Celebrating Mwangaza’s 30th Anniversary!

This year, Mwangaza is celebrating its 30th anniversary. In 1996, the organization was founded by Dr. Shoonie Hartwig, or Mama Shoonie.

From its founding, Mwangaza has worked with secondary school teachers. Over the years, they have added additional programs to support students, community members, and parents, too. Its current Safe School Initiative reflects these original roots - working with teachers, faculty, students, and parents to support safe learning environments. In 2025, Mwangaza worked in 16 schools, reaching 1600 students and more than 400 teachers.

“The whole spirit of Mwangaza has lent itself to listening well and being able to speak your mind in a safe place,” Mama Shoonie reflected recently. “And it’s not just the students. They’re getting to the heart of every corner of life.” 

This September, Mwangaza will be hosting an anniversary celebration in Arusha. In the coming months, watch Mwangaza’s social media, website, and newsletter for videos celebrating the past 30 years!

As we celebrate the anniversary, we invite you to share your memories and feelings of gratitude from the past 30 years. We will deliver the recollections to Mwangaza staff this September to help them celebrate. Fill out the form below, or send cards to Friends of Mwangaza, c/o Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, 4100 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55409.