Development work with women at Kilimanjaro

We cooperate with several organizations.

KIWODEA (Kilimanjaro Women Development Association) is a centre in Moshi/Kilimanjaro, where women from rural regions are being trained in skills which can help them to get an income and therefore improve the life situation of their families. The women will then return to their villages and will communicate what they have learned to further women (training of trainers), while they are being further assisted by KIWODEA.

The women for instance learn the production of agricultural goods (e.g. berry wine, dried mushrooms), handcrafts (mats, baskets, souvenirs), and cloths. What is special about KIWODEA is that they are trying to cover niches that nobody else has discovered before, which make it possible to achieve a higher income. For instance, Tanzanians usually don't eat any mushrooms at all, and for this reason nobody in Tanzania is growing them. However, there is demand from expatriates and tourist restaurants. As the KIWODEA women are currently the only ones in the Kilimanjaro region growing mushrooms, they can achieve a higher income selling mushrooms than for instance selling tomatoes, bananas or mangoes that can be found on the market at high quantities throughout the year. The women are also being taught in how to conserve fruits and vegetables, to be less dependent on the seasons.

Also when it comes to handcrafts and cloths, the KIWODEA women are more creative than other producers. For instance, they have won several times the award being granted to the most interesting product being exposed at the Dar-es-Salaam handcraft show, where KIWODEA participates every year.

KIWODEA has social workers who are analysing the situation of rural women and families. Looking at their education and skills, they are planning which income-generating activities can be learned by the women. The director of KIWODEA in Moshi/Kilimanjaro, Mrs. Nancy Tesha is very educated and has university degrees as sociologist, child psychologist and a MSc in Communnity Economic Development.

The KIWODEA centre in Moshi further hosts a kindergarten, where not only the children of the women who are attending the training are being looked after, but which is also open for children from the neighbourhood. Further there is a small library, a room for physiotherapy, a training kitchen, and a small shop for the products which are being made by the members.

Volunteers and interns can take part in all areas of KIWODEA's work. Individuals are welcome who have suitable skills that he or she can train the women in. Further, volunteers are needed for marketing and distribution of the products. Volunteering and internships are further possible in social work and at the kindergarten.

Minjeni Women's Group was founded in 2005 by Mrs. Romana Olomi, a social worker from the village of Shimbwe at Kilimanjaro. Recently the group's activities have been expanded to the Rau area of Moshi town, where Minjeni's office is now located. According to Romana, around 1000 persons are directly benefitting from the work of Minjeni.

Women can become members of Minjeni and participate in several projects that Minjeni carries out. They are being trained by fellow members and can get access to funds. Minjeni has 5 departments: Administration and finance, health education and home-based care, orphans and vulnerable children, women and widows legal support, and income-generating activities.

Three times per week, the Minjeni members are providing support at the villages. The activities include:

* Visiting orphans who stay with host families and supporting them. This program is working well, however Minjeni is still planning to run its own day care centre for orphans to assist the host families.

* Concerning health education and home-based care, the villagers are primarily being educated in issues related to nutrition and HIV/AIDS. Blood pressure and blood sugar levels are being measured. Some physicians of local hospitals are participating as volunteers.

* Women and widows are being educated in legal topics which are relevant to them, such as domestic violence, drugs and alcohol, inheritance law, etc. For this, Minjeni is cooperating with organizations that specialise in certain topics such as KWIECO (legal consultation), KIWAKKUKI (HIV) and NAFGEM (female genital mutilation).

* When it comes to income-generating activities, Minjeni's members are being trained in using the available ressources at their best, for instance in how to plant and harvest crops, how to produce goat milk, make seeds, do chicken farming in Shimbwe, and how to make and sell cloths.

It is possible to volunteer/to do an internship with Minjeni on 5 days per week. While 3 days per week are being spent with the village community, 2 days per week are for office work in Moshi-Rau. This placement is participarly suitable for volunteers and interns of social work.

Info box:

Location: Moshi/Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Duration: Minimum 1 month

Previous experience required: No 

Costs: free of charge (trouble-free package for € 500 is optional)

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Included: Placement in the project; if you opt for the trouble-free package the whole range of services which is part of the trouble-free package is included

Not included: Travel, health insurance, visa, work permit