Projects

Friends of Tanzania (FOT) demonstrates its commitment to Tanzanian development by assisting the efforts of groups and organizations who are engaged in small development and educational projects. As we once enjoyed the privilege of living and working in Tanzania, now we are pleased to provide this continuing support to Tanzanians working to become more self-sufficient. FOT reviews applications for funds and awards grants several times each year. We provide assistance generally in amounts from US$300 to US$5,000 to sustainable projects that are addressing development and educational needs. FOT strives to distribute funds to projects located in different regions of the country and to include a wide variety in the development and educational sectors. Friends of Tanzania has helped more than 200 projects from 1992 through 2007 with budgeted grants amounting to $153,310 and with Giving Back grants equaling $ 55,550 through 2007 for a total of $208,860 over 16 years.

FOT gives preference to projects that meet the following criteria:

• Provide sustainability
• Benefit a group or organization rather than one person or a single family.
• Small scale in size
• Registered non-governmental organizations (NGO).
• Have community support

Examples of projects FOT may fund include: animal breeding, construction/repair of schools, agriculture and income generation. Examples of projects FOT will NOT fund: school fees, shop supplies, perishable goods such as human food or feed for animals, transport costs, religious programs and salaries.

FOT requires that recipients of our funds provide reports on the results of their projects with budget and photos (when possible).

FOT DOES NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED PROJECT APPLICATIONS.
If you have any questions, please send us an e-mail at projects@FOTanzania.org.

Tunapenda kusaidia zaidi miradi ambayo inafuata masharti yafuatayo:

• Miradi inayozalisha na kujiendeleza.
• Miradi inayowanufaisha watu katika kundi au jamii badala ya mtu mmoja au familia moja.
• Miradi iliyo midogo.
• Miradi inayoandikishwa rasmi kama chama kisicho cha kiserikali (NGO).
• Miradi ambayo inaungwa mkono na jamii kwa kiasi fulani.

Mifano ya miradi ambayo FOT inaweza kugharamia : uzalishaji wa mifugo, ujenzi wa shule na matengenezo ya majengo ya shule, kilimo, na miradi ya uzalishaji fedha. Mifano ya miradi ambayo FOT haitagharamia: ada ya shule, vifaa na bidhaa za kuuzwa madukani, chakula, chakula cha mifugo, usafiri, miradi ya kidini, mishahara ya wafanyakazi. Tunataka wapokeaji wa misaada yetu ya fedha watowe ripoti juu ya matokeo ya miradi yao yenye matumizi ya fedha na picha (kama inawezekana).

MARAFIKI WA TANZANIA HAWAPOKEA MAOMBI YA MIRADI.
Kama una maswali kuhusu miradi, tafadhali elekeza maswali yako kwa kutumia njia ya e-mail projects@FOTanzania.org.

Projects Funded During the Year 2007

2007

Songea Orphans Relief Services (ORES)
ORES, which began in 1996, has served over 600 orphans with education, home care, food and a variety of other activities for people living with AIDS and works to prevent mother to children transmission of HIV.  This Ruvuma Region project is assisted with an FOT grant for construction material for the renovation of a rehabilitation center for orphans.

Njombe West Environmental Conservation Association
The FOT grant covered materials to establish a tree nursery in Wangama, Njombe in Iringa Region in its reforestation project. The funds were used to purchase polyethylene tubes, a wheelbarrow, watering cans, and spades, and paid for the transportation of manure and tree seedlings to the tree nursery site.  In order to help to stem soil erosion, prevent rainwater runoff, and provide wood for local communities, the conservation association works to reforest rural areas that have been clear cut. 

Women’s Education and Economic Center (WEECE)
The WEECE project in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region trains up to 48 young women in sewing, embroidery, and batiking skills.  The sale of the completed garments provides a stream of revenue to the economic center and enables its members to continue their education activities in health and gender issues.  With the funds, WEECE will purchase sewing machines, fabric, and sewing notions  for their next tailoring project.

ARK Foundation, Library Project
Tumaini Community Secondary School in Dar es Salaam serves underprivileged children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. In order for the school to meet Ministry of Education standards, it needs a functioning science lab and a fully equipped library.  Funds provided by FOT went towards the purchase of timber, hardware, and “must have” books for the school library to meet those standards.

Kikundi cha Wanawake Viziwi (Deaf Women’s Group).
The group is located in Dar es Salaam and is affiliated with CHAVITA, a Tanzanian organization for the deaf.  The Deaf Women’s Group generates income through weaving, sewing, and traditional handicrafts.  With the grant money from FOT, the group purchased weaving and craft materials.  Friends of Tanzania members were also able to connect the group with Global Sistergoods, a fair trade import business, which has agreed to offer some of the Tanzanian handicrafts for sale in the United States.

Mkombozi Vocation Center Expansion Project, Moshi
This Kilimanjaro Region project supports the expansion of a vocational education center for orphans. The funds were used to finish the roof of three new classrooms, purchase doors and windows for the building, and pay for eight toilets.  The expanded facilities allow the vocational center to double the number of students served at the center. Our first assistance was in 2005. 

Youth Build Future, Mbeya
Youth Build Future is an NGO that assists physically disabled youth. FOT funds provided corrugated iron sheets, cement, sand gravel, timber, windows, a door, and nails for the construction of the mill. The new grain mill will employ the disabled who will mill maize, wheat, millet, and soya for local farmers.  Without the new mill, the farmers must carry their grain on foot 3 kilometers to the nearest mill location.
                                  
Mzumbe Women Workers Club (MWOC)
FOT first gave a grant to this women’s group in Morogoro Region in 1999.  The current FOT grant allowed the club to complete the walls and roof, purchase windows and doors, and install toilet facilities in the kindergarten and adult education center.  FOT has watched this group expand its community development efforts through the years.

Global Vision Tanzania
Based in Dar es Salaam this group assists members to build a tailoring business.  The FOT grant enabled sixteen women to purchase 4 sewing and embroidery machines and other supplies.  With economic advancement, the members will improve their efforts to educate the women in health, social and economic issues. 

Kinisa La Pentekoste, Pig Project
FOT funds to this church-based institution in Kahama, Shinyanga Region, helped purchase materials and pigs to start a pig project for its 27 members.  The funds from the project were used to support AIDS orphans. The project will bring more meat to 100 families and provide living expenses for 80 orphans.  

Maranatha Community Group
This community group founded in 2004 in Kigoma has 20 members who help orphans, disabled children and street children due to HIV/AIDS deaths among parents.  They provide day care, nursery and primary school education.  The FOT grant was for roofing materials to complete a primary school.

Second Chance Education Center, Moshi
Our partner, the Britain Tanzania Society, provided FOT with this Kilimanjaro Region project in Msranga, to help complete a school building for 57 students.  The school offers impoverished students who have had to drop out of school the opportunity to complete their education. 

St. Bakhita School of Nursing and Namanyere Hospital
A Member of FOT contributed further funding to FOT’s 2006 project in Sumbawanga,
Rukwe Region through our Giving Back Program. The nursing school has 125 students and a hospital of 150 beds without consistent clean water.  A 60 ft deep submersible electric pump, now provides adequate and safe water. 

Jacaranda School, Mwanza
Funding was provided by a member of FOT toward the cost of a well to serve 170 students at a private school in Mwanza.   This new school teaches classes in English in order to meet the demand for English educated students.  When the school is fully operational in all classes it will serve 540 students.  

Geita Secondary School Scholarship Program
A member of FOT has provided for 30 scholarships to ensure secondary school education for girls to attend Geita area secondary schools in Mwanza Region.  Now in its fourth year, this member is truly giving back to an area she taught in years ago in the Peace Corps.  If girls are to succeed, this type of help is vitally needed.

Lutengano Secondary School Scholarship Program
Another FOT member is providing help to 10 girls through scholarships at Lutengano Secondary School Tukuyu Region also through our Giving Back Program.  The aim of this program, now in its first year, is to encourage good grades and good citizenship activities at the school and to assist girls in continuing their education. 

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For projects funded previous to 2007, see our Projects Archive