RAISING DREAMERS BY LIVING HER OWN

Kezia

In a small town in the lake region of Tanzania, Kezia begins her day before the sun rises. She prepares breakfast, gets her six children ready, and helps two of them navigate a rocky, difficult path to school in their wheelchairs. After that, she turns to her business—one she built from the ground up with determination and care. A rhythm she knows by heart. But don’t confuse routine with limitation.

“I’ve always wanted to be a successful businesswoman,” Kezia says. “Not because I had no other option, but because I enjoy it. I love every part of it.”

Too often, others see her only through a narrow lens: the mother of children with mobility challenges. In her small town, some still believe that having a disability—or a child with one—is a kind of curse. This stigma persists even though an estimated 12% of Tanzanians live with a disability, according to the most recent national data. Disability is far from rare—but harmful myths remain deeply rooted. Kezia and her children have both faced judgment. But she refuses to let that define them.

“My children are my friends. We talk about everything. I tell them: what other people say shouldn’t shape your future.”

For Kezia, motherhood is not the only aspect of her identity—it’s a part of a much bigger picture. “It’s taught me that I’m brave,” she says.

She dreams of expanding her business across Tanzania, of employing others and building stability—not just for her family, but for herself. And her children are growing up with big dreams, too. One wants to become a doctor, another a tailor. “They share their ideas with me,” Kezia says. “I want to show them that it’s possible. That even in a place where people doubt you, you can still choose to dream.”

“Hold on to your dreams and show your children it’s possible to follow theirs—no matter what anyone else says. When you live with purpose, you teach them to believe in themselves and their future.”

Kezia is a woman with a vision. She is a mother, a businesswoman, and a role model. Her story reminds us that true strength comes from embracing who you are and daring to dream. The best way to raise dreamers is to keep dreaming yourself.