Where We Serve / Kara Bible Translation

Kara Bible Translation

Equip Ukara Island leaders with resources and training to bring God’s Word to Kara speakers—transforming communities through biblical storytelling.

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Bible Translation

Country

  • Tanzania

Region

  • East Africa

Language Population

115,000

Reaching Island Communities: Bridging Hope Through Translation

The Kara-speaking communities of Ukara Island in northern Tanzania live in geographically isolated villages. Access to Scripture in Kara has been limited, and most teaching has relied on Swahili. This program brings Kara translators and storytellers together with experienced mentors from the nearby Kerewe language community to begin Scripture work that is locally led and understood. Training takes place within the region, strengthening long-term translation capacity among island communities.

Empower Local Leaders

We work alongside Kara church and community leaders as they develop skills in oral Bible storytelling and translation. This approach allows Scripture to be shared in Kara through local voices and within existing community structures on Ukara Island.

Program Goals

  1. Establish local leadership structures to guide Scripture work.
  2. Train Kara storytellers to prepare and share oral Bible stories.
  3. Increase access to Scripture through Kara-language storytelling.

Kara Bible Translation Program Plan

Step 1

Build Community Leadership

  • Create collaborative translation framework
  • Establish advisory committee
  • Train local leaders

Step 2

Develop Storytelling Capacity

  • Identify and empower local storytellers
  • Conduct skills workshops
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing

Step 3

Expand Scripture Engagement

  • Broaden biblical narrative understanding
  • Create and distribute audio Bible stories
  • Conduct community feedback sessions
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Meet the Local Team

Team Members

Official Partner:
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania

Community Faciliator (TBD)

Partner Organizations

Honoring the Language

Kara is a Bantu language of Tanzania.

Kara is spoken primarily within the eight villages of Ukara Island in Lake Victoria. 

Jita–Kara–Kwaya are close to being dialects.

Program Progress

  • Selected and trained three Kara oral Bible storytellers.
  • Completed two storytelling and capacity building workshops.
  • Prepared and shared 10 Kara oral Bible stories.
  • Conducted community feedback meetings to review stories.
  • Formed and trained a local advisory committee.
  • Engaged church leaders and community leaders through storytelling events and meetings.
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Help Bring Scripture to Life

Your donation helps translate God’s Word into the Kara language. Every gift makes a difference.

  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for Kara storytellers as they continue preparing and sharing Bible stories.

    Become a Prayer Partner

  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for advisory committee members as they guide the work locally.

    Become a Prayer Partner

  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for church leaders engaging Scripture through Kara oral Bible stories.

    Become a Prayer Partner

  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for clarity and faithfulness as future Scripture work is planned.

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  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for provision to complete the two‑person guesthouse used by visiting trainers and facilitators.

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  • Join Us in Prayer

    Pray for safe travel and productive training visits connected to the Kara program.

    Become a Prayer Partner