born: Arusha region
• Family: Mother, Father, one brother, one sister. Living in Usa River.

Neema Gideon Education: I started primary school aged 5 an left aged 12. I Couldn’t afford to go to secondary school and therefore stayed at home for 2 years to look after my family. I then went to Nkwamansa Vocational Training in Arusha to learn tailoring for one year before going back home for 2 years to look after my family again. I lived with my sister in Dar es Salaam for one year, helping her with sewing clothes. Then back to Arusha then to Tekua to learn English for 7 months before joining KFI.
KFI: I am really happy at KFI because we get enough chance to learn about many things; life skills, computers, English and for me planning. We get a good experience living with different people. I like it when UBF come over from Holland to teach us because they are transparent people and they like everyone to know as much as possible in their discipline and if you don’t understand then they help you. Thank you UBF for giving us this chance in life. Also as a lady I will use my chance and my skill to educate my society and I will help other people to make and stand with their plan.
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Steve Martin

• Age: 23
• Born: Simanjiro
• Family: Mother, Father

Education: During 1991 our family shifted to a village 134 kilometer away from home looking for grass for our cattle, in this village I started primary school but, because I had to look after cattle, I was not regularly attending school and so in 1997, my grand mom took me back to my village so that I can go to school without having to take care of cattle.
KFI: Being in KFI is the one of the best moments in my life. I enjoy being around people that share the same passions and dreams of making a positive change in our lives and our society by using visual art e.g. editing, camera, technical.
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Christine Nassary

• Age: 21
• Born: Arumeru, Arusha
• Family: Mom, dad, 1 sister and 2 brothers. My dad is an evangelist

Education: I went to Uhuru primary school before completing my secondary education at Katiti Secondary school. My father is a preacher.
KFI: After an intense interview, I got chance here at KFI and now am here at KFI taking a film maker studies as an Editor. And I know I can succeed because I like it, I can say it was my talent and am going to be the best Editor. I enjoy making a story out of raw footage and communicating through film. I have always liked telling stories and now I have a chance to do so with film thanks to my new found talent at KFI. I want to pursue editing as a career. My plan in the future is to have my own company of film so I have to get more education of how to make a film.
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Mathew Thomas

• Age: 21
• Born: Tengeru in Arumeru
• Family: Father, mother and sister and brother

Education: I started my primary education aged 12 and continued on to secondary school before joining Tekua for vocational training and helping with social work.
KFI: I am very thankful for the chance to be a student of KFI. I want to be a good cameraman and will study hard for this. It is my future. After I complete I want to make films and teach other youth about film because in Tanzania, many youth have no knowledge about this subject so I would like to teach them about film. Film is my future and I believe that with God’s help and if I work hard, I will do very well.
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Levina Kinyaiya

• Age: 21
• Born: Kilimanjaro, Moshi
• Family: I’m a forth children in my family. I live with my mother and my relatives; unfortunately my father died in November 2001

Levina Kinyaiya Education: I completed both primary and secondary school well but had no chance to do much afterwards because of financial difficulties.
KFI: I am studying in the camera discipline at KFI. I want to be a camera lady and take it to a career level. When I finish my study here in KFI I would like to be among students who will be selected to join at Kilimanjaro Film Production Company. I know once I will be working with KFI I will get experience and I will explore my career.

In order to be selected in KFC I have to work hard in my study. I thank the founders of this Institute because they help me a lot in reaching my goals and they also help our country by helping the youth who want the discipline that you provide in your Institute which the government has not.
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Edward Philipo

• Age: 23
• Born: Simanjiro
• Family: Father, 3 brothers and 3 sisters (mother passed on in Feb 2007)

Edward Philipo Education: I started primary school at 1994 and completed in 2000. After complete primary school I sat at home for one year. In 2002 I went to simanjiro animal husbandry vocational training center for 3years to learn about animal health and I complete at 2004. After that, I tried to find my parents because we had been separated for a long time. I felt it was my responsibility to find them because my young brothers were suffering at home. I discovered that my mother was the first wife and she died. I live with my father now.
KFI: I am studying at Kilimanjaro Film Institute as a camera man. This is what I’d like after finishing my studies. I look forward to being self employed once I have the skills and experience. I will put in the effort and enthusiasm to make sure I meet this goal.
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Daniel John

• Age: 22
• Born: Ngurudoto, Arusha
• Family: Mother, 4 sisters. My dad passed away when I was still young

Daniel John Education: I studied at Ngurudoto primary school from 1994 till 2000. In 2001 I joined Maji ya chai secondary school and I finished in 2004. When I completed my secondary level I didn’t continue with my studies because my father died in 2002 when I was in form two level so it was very difficult for my mother to pay school fees for me. In the year 2005 I joined a center known as UAACC in order to learn building construction (architectural), so I learnt building construction one year after that I started to learn computer skills in the year 2006. I learnt computer skills for one year (six months for beginner level and six months for intermediate level).
KFI: I am a student at Kilimanjaro Film Institute taking a course of technical maintenance as a technician. I would like to say I can’t compare this institute with other institutes which are found in Tanzania even in East Africa at all because of the quality services which are available here including knowledge about film making. When we are looking the statistical data of film making in Tanzania or East Africa we can see that, it’s not raised up compare to other developed countries. So I would like to make sure that I will put more effort (study hard) i to make sure that I will gain something which can make me improve my knowledge as a technician in order to make my own wonderful company of film making in Tanzania.
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Naini Oleshweel

• Age: 24
• Born: Ngorongoro
• Family: My mother lives and my father passed away in 1992 leaving a family of 2 mothers. My mother, and the one who passed away 1997 leaving 4 children . My mother has 5 more children to cater for their needs.

Naini Oleshweel Education: My mother`support was limited to clothing and the world Food Program (WFP) and the Ngorongoro Local Government Authority provided food and the necessary stationery for my schooling. With the order of the government to take all the kids to school I was send to Malambo primary school against my parents wishes who thought the knowledge of animal husbandry will be forgone by education. All girls in Maasai land are not given a chance to go to school, they get married to the husband not of their own choice, but of their parents choice. I then become a scapegoat of marriage in exchange to bride-wealth. My husband to be was chosen by my father. After the completion of my primary education the brother to my father ( in-charge of my mum’s destiny as demanded by the customs and tradition of Maasai) came with the man that I should get marriage to. I fled to Arusha town to a man’s home called Mrosso who made many unbroken promises to make me continue with Secondary Education. That was a one year period-1996. Then I went back to the Village. Six months later 1997 july I met Maanda Ngoitiko who supports girl’s education to Secondary School. She supported my studies 1998-2000. The support lasted for three years and had one year more to complete my ordinary education in Secondary Education. Sr, Mary Ventucci of the Mary knoll Sisters supported the rest of my secondary education ending to advanced level of secondary education. I therefore sponsored my studies in March 2005. She was financially unable to support my studies in the higher learning institutions.
KFI: in 2007 I joined KFI taking the editing discipline. I have a desire to become a professional film editor. This would be my ticket to independence.
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Abisae Maeda

• Age: 23
• Born: Moshi
• Family: I grew up under care of both parents my dad and my mom their all love me so much.

Education: I got my primary education at Shishitoni primary school at Arumeru District in Arusha region. I got my secondary education at leguruki secondary school since 1998 to 2002 because of my parents income and the big number of our family I didn’t proceed with advance secondary education. I decide to find something else so as to proceed with education and I found the certain NGO called UAACC and I joined there since 2003 as computer student. The computer it was something strange to me but I tried my level best to study hard for the purpose of becoming instructor.
At 2005 I was the one of his field student at ACTT I was working as technician at Actt (a computer maintenance NGO) for 1 year and got some allowance which I was using to pay school fees for my young sister as my support for my parents.
KFI: It is true that God will not close one of your door without opening another one, I was in dilemma thinking about my own future especially in education, then I heard about KFI. Thanks for letting me be one of your students. I will use this chance to show the world that I have the thirst of education and self development.
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Glory Mollel

• Age: 22
• Born: Terrat
• Family: Am the eldest sister in our family of four children

Education: I took my primary education at Terrat primary school, and my secondary education (O LEVEL) at St Joseph Secondary School and after then I went to A LEVEL studies at Loleza Secondary School and I completed in 2007. I took science subject PCB combination that means PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY,&BIOLOGY. My hobbies are singing, listen music & dancing and I like to play games such as netball & handball.
KFI: I am one of only 2 camera women in the institute. I am out to prove that even the women are capable of doing jobs normally set aside for me. I enjoy the challenge of camera work because it is both technically and creatively challenging.
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Eldad Mark

• Age: 21
• Born: Dar es Salaam
• Family: Mother, father, a sister and 4 brothers

Education: I went to Leganga primary school and completed my secondary education at Uraki secondary school.
KFI: Before anything I would like to say that this institute is of very high quality than any other film institute in Tanzania and East Africa I know. After completing my course as planned, I will be happy to work at Kilimanjaro Film Productions company if at all I will be selected and if not I plan to initiate a film making company (college) where by many Tanzanian people will get employment.
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underprivileged youth in and around Arusha.