Important Announcement: We've merged with LPGM!

Friends of Mwangaza (FOM) is excited to announce that we have merged with Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry (LPGM).

For years, LPGM and FOM have collaborated informally through overlapping donors and board members. Due to our related missions, supporters, and geographic focus, unifying our two organizations was a natural fit.

Now that our two organizations have officially merged, the combined organization will operate under LPGM's name, while continuing to honor FOM's identity and history.

• Who is LPGM?

  Since 1995, LPGM has been working - and walking - with global partners to provide access to quality education for people at the margins, especially women and girls. LPGM has been supporting Mwangaza since 2018 through the Safe School Initiative.

• Who is FOM?

  FOM is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that financially supports Mwangaza in Tanzania. FOM's board and contractors have long supported Mwangaza's in-country operations through fundraising, grant writing, reporting, and storytelling.

• Who is Mwangaza?

  Mwangaza is a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Tanzania with Lutheran roots. Since 1996, it has partnered with Tanzanian secondary schools and communities to create safe learning environments.

"I think the partnership has all kinds of possibilities. [LPGM has] a broader vision beyond Tanzania... [and] it could end up with some new kind of incursions of programmatic change [and] inclusion. I think that's very exciting to imagine, because [LPGM is] in other parts of the world, and [there's] a lot to be learned from others."

-Dr. Shoonie Hartwig ("Mama Shoonie"), Mwangaza founder

By joining forces, our organizations will deepen their impact and ensure long-term stability for Mwangaza. As a unified organization under LPGM's name, we will be able to do more for Mwangaza together.

This unification is about amplifying our shared mission. Together, we can provide stronger support for Mwangaza and other global partners, while engaging more donors and volunteers in this vital work.

FOM's passionate supporters and volunteers will join LPGM's established infrastructure and staff expertise. FOM's board members and contractors will continue to support Mwangaza through this combined organization.

"I'm thankful for and excited to hear about this strong partnership. I see this is an opportunity to learn more from other LPGM partners and to continue to grow and expand in our communities by impacting more students, teachers, and parents in Tanzanian schools."

-Salome Lally, senior program coordinator, Mwangaza Management Team

Mwangaza will remain an independent NGO in Tanzania. It will continue to have its own staff, leadership, and governance.

LPGM will continue to engage with Mwangaza as a trusted partner, listening and responding to local needs.

Mwangaza's supporters can continue supporting Mwangaza through its website, or through LPGM. Gifts may also be mailed to LPGM at 4100 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55409. When writing a check, please write "Mwangaza" on the memo line.

To ensure the merger is clear and effective, we have created a list of frequently asked questions.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to the Rev. Dan Ruth, LPGM Executive Director. He can be reached at dan@lutheranpartners.org or at 612-806-0730.