By Michael Leo, Youth Empowerment & Climate Advocate
My name is Michael Leo, and I come from a small village in the Mwanza region of Tanzania. I grew up in a poor family, where getting access to books and school supplies was very hard. Sometimes I had to borrow old textbooks or go without learning materials. But I never gave up on education because I believed that learning could help change my future.
In 2019, I completed my Bachelor of Arts with Education, focusing on Linguistics and Kiswahili. After finishing university, I didn’t want to just sit and wait for a job. I wanted to give back to the community. So in 2020, I started volunteering with VSO Tanzania through the International Citizen Service (ICS) program. I was sent to Kagera region, where I helped children in rural schools with reading and learning. This experience showed me that many children were still struggling to access basic education; just like I did when I was young. In 2023, I sat down with my friend Anthony Medsen, a Tanzanian who had recently returned from an exchange program in the United States. We talked about how we could support children who don’t have enough learning materials. That’s when we got the idea to start a community project called Knowledge in Books.
With help from friends and supporters Anthony met in the U.S., we were able to buy books and renovate an old building into a small community library. It was a dream come true for us. Then, in 2024, something amazing happened, I got a grant to set up a Digital Learning Hub inside the library. We bought laptops and tablets, and today, many children come to the center to read, learn, and explore new things. For some, it’s their first time using a computer or reading a storybook. Now, more than 450 children visit our library every month. They come after school, on weekends, or during holidays to read and use the digital tools. When I see the smiles on their faces and how excited they are to learn, I feel proud and hopeful. What drives me is my past. I know how hard it is to grow up without access to education. I don’t want other children to go through the same. That’s why I wake up every day with the goal of helping at least one child learn something new.
My story is simple, but it’s full of purpose. I started with almost nothing, but with passion and the support of good friends, we created something beautiful for our community. And we’re just getting started. If you believe in the power of education like I do, I welcome you to join us. Together, we can keep building a brighter future for the children of Tanzania.