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About TASIWA

Giving warriors a voice, families new hope.

A Mwanza-based NGO promoting education and awareness on sickle cell disease since 2016.

Our story

Born from lived experience in Mwanza.

TASIWA is a non-governmental organization based in Mwanza, Tanzania; founded in 2016 by three mothers, two by being mothers to SCD babies and one being a SCD warrior herself. It was successfully registered in August 2019 (under the Tanzania NGO Act No. 24 of 2002, R.E 2005) to operate in Tanzania Mainland and having its headquarters offices in Mwanza, Tanzania. TASIWA works toward empowering the quality of lives of people living with sickle cell disease by promoting education and awareness on sickle cell disease (SCD), bring new hope to affected families, and assuring access to proper medical and affordable comprehensive health care. We are devoted to prevention, care and effective management — through guidance and counselling, support and education for patients with SCD-related complications, psychosocial support, and work to reduce stigmatization.

Since our founding, we have worked hard to establish ourselves in advocacy and awareness, mobilizing communities through outreach programs that combine education with screening. While we have reached a significant part of the Mwanza region, there is much more to do across Tanzania — where more than 14,000 children are born with sickle cell disease every year.

We believe education is the best solution in the fight against sickle cell disease, especially in reducing the number of babies born with SCD.

Our vision

To improve the quality of life of people living with sickle cell disease and to break the sickle cell cycle, for the purpose of having a sickle cell free generation in Tanzania.

Our mission

To promote sickle cell awareness and understanding, with the aim of improving patient care, eradicating misconception and social stigma, and supporting patients and families affected by the disease.

What guides us

Our core values

Human rights & dignity

We respect the inherent rights of every person and uphold high moral principles in all our work.

Transparency & accountability

We are stewards of resources entrusted to us, using them rationally and taking responsibility for our actions.

Culture of excellence

We set challenging goals and strive for excellence and innovation to deliver the best possible outcomes.

Integrity

We are fair, honest and open in all matters related to the affairs of the organisation.

Gender equality

We ensure women, men, girls and boys benefit equally from our programmes and leadership.

Voluntarism

We build a spirit of participation and teamwork, based on free will, for the common good.

Our journey

From a local idea to a regional movement.

Each milestone has been built with warriors, parents, health workers and partners who believe a sickle cell diagnosis should never mean a life without hope.

Read field stories
  1. 2019TASIWA is founded and registered in Mwanza under the NGO Act (Reg. No. 00NGO/R/0435).
  2. 2020 – 2021Community outreach programmes combine SCD education with genotype screening across Mwanza.
  3. 2022The Daftari SCD Project, funded by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), uses exercise books to carry sickle cell messages to the community, especially in schools.
  4. 2022 – 2023Advocacy campaigns and blood drives with partner medical centres; peer support for warriors and caregivers grows.
  5. Securing Health, Improving LivesWith funding from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and supervision by Baylor Tanzania, 400+ children in Ilemela and Nyamagana are supported to access health insurance.
  6. KETAN Sickle Cell ProjectTASIWA joins a Kenya–Tanzania initiative, leading interventions in three districts of Geita Region with a target of screening 20,000 newborns and infants.

Leadership

The people behind TASIWA

Founders

Pascazia Thomas Mazeze

Pascazia Thomas Mazeze

Founder & Executive Director

Pascazia Thomas Mazeze is a holder of LL.M (Economic Law), a lawyer and an Assistant Lecturer at St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) Mwanza campus. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Tanzania Sicklecell Warriors Organization (TASIWA). Being a mother of a son living with sickle cell disease, she has transformed her personal journey into a powerful mission of advocacy on sickle cell disease. Through her academic work and leadership at TASIWA, Pascazia is dedicated to advancing health education, raising awareness, and supporting patients and caregivers across Tanzania, ensuring that families affected by sickle cell disease receive the knowledge, resources, and hope they need. Pascazia Mazeze continues to look for like minded partners throughout the world to ensure that people from all walks of life affected by sickle cell disease continues to receive the resources they need.

PC

Priscilla Chassama

Co-Founder & Director of Finance

Oversees TASIWA's finances, ensuring every shilling entrusted by partners is used transparently and accountably.

Management

Livinus Ndibalema

Livinus Ndibalema

Program Director

Livinus Ndibalema is a Tanzanian social scientist, public health practitioner, researcher, and programme management professional with over 10 years of experience in public health and development. He serves as an experienced Senior Technical Coordinator in project management and programing, with expertise in Social and Behaviour Change, Risk Communication and Community Engagement, research, monitoring and evaluation, programme design, and stakeholder coordination. He holds master's degrees in Sociology and Education Management, Administration and Planning, and a bachelor's degree in Philosophy. His work focuses on translating social science and research evidence into practical interventions that strengthen communities, institutions, and public health outcomes.

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