Tanzania

History

The first Grail members arrived in Tanganyika in the early 1960s. In 1961, Elizabeth Reid from Australia and Coleta Van der Ploeg from Netherlands started working in some areas of Tanzania.

Elizabeth Reid worked at Nyegezi Social Centre for one year offering leadership skills, while Coleta Van der Poeg worked in Bukoba in the area of women’s development programs. Between 1961-1966, more Dutch volunteers arrived in Tanzania including Carla Van Thiel and Joke Van Neerven, with zeal and a lot of energy to bring Christ to the people of Tanzania, through services. Joke established a dispensary at Kaliua –Tabora, after the invitation by Rt. Rev Bishop Marko Mihayo, a Diocesan Bishop.

In the mission, Coleta met Imelda Gaurwa, the first pioneer in Tanzania who had formation in Uganda and at the Tiltenberg Grail Center, Netherlands. In 1963, Grail members were invited to open a hospital in Mkuu Rombo by the Bishop of Moshi Diocese. Ton Brouwer a nurse, Joke Van Neerven, a midwife, and Imelda Gaurwa were also invited to work as women development trainers. They managed to start Mkuu Dispensary until the larger Huruma Hospital was later established.  In 1965, The Grail team in Mkuu Rombo shifted to Moshi town to start Moshi Bookshop at the request of the Diocesan Bishop. There were also other Grail members from the Netherlands who joined the team including Lenie Schaareman, Ann Bowman, Francis der Van Schot, Maria Van Will, Carla Hannah from Australia, and Marian Couming from the USA.

Catherine Bagley from Australia worked as a teacher at Kiraeni Secondary School in Rombo District and Dorothy Smith from England worked as a teacher at Weruweru Secondary School in Moshi District.

The establishment of the Grail Tanzania formation Centre Kisekibaha was through the invitation of Monsignor Henricus Winkelmolen of the Prefecture of Same. He met the Grail team at Moshi Bookshop and shared with them the idea of bringing Grail Mission to Same. After Ton Brouwer shared the idea with Eileen Scheffler from the USA, the International President, a survey was made visiting the site and lastly conclusion was made, and agreed to start the formation centre at Kisekibaha. The official opening of the centre was on May 10, 1970 under the leadership of Imelda Alfred Gaurwa, with Honoratha Mvungi and Philipina J. Mruma being the next Grail members.

Projects and Activites 

Currently, we are in 7 Dioceses carrying out the mission of the Grail in different ministries:

• Catechesis and provision of spiritual and other books.
• Pre-Primary school at Kisekibaha, 
• Rau Pre–Primary school
• St. Imelda Pre and Primary English medium 
• Rev. Fr. Jacques Van Ginneken English Medium 
• St. Teresa of Avila Girls Secondary School 
• The Vocational Training College at Rau (Emmy Godon’s).
• Social work, agriculture and livestock, and working with marginalized groups.