MPEF|About us









About the Mtwara Pastoral Education Fund

Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) decided in 2009 to expand the chance for the Tanzanians, especially the youth in the Southern regions, to access higher education and provide a conducive environment that will improve the socio-economic welfare of the people. Accordingly, TEC established a centre of the Saint Augustine University of Tanzania in Mtwara. In 2012, the Centre became Stella Maris Mtwara University College (STeMMUCo), a constituent College of the Saint Augustine University of Tanzania. Over the past years, the impact of STeMMUCo in Tanzania’s Southern Zone and Tanzania at large has been enormous. Over six thousand STeMMUCo alumni are employed in various public and private institutions and self-employed in various disciplines, including law, business, administration, teaching, consultancy, and community outreach. Encouraged by the achievements of STeMMUCo and compelled by the Church’s noble mission to educate people, the Catholic Diocese of Mtwara and STeMMUCo have jointly decided to address a challenge of students in need. Many qualified girls and boys in Tanzania fail to have access to higher due to limited financial resources. Indeed, the Catholic Diocese of Mtwara and STeMMUCo understand such a challenge as a pastoral priority. Hence, on 22nd January 2021, while sticking to TEC’s efforts, the Catholic Diocese of Mtwara and STeMMUCo jointly launched the Mtwara Pastoral Education Fund (MPEF). That Fund aims to raise funds to provide scholarships to students in need from all over Tanzania who wish to pursue studies at Certificate, Diploma and Degree levels. Since 23rd February 2022, MPEF functions under the Registered Trustees of Mtwara Pastoral Education Fund.