It's February and Shanga is celebrating love. Today we want to share with you our own special love story - the story of Shanga staff members Livingstone and Upendo.
Livingstone says he had a crush on Upendo since they first met in a special primary school for the deaf, and was sad to loose contact in 2003 after school finished. Imagine his surprise in 2012 when Shanga's newest staff member in the weaving department turned out to be his childhood love! Livingstone remembers seeing Upendo again for the first time in the Shanga workshop
"I felt so happy and enlightened with her beauty and I felt right there that I didn’t want to lose her again" he says
Livingstone mustered the courage to ask Upendo on their first date to a park in Moshi. It wasn't long before he knew she was the woman for him.
"After a while of dating, I just felt assured that she was the woman I wanted to spend my life with, I couldn’t let this beauty slip away.
"I bought her red flowers and a card explaining how I wanted her forever by my side. At first Upendo thought I was not serious. Then I brought her an engagement ring and she agreed."
Livingstone and Upendo married in 2014 and since then have had a healthy able-bodied baby girl. Livingstone says his love for Upendo grows every day.
"Her beauty and politeness drives me crazy. I also love her self-respect and the way she cares" he says.