Since February 2025, Martha Lukasi has been the new Director of Sibusiso. Since September 2022, she was already involved with the center as General Manager Finance and Operations. During this period, we got to know her as a very passionate and committed employee who leads the team well in the activities and provides the Boards with the necessary (financial) information. Since January, Martha has obtained her Master's degree in Human Resource Management at the Institute of Accountancy in Arusha. 

Getting to know Martha is getting to know a woman with humor, passion, decisiveness. But also with a vision for the future of the center. That is why we asked her to introduce herself in this newsletter.

Martha says: 'I was born 45 years ago in the Arusha region, I am married to Solomon and I am the mother of 4 children, including energetic twins of 5. Solomon works in the UK and is largely available to the family online. This means that I manage our busy household as a CEO of chaos, a director of disputes and the head of snack and food supply. I started my career 20 years ago at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) in Dar es Salaam where I was responsible for auditing. I feel passion to contribute to a better life for children. 

I am very honoured to be appointed as the new Executive Director of Sibusiso. In this role, I lead the organization in the day-to-day operations, the strategy and advocate for children with disabilities. My work includes securing funding, managing the team, and making sure the programs really make a difference in people's lives. I am deeply committed to empowerment and inclusivity, and I strive to be part of a movement that improves and inspires not only our children and their parents, but also our dedicated employees. 

The Sibusiso team has grown considerably over the past 25 years. Although I have not been working at Sibusiso for very long, I know that this growth has made specialization within our team possible. The tireless efforts have been the key to the success of the organization. Nothing compares to our staff's dedication to understanding each child's needs, creating personalized plans, and creating a supportive learning environment. The focus on communication, social skills, emotional support and working with families helps children to gain confidence and grow throughout their lives.

The growing demand for help is a challenge

Despite efforts to support children in need, growing demand remains a challenge. For example, the disability rate in mainland Tanzania has increased from 9.3% to 11.2%, highlighting the increasing need. With the limited resources that our organization has, or those of other organizations, we cannot help everyone. Therefore, close cooperation with local communities and the government is essential in the implementation of important projects. It has become known that the National Strategic Plan for Rehabilitation FY 21-26 stipulates that community-based services in national and regional hospitals remain very limited. This lack of access is especially challenging for people in rural areas.

I see the future of Sibusiso as promising, with exciting opportunities for growth and the development of a unique and innovative environment that has a meaningful impact. Our commitment to continue to support children with disabilities on a large scale remains a top priority.

I also want to take the opportunity to acknowledge and deeply appreciate everyone who has supported this journey. Your contributions have been
invaluable, and as we move forward, your continued involvement is more important than ever. Together, we can make an even bigger difference'.