Support Women’s Empowerment, Health, and Education in Tanzania This Giving Tuesday

This Giving Tuesday, we’re proud to shine a light on the transformative work of Focus on Tanzanian Communities (FOTZC), Thomson Safaris’ sister non-profit organization. For over 25 years, FOTZC has partnered with local communities to uplift lives through projects in women’s empowerment, healthcare, clean water, and education. Their initiatives are making an impact and, with your support, they can continue to change lives for the better.

Below, read about FOTZC’s ongoing initiatives and how you can help this year.

In rural Tanzania, beekeeping has traditionally been considered a man’s job due to the physical demands and risks associated with managing hives and harvesting honey. However, FOTZC is helping women rewrite this narrative by empowering over 270 women to become skilled beekeepers.

The beekeeping project teaches women how to establish and manage their own environmentally friendly businesses. They produce honey and various beeswax products, such as soaps, candles, and lotions, which they sell to generate income. This economic independence allows them to pay for their children’s education, feed their families healthier meals and invest in other business ventures.

But the benefits of beekeeping go beyond financial stability. The program also helps women challenge traditional gender roles in Tanzania. By becoming entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities, they are gaining more influence and decision-making power, paving the way for future generations of women.

Beekeeping also plays an important role in environmental conservation. Bees are critical to pollination, which supports biodiversity and boosts agricultural productivity. By caring for bees, these women contribute to the health of local ecosystems, creating a ripple effect of positive change in their communities.

The Impact of Recent Donations

Donations submitted in the past few months will fund a new borehole at the Women’s Center in Sukenya. This is where Maasai women process honey from their hives and sell goods to visitors.

The new borehole will make maintaining honey houses, cleaning protective bee suits, and caring for equipment much simpler, leading to increased production and income. It will also provide clean, safe drinking water, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and allowing women to dedicate more time to education and entrepreneurial endeavors. Work on this is currently underway.

Since 2015, FOTZC has worked tirelessly to improve access to quality healthcare. The establishment of the Sukenya Dispensary was a groundbreaking achievement, offering vital services to thousands of people in the region. But it didn’t stop there. Thanks to the dispensary’s overwhelming success, the Tanzanian government invited FOTZC to partner in building a comprehensive health center—a project that has since become a lifeline for local communities.

Health Center with newly-built maternity ward, operating room, laboratory and staff housing

In the past few years, FOTZC has completed important additions to this health center, including a maternity ward, an operating room, a laboratory and staff housing. These new facilities are already saving lives, particularly for expectant mothers. Before the completion of the maternity ward, many women gave birth at home, without trained medical support—a practice that carries risks for both mother and child. Now, with access to the health center’s modern facilities, women can give birth with the assistance of skilled healthcare professionals should they want or need it. Moreover, the addition of the laboratory is also enhancing diagnostic capabilities, leading to more accurate and timely treatments for all patients.

Education is the foundation of a thriving community, and FOTZC is dedicated to improving educational opportunities for children in Tanzania. This year, FOTZC made significant strides in addressing infrastructure challenges in schools.

In Soit Sambu, FOTZC recently completed fundraising for two new teachers’ housing units, which will accommodate up to six teachers. This project is a major step forward in alleviating the overcrowded conditions in which 25 teachers were sharing housing meant for only nine. By providing safe and comfortable living conditions, these dedicated educators can focus on their work shaping Tanzania’s youth. They’re also more likely to stay on long-term, providing much-needed consistency for students.

Haymu education staff with teachers’ housing – these houses are similar to the ones recently built in Soit Sambu

In addition to improving living conditions for teachers, FOTZC has been tackling overcrowding in classrooms. In one case, 90 students were packed into a single classroom, making it nearly impossible for teachers to provide the individual attention that each child needs. FOTZC responded by building three new classrooms, giving students the space they need to learn effectively.