About the Founder

Mr. Magongo Justus J. was born at Kagondo area in rural Northwestern Tanzania, seventh of the eleven children. In 1995, Magongo had a chance to attend Mugeza and Kishoju secondary schools for his ordinary and advanced levels, where he graduated with a high school certificate in 2000. It was within that time of his studies when he began leading peers. During the course of his secondary school studies, he started working with many youth through student clubs as well as the church youth organizations at both Parish and Diocese levels. This experience motivated his spirit and love for supporting the disadvantaged communities, the youth, women and children, inspired by his belief that the lack of formal education does not obstruct alternative opportunities to lead a purposeful, meaningful and successful life.

Because of the knowledge and skills, which Magongo acquired in schools and his involvement with youth initiatives in the community and church, he realized the desperate need to help children, youth, women and communities that are more vulnerable to acquire their basic needs. Such needs as education, basic knowledge and skills for self-reliance as well as involvement in promoting transparency and accountability in local governments. Supported by Fr. Benezeth Mujwahuzi, who was a Parish Priest at Kagondo by that time, he established the Kagondo Youth Group (KYG).

Through KYG, Magongo organized the youth aiming at helping each other to overcome poverty and income poverty that escalate because Kagondo is located in the peripheral rural area of the country with limited exposure to services and resources. Because by that time (1996-2000) he was a student at boarding schools, he had limited time to engage with many youth who did not have the same opportunity. Thus, he used the holidays to organize the youth in groups sharing his school experience with them, motivating them to come together and through self-help groups, mobilize resources to reduce abject poverty and income poverty in the community.

As of current, with aid from supporters and partners, KYG conducts various short trainings, workshops, seminars and awareness meetings aiming at training the youth, women and the entire community to manage life by using the limited resources available, while working on creating new opportunities. KYG facilitates and supports the youth and women’s groups as well as other community members in farming, animal husbandry and small businesses. We also support some youth and children to attend schools and vocational training centers so that they can acquire useful knowledge and skills to help themselves and others in the future, thus, promoting community sustainable development.

Work Experience:

• Since 2010 to the present, Magongo is a Local Government Councilor, voluntarily representing Muhutwe Ward to the Muleba District Council. Muhutwe Ward has a population of over 11,000 people living in four rural villages, namely, Kangantebe, Bukoki, Nyakashenye and Bisore. This experience helps him to be involved in the local government, advocating for transparency, accountability and promoting the need to bring quality services to the poor rural communities.
• In addition, Magongo has 12 years of experience, working with KADETFU (Kagera Development and Credit Revolving Fund), a National Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that is based in Bukoba Municipality in Kagera Region. He is employed by KADETFU as programs’ Monitoring and Evaluation Manager. This position has helped him to gain enough experience in the civil society sector that is necessary to advance the initiatives of the Kagondo Youth Group (KYG).