Barakoa za Matumaini
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a shortage in many supplies, including facemasks in Tanzania. Rania Nasser, a high school student, founded the group Barakoa TZ to distribute free masks to those in need. Her intention was to make a dozen or so masks for the police station close to her home and give them for free.
Within a week, the requests for masks increased dramatically, so Rania Nasser decided that she was going to need help. She put out a call to friends and family for help.
It has now been a few weeks since Barakoa TZ started and, since then, Barakoa TZ has made and donated over 1,000 masks to orphanages, first responders, law enforcements, and those most in need. This has been made possible through the countless hours of sewing by our volunteers and the generosity with support of donors.
Rania has gotten numerous volunteers together. She has people sewing in Mwanza, Dodoma, and Dar es Salaam distributing masks everywhere. Even with many volunteers, she is still calling out for more volunteers that can sew. Rania added, “Even if you don’t sew fast, that’s fine. Because one mask can save multiple lives.”
When it comes to fabric donations, Rania Nasser mentioned she does get all different kinds of patterns and will take any kind of fabric that she can get. The one thing to make sure is that it is cotton. Stretch knit fabric allows more particles to get through, which isn’t what you want with a facemask. She is also now making more masks for children and calling out for more children fabric designs with Mickey Mouse or other patterns.
Another thing Barakoa TZ is looking forward to delivering are small kits where families that can sew can put together their masks themselves. Rania Nasser said it is a very easy thing to put together and she will deliver these kits with instructions to people throughout Dar es Salaam.
Resources:
- Barakoa TZ website
- Barakoa TZ requests: +255 744 791 910
- Barakoa TZ donation number: +255 679 535 657
