• Nursery School: KIWODEA has a Montessori nursery school for children ages 2-5. The classroom consists of two teachers and roughly 25 students. The school is well equipped with resources such as two chalkboards, puzzles, flash cards, and is a great learning environment. At the school, the children are taught English, reading, math, and writing and we are very proud of their proficiency. The students are provided with meals during the school day (porridge, lunch, and a snack an afternoon snack). Finally, there is also an outside play area where the children can enjoy time outside.

• Library: The library is a promising new addition to KIWODEA. The room consists of shelves on the perimeter of the room where the books are stored, as well as a large rug in the center where children can sit and read. There is also a table in the library with current periodicals. The books, which have been donated by volunteers, are mostly for nursery age children, and are a great resource to the KIWODEA students, but KIWODEA also plans to get more adult resources so older members of the community can enjoy the library as well. We hope to expand the library by finding a full-time librarian, creating programs for adults and for children who do not attend the KIWODEA nursery school so the library can serve as an even greater educational resource to the community, getting more books, installing more shelves, and adding more chairs for children and adults to sit.

• WTF/SACCOS: KIWODEA’s original primary function was to serve as a micro-loan program so women of the community could start or expand their own businesses. There are three levels of loans which women can take advantage of, which are bronze, silver, and gold. The first loan is for 20,000tsh and then if the women are able to pay that back they become eligible for the silver loan of 50,000tsh. Finally, the gold level loan is for the amount of (forget?). Additionally to providing the loans, KIWODEA has also provided several workshops, which educate the women on the importance of using the money specifically for their businesses by purchasing more raw materials. Overall the micro loans have greatly improved the lives of many of the women. We are now in the process of turning WTF into a SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization, a type of credit union) in order to increase our ability to give loans, ensure that loans are repaid, and provide a greater number of resources to the members. (look up www.woccu.org to learn more

•  Income Generating Activities: KIWODEA acts as a resource for women to gain skills as well as to have outlets for their goods and crafts. These projects include the KIWODEA tailors, banana fiber crafts, and beekeeping. These crafts, along with other goods made by members and which are commonly used in the community (school supplies, kangas, etc) are sold in the KIWODEA showroom.

• Internet: The computer room is equipped with two computers, working internet, a printer and a TV with an xbox game player. The purpose of the room is for members of the community to be able use the internet and TV for leisure as well as for work. In order to enjoy these accommodations, the community members must pay a small fee, which goes towards the costs of the internet connection and electricity.

Recently, computer classes have also begun where volunteers give lessons on how to use a computer as well as teach other basic skills. In these classes, members of the community, mostly young women and men, can come in and learn how to do things like a Google search, open a word document, write an email, or use Microsoft excel. Better yet, the volunteers have made it so that these classes are free for the participants.

•  Parkinson’s and Disabled: KIWODEA has recently expanded to help those members of the community who are disabled or have Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s is very rare in Tanzania and so there are very limited treatment and support options for patients and their families. The disabled in Tanzania have similar problems where the limited resources and infrastructure common throughout Africa are compounded with a strong stigma against physical and mental disabilities, meaning that many disabled people receive very little treatment and do not attend school. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of taking care of a loved one with Parkinson’s, Mama Nancy put together a team including her (a trained social worker), an occupational therapist, and a speech therapist in order to act as a treatment and support resource for people with Parkinson’s Disease or disabilities and their families. They see clients on Fridays.