Meet Kitichamungu Amani Eliya

Kitichamungu Amani Eliya, known as Kiti, was born in 1983 in the Kilimanjaro region. Her name, full of meaning—“Chair of God” in Swahili—was given with intention, and Kiti has always carried it with pride. She is the eldest of ten children, born into a loving but struggling family. Today, both of her parents have passed away, but all her brothers and sisters are still alive. Kiti is now married and a mother of five.

She completed primary school and began secondary school, reaching Form 2. But when her mother became seriously ill and was eventually paralyzed, everything changed. The family’s financial situation collapsed, and Kiti, as the eldest, felt the responsibility to step up. She left school to help care for her siblings and support the family.

Driven by love, she moved to Arusha to find work. Her earnings were meager, but with immense dedication, she saved enough to build her family a simple two-room house—one room for her brothers and one for her sisters. She didn’t just give them shelter—she gave them a future. Many of her siblings were able to complete secondary school thanks to her sacrifices. Later, she even sponsored her younger brother to finish Form 5 and 6.

At age 23, Kiti got married. It wasn’t what she truly wanted, but a family tradition dictated that no younger sibling could marry until the eldest daughter had done so. She chose marriage to give her siblings freedom. Her father, despite his age, had wise advice: he urged Kiti to gain skills. She enrolled at the Kijenge Tailoring Training Center for six months, and her father made sure her husband understood he needed to buy her a sewing machine—an investment in her future.

Soon after, Kiti became pregnant with her first child—Careen, who is now 23 and a college student pursuing a degree in Tourism. Careen’s own path has been shaped by hardship and support. Growing up vulnerable, she received help from the community and the government. That compassion sparked a deep wish in her to give back. She speaks powerfully about gender inequality and dreams of seeing young girls empowered from a young age. Her hope is that one day, SGI will host walk-in consultations for girls—safe, private spaces where they can speak freely, outside their homes.

Back in Kiti’s life, she raised her brothers and sisters as if they were her own children. One of her younger brothers was accepted into medical school but changed course—without telling the family—and pursued a teaching diploma instead. He now teaches at a college in Dar es Salaam.

Kiti and her husband, a teacher at Neo Life Private School, have built a stable and respectful marriage. Their five children are:

• Careen (23) – College student, Tourism

• Boy (21) – Form 6 student

• Girl (14) – Form 1 in government school

• Twins (7) – Class 1 in primary school

To support her family, Kiti works hard in two businesses: tailoring clothing and selling curtains and bedding. She creates made-to-measure items and works from home. She also collaborates closely with Joyce, a fellow SGI Neema group member. Together, they share a work space, a friendship, and a passion for empowering women.

Kiti dreams of expanding her curtain and bedding business. One bale of curtains costs 200,000 TZS, and bedding costs the same. With 1.5 million TZS in capital, she could buy in bulk, increase profit, and grow her stability.

Her family's priority is always school fees and food. Though they don’t have health insurance (except for Careen and the children covered through school), the family is in good health overall.

Kiti believes deeply in the power of women. In her words:

“Women are the pillars of a family. When empowered, they can do anything. They are the key to family success. As a mother, I am the protector of my daughters.”

In 2026 she became a trainer for SGI, empowering other women in her community. Kiti is more than a name. She is living proof that empowering one woman can lift an entire family.