Alexander Harvey

In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says to His disciples, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  It’s a call to transformation, to a life spent not just surviving, but leading others into hope.  At Equipping Hope International, that call shapes everything we do.  But in a refugee camp where survival itself is uncertain, becoming a “fisher of men” takes on a deeper, more tangible meaning.

Yes, we want to help people encounter the love of Christ.  
But we also want them to learn how to fish — and sew, and farm, and teach.

In other words: we aim to equip not just spiritual growth, but practical, daily resilience.  This is our vision.  

A New Kind of Ministry: Spiritual and Practical

As a Christian nonprofit in Tanzania, our mission begins with the Gospel.  But what that looks like on the ground in a refugee camp housing over 150,000 people who’ve fled war and disaster is both spiritual and physical.

Too often, ministries choose one or the other: they either focus on discipleship and evangelism, or they focus on aid and development.  At Equipping Hope International, we believe Jesus calls us to both.

That’s why our tagline — often shared with a smile — is:

“We’re not just fishers of men… we’re also making tailors, teachers, and farmers, and all manner of tradesmen and entrepreneurs.”

Why This Matters in a Refugee Camp

Located in the Kigoma region of western Tanzania, the Nyarugusu refugee camp has existed since 1996.  Originally built for 50,000 people, it now holds over 150,000, many of whom have been there for decades.

These refugees, who are primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, are legally restricted from leaving the camp to seek employment or pursue outside opportunities.

Emergency aid, while necessary, was never designed for the long haul. And yet many families are now entering their third generation inside Nyarugusu.

So what happens when relief becomes permanent?
At Equipping Hope, our answer is: you start equipping people for something more.

Tailors: Vocational Programs in Refugee Camps

Our Business of Hope initiative trains refugees in vocational skills that are actually marketable within the camp’s informal economy.

Our first and most developed pathway is the tailoring apprenticeship program. Through a partnership with local master tailors, we train participants in the fundamentals of sewing and garment making over a six-month period.

In future initiatives, graduates who complete the program will then be able apply to for microloans to start small tailoring businesses selling to other refugees, offering mending services, or creating products for small vendors.

We also plan to add additional vocational pathways to the Business of Hope program going forward including bricklaying and soap making.

Teachers: Educational Programs in Refugee Camps

Many of the refugees in Nyarugusu come from French-speaking nations, but Tanzania operates primarily in English when it comes to education and business. That means even if a refugee is resettled in another country or attempts to navigate local systems, they often can’t move forward without learning English.

That’s where our Teaching Hope program comes in.

In 2018, we hired six English-speaking refugees to begin offering semester-long English courses.  The response was overwhelming — over 350 students enrolled in the first cohort, and more than 500 students have since participated across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

English education isn’t just academic, it’s access.  It opens the door to employment, higher education, and leadership.

Why “Equipping” Is More Than a Metaphor

The word “equip” is at the heart of our name, and for good reason.  To equip someone is not just to serve them, it’s to trust them.  It’s to believe they are capable of taking what you offer and building something more.

Whether it’s teaching a teenager to conjugate verbs, a widow to run a sewing machine, or a family to cultivate soil, we see potential where others may only see poverty.

We’re not the heroes of the story.
We’re the hands passing tools to people who are more resilient than most of us could ever imagine.

Rooted in the Gospel

We do this work not because it’s trendy or tactical — but because it’s deeply biblical.

        • Jesus fed people — and then He taught them.

        • He healed people — and then He sent them out to heal others.

        • He called disciples — and equipped them for the journey.

As a Christian nonprofit in Tanzania, our aim is to walk as Jesus did: with compassion, with courage, and with confidence that all image bearers of God have beauty and worth.

You Can Equip Too

This vision only moves forward because people like you believe in it.  Whether you’re an individual donor, a church partner, or a fellow nonprofit, you have a role to play in equipping hope.

Here’s how you can be part of it:

        • Give: Even $10/month can fund a student’s English education

        • Pray: Lift up our staff, students, and leadership team in Nyarugusu

        • Share: Help us spread the word about this work

        • Partner: We’re always looking for like-minded organizations, foundations, and grantmakers who share our vision

Conclusion

Being a “fisher of men” doesn’t mean handing out quick fixes.  It means teaching people to thrive, in body and soul.  It means equipping tailors, teachers, and bricklayers, and believing that the Kingdom of God can break through in the most overlooked places.

At Equipping Hope International, this is our calling.
This is our commitment.
And this is just the beginning.

Ready to equip hope?
Visit equippinghope.org to learn more or support the mission.

Keywords: Christian nonprofit Tanzania, vocational programs in refugee camps, educational programs in refugee camps