About us – Mo Dewji Foundation (v2)

WHO WE ARE

At the Mo Dewji Foundation (MDF), we are proud to carry forward the legacy of our founder, Mohammed “Mo” Dewji, who established the foundation in 2014 with a vision to create meaningful change in Tanzania. Our approach is data-driven and deeply rooted in the values of innovation and sustainability. We are dedicated to delivering lasting solutions that enhance the quality of life for Tanzanians, with a focus on three core pillars: education, healthcare, and water.

Through these pillars, we strive to empower communities, improve well-being, and create a brighter, more resilient future for all.

Our Vision

A Tanzania where individuals thrive in a society that is prosperous, equitable, and sustainable.

Our Mission

To improve the lives of Tanzanians with access to higher education, accessible health care and clean, safe water.

Our Values

Empathy • Integrity • Innovation • Excellence • Partnerships

OUR HISTORY

The journey of the Mo Dewji Foundation (MDF) began with a personal experience that shaped the vision and mission of its founder, Mohammed Dewji. Born in the town of Singida, Tanzania, Mohammed’s early life was marked by limited access to healthcare and education. Despite these challenges, his family’s successful trading business provided him with the opportunity to receive an advanced education and quality health care. After graduating from Georgetown University, Mohammed returned to Singida after 20 years and was confronted with the realities of poverty, where children were collecting brown drinking water from puddles and schools were few and far between.

Compelled by the conditions he witnessed, Mohammed decided to take action. Elected as a Member of Parliament at the age of 29, he dedicated ten years to improving health, education, and water accessibility in Singida. His efforts led to substantial advancements: constructing wells that increased access to clean water by 60%, building secondary schools that boosted student enrollment by 90%, providing mosquito nets, and administering 1,500 cataract surgeries. Concurrently, Mohammed expanded his father’s commodities trading house into MeTL Group, one of East Africa’s largest conglomerates, employing over 34,800 people and contributing approximately 4% to Tanzania’s GDP.

In 2014, Mohammed stepped down from politics to focus on MeTL Group, but his commitment to supporting under-served and underprivileged communities remained steadfast. That same year, he founded the Mo Dewji Foundation, dedicated to transforming lives through sustainable development in education, health care, and access to clean and safe water.

In 2016, Mohammed signed the Giving Pledge and reaffirmed his dedication to philanthropy, committing to donate half of his fortune. Today, MDF continues to build Tanzania’s next generation of leaders and change-makers, empowering the youth to realize their dreams – soar to heights.

“When I reflect on the past year at the Mo Dewji Foundation, I am filled with gratitude for our achievements and excitement for the new era of data-driven philanthropy that we are entering. We look forward to continuing to forge strategic partnerships and leading ground-breaking initiatives as we fight for Tanzania’s future and its people.”

- Mohammed Dewji, MDF Founder

#MoCares

“I refuse to believe that the life of a child in the developed world is more precious than the life of a child in Tanzania.
A LIFE IS EQUAL TO A LIFE, no matter what.”

– Mohammed “Mo” Dewji, MDF Founder