About Us

Two communities worlds apart, united in Christ.

Mission

We believe that relationships, not handouts, create sustainable change in a community. Every day Ubora and its partners pursue building self-sufficiency in the people of the Siha District through deep relationships and initiatives which are transforming the region. Over the past two decades, we have developed five Ubora Impact Programs to combat both the current challenges and the long-term issues in a way that addresses the needs of the whole person, as well as the whole community.

Vision

Ubora envisions a thriving Siha District in which all men, women, and children are exposed to the transforming influence of God’s kingdom, communities are self-sufficient, and people look confidently to the future with optimism and hope.

Want to know more? Watch the inspiring story of “God Had a Plan”

History 

The story of UboraTZ began over 20 years ago when Pastor Maphie Wariaeli, a young pastor from Karansi, Tanzania, had a great dream for his village…one of excellent education for children, homes and protection for widows, the establishment of businesses to help build and sustain a local economy, and so much more. The reality, at that time in Karansi, was quite different as HIV, poverty and famine had left the people of the village broken and clinging for survival.

Help and humanitarian aid came from a group of people from a church in metro Atlanta who heard the plight of the “Little Lost Village” in Tanzania and decided to get involved. What has transpired since that initial visit has become an unprecedented union of two communities on opposite sides of the Atlantic…a comprehensive model for community transformation fueled by faith, hope and love.

Dedicated to achieving long-term sustainability for the people of the Siha District of Tanzania, Ubora comes alongside local religious, government and community leaders. Impact is achieved through five programs: child sponsorship, education, health, business and community.

Ubora Team(U.S.)

Jerry Thames, Chairman

Dave Burgess, President

Emily Weaver, Operations Impact Manager

Rena Olsen, Director of Communications and Engagement

Tim Neet, Director of Ubora Project Child

Mallory Click, Accounting

Louis Strydom, Technology

For all other inquiries, please email: info@uboratz.org

Shelter of Hope and Excellence Foundation (SHEFO) - Tanzania

From the beginning, Ubora’s mission has always been “two continents; one heart,” so we knew we needed to have an organization in Tanzania with whom to link arms.  After years of working in the village of Karansi, developing deep friendships, and seeing remarkable change, we realized that to meet our mission fully, we should start this organization using the people we had been working with all along.

Hence, the Shelter of Hope and Excellence Foundation (SHEFO) was born. It is our in country organization overseeing the school and all of our Impact Program projects on site. During normal (non-COVID) travel times, Ubora sends 15 to 20 teams to Tanzania throughout the year for the purpose of training, mentoring, equipping, and encouraging our partners at SHEFO and the teachers at Siha Leadership School. Volunteers join these trips to share their skills in medicine, business, and education, visit their sponsor children, and build up our friends in the Siha District.

SHEFO’s leadership includes:

Pastor Wariaeli Maphie, Pastor and Founder, now with oversight of 7 local churches in Tanzania

Baraka Lutherson, Project Director, SHEFO

Amani Nicholas, Headmaster, Siha Leadership School

Tanzania-based partners:

David and Mary Ann Taylor, United World Mission/Community and Partner Development Volunteers

Board of Directors

Gerald W. Thames, Chairman

Dave Burgess, President

Alex Gue

Cindy James

Timothy Harrel Neet

Robert V. “Bobby” Scott

David Senseman

Jack Van Namen

Steve Weibel

Impact Programs

Ubora Project Child, Tim Neet

Education, Wendy Williams

Health, Kris Walker

Business, Lee Williams

Community, Carter Rhea