English summary (Update October 2012)

Rafiki za Tanzania (Friends of Tanzania in Kiswahili) is a non-governmental organization founded in November 2007, with the aim to expand individual, private initiatives and to make use of synergy effects between them.

Our projects become even more effective with YOUR help!

• Supporting school fees for further education. Our first scholar, in 2007, was a girl attending secondary school at Kilimanjaro. Currently, we support almost 40 students to cover annual tuition fees for secondary school, high school or other training.
• Initiate and maintain school contacts. Pupils from schools in Hanover / Hanover Region are exchanging letters with pupils in schools in the Kilimanjaro region, including Maasai-territory. This has encouraged several schools to develop independent partnerships that do not any longer require our direct support.
• Encourage Massai-parents to send their children to school. Providing school uniforms and other required study materials can be decisive of whether or not a Massai child is send to primary school. The number of Maasai children, admitted to secondary schools is rising – partly due to our support.
• Support health care at a regional hospital, run by the local sugar cane planting company. Patients, not able to settle their bills receive no treatment. The fund covers the costs of hospital treatment and medication for those in need.

One of our success stories: A young girl who worked as a maid while completing training in a sewing workshop. Her final marks were calling for further education, but financial support was lacking. With our support, she finished secondary school in 2010 and will complete a special secretary course for Presidental offices by the end of 2012. She is looking forward to get a good job in 2013 and has developed into a self-confident, young woman. Many others follow her example to live a better life in independence.

The financial assistance in education and health care represent our contribution of a fairer distribution of education and life opportunities all over the world.

Inter-cultural exchange fosters greater understanding of the cultural differences and deepens the knowledge of each others personal living conditions. It increases our appreciation for the world - as well as for our immediate neighbourhood.

The roots of the politically and denominationally independent association stem from the partnership between the protestant-Lutheran parish Hanover-Marienwerder and the five communities at the foot of Kilimanjaro in the north of Tanzania (formed in 1973).

The association has become an important and well received extension of the Tanzanian partnership. Long standing personal friendships have been formed.

We appreciate your interest in Rafiki za Tanzania.

You can participate or assist us by joining our association or through donations. All donations are welcome! We also welcome any other suggestions you may have, such as schools / students wishing to make contact, or organising school events. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like further information.

Account no. 580 780 800
Hannoversche Volksbank
BLZ 251 900 01
SWIFT: VOHADE2HXXX
IBAN: DE91 2519 0001 0580 7808 00

County court Hanover VR 200 754
Tax number 25/207/43403

The annual membership fee for a single person is 30 Euro. The family fee is 25 Euro per adult. The membership fee is due on January 15th each year.

 

Extract of association rules:

§ 2 Purpose and common public interest

(1) The purpose of the association is to foster and support inter-cultural communication, education and health care.

In Germany, the aim of this association is to encourage the integration of all fellow citizens, native and immigrant with the ultimate intent of contributing to a modern, integrated and peaceful cohabitation. The intention is to ensure that the diversity of cultures is maintained whilst at the same time encouraging a lively inter-cultural exchange and a mutual understanding.

The association seeks to form the same inter-cultural exchange in Tanzania. Its most important humanitarian aim is to contribute to a fairer global society through projects in the following areas:

• Support for aid projects in education, including kindergartens
• Provision of student sponsorships up to graduation
• Promotion of international school partnerships
• Assistance in health care and preventive health care
• Inter-cultural familiarisation and exchange