Projects
Click through to read more about each of these ongoing projects in the Mwenge community.
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EDUCATION — The Mwenge woodcarver’s market in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is filled with talented artistans trying to make ends meet. After all the shops close up for the evening, you’ll find many of the artists making their way to the back of the market, take their seat on a crowded workbench, and – if they are lucky – pull out a pen and paper. This is where they gather for their nightly English class. Volunteer exchange students from all over the world join locals from the nearby University of Dar es Salaam to teach this enthusiastic crowd, many of whom never attended school. |
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MICROFINANCE — What started with an informal, out-of-pocket loan to three struggling woodcarvers has now become a flourishing partnership that combines tourism and microfinance in an attempt to improve the lives of aspiring entrepreneurs. This unique model educates foreign travelers as to what life is like in Mwenge, and 100% of the tour fees go to one of the small businesses visited on the tour. |
