Adapted from a 2021 article by Warren Roth, originally published in Interchange, a publication of Maryknoll.
For Warren Roth, the story of Friends of Imiliwaha began decades before the organization itself existed.
While conducting doctoral research in Tanzania, Roth developed deep relationships with the Sukuma people who welcomed him into their communities and shared their lives with him. Those experiences shaped both his academic career and his desire to someday give something back to the people of Tanzania.
For years, however, he wasn’t sure how that opportunity would present itself.
That changed when two young Tanzanian Benedictine sisters arrived at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.
Sister Afra Mgwama and Sister Beatrice Kayombo came to Benedictine University to pursue degrees in Education and Public Health.
Warren’s wife, Margaret Roth, had taught at Benedictine University for three decades and knew the Benedictine Sisters who lived at Sacred Heart Monastery across the street from campus. When the sisters arrived from Tanzania, Warren and Margaret were invited to meet them.
That first meeting marked the beginning of what would eventually become Friends of Imiliwaha.
Recognizing that the sisters needed help adjusting to life in the United States, Warren began tutoring them in English. Despite arriving from a vastly different culture, both sisters quickly became proficient in spoken and written English.
The friendship grew naturally. Even Warren’s limited Swahili vocabulary brought smiles and laughter, helping the sisters feel a little closer to home.
As others around the university learned about Sisters Afra and Beatrice, an informal group formed to help support them. While tuition scholarships, room, and board were already provided, additional expenses such as books, clothing, and other necessities still needed to be covered.
As Warren and Margaret learned more about the sisters’ home community in Tanzania, they discovered the tremendous work being carried out by the African Benedictine Sisters of Saint Gertrude in Imiliwaha.
The convent was home to hundreds of sisters serving throughout the region. They operated schools, medical clinics, orphan programs, and outreach ministries, often with very limited resources.
Wanting to help, the group organized visits to Tanzania to meet the sisters and better understand their needs. What began as a small effort to support two students soon evolved into a nonprofit organization.
Friends of Imiliwaha was officially formed to support educational, healthcare, and community development initiatives throughout the region.
Sister Afra completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and two master’s degrees at Benedictine University before returning to Tanzania in 2011.
Soon afterward, she was assigned to establish a new school in Sumbawanga, a city in western Tanzania located near Lake Tanganyika.
With support from Friends of Imiliwaha and other donors, the project grew from a vision into a thriving educational campus.
Funds raised through FOI helped construct much of the school’s facilities. The school eventually expanded to serve more than 350 students and became one of the region’s top-performing schools.
Many students who otherwise would not have had access to quality education were given new opportunities through the school, including orphaned children and those from low-income families.
While Sister Afra focused on education, Sister Beatrice pursued medicine.
After earning degrees in Biology and Public Health, she attended medical school in Poland before returning to Tanzania to specialize in oncology.
Friends of Imiliwaha played a key role in helping fund her educational journey, including medical school expenses.
By 2020, Sister Beatrice had completed her oncology training at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
Today, she provides desperately needed cancer treatment in a country where specialized medical care remains limited and often difficult to access.
As Afra and Beatrice advanced in their careers, another Benedictine sister entered the FOI story: Sister Fausta.
Like her predecessors, Sister Fausta pursued higher education with support from Friends of Imiliwaha. After graduation, she returned to Tanzania and became the headmistress of a school near Dar es Salaam.
Her work presented unique challenges, including serving students from diverse religious backgrounds while maintaining the school’s Catholic identity. Through patience, compassion, and leadership, she built relationships throughout the community and strengthened the school’s reputation.
What began as a chance meeting with two young Tanzanian students eventually became a long-term partnership that continues to change lives.
Through Friends of Imiliwaha, supporters have helped build schools, educate children, support orphaned students, provide medical care, and create opportunities that otherwise would not have existed.
Reflecting on the journey, Warren Roth summarized the mission simply:
“I was looking for an opportunity to give back to the people of Tanzania for what I received there. With my wife, Margaret, and the other members of Friends of Imiliwaha, I have been able to do something to say thank you in Swahili: Asante sana.”
Written by Warren Roth and adapted from the 2021 edition of Interchange. Warren and Margaret Roth both served on the Friends of Imiliwaha Board of Directors.