One year in Uuwo/ Tanzania has come to an end with marvellous views. As a farewell to the volunteers of 2015/16 mount Kilimanjaro as well as Meru presented their best sides and accompanied the way to the airport very well. Six wonderful girls who left their marks inter alia at KIUMAKO will be remembered!

from Nancy Towo in july 2016

We are about to finish our kitchen project. Now the building is done. An energy saving stove and another one with gas have been manufactured.

from Nancy Towo on 24/07/2016

The volunteers organized some shelves for our computers at the KIUMAKO Secondary School. So now we can keep the computers in a good order.

Also some other shelves in the office of the volunteers have been arranged.

Some art too, like a drawing of the African map on a wooden plate.

Nancy Towo, 23/07/2016

Sport activates, gives motivation and energy, brings fun ... That is what we want to do with our students at KIUMAKO. Some pictures of projects from the volunteers that make this possible.

For example now we have a perfect basketball field and also table-tennis.

from Nancy Towo in july 2016

This year at the RAFIKI  network meeting, which took place in the conference room of BiBeKu in Kellinghusen, nearly 30 people from different organisations were present. From the KIUMAKO Secondary School in Uuwo, where RAFIKI is supporting the building since more than 6 years, there was Rehema Msella, Pracseda Towo und William Lyimo.

While Oliver Zantow explained about the current situations at the KIUMAKO school, Marcus Wack informed about the works of the volunteers from Germany at Tanzania as well as the volunteers from Tanzania at Germany. Now Nancy Towo and Mercy Lymo are the first volunteers doing a south-north exchange through the weltwärts program in Kellinghusen.

Rahime Diallo from the Organisation DIASPORA Policy Institute lectured about Post colonialism and led a lively discussion.

At the end of the meeting all guests were invited to Pilau, maandazi, vegetables and chapati, tanzanian specials that were prepared by BIBEKU-chef Thomas Jöckel together with Pracseda Towo, Rehema Msella, Waqas Maqbool, Mercy Lymo and Nancy Towo.

From Nancy Towo, 30/05/2016

The action in the kitchen goes on. They already applied the concrete layer outside the kitchen wall and some parts inside. The sinks and the preparation place are also on progress.

Our volunteer Lars had the idea to build a sitting place under a tree. As you can see in the picture the students of KIUMAKO will be able to sit outside.

From Nancy Towo

Last week the working progress in the KIUMAKO kitchen kept on going. The people are still working on it to make sure that they finish.

The concrete for the energy saver cooker is already there. It has four cooking places. The pipes are installed in the floor and the walls. The place to put the windows is also ready.

And that’s how our kitchen building looks right now. The complision of the building will create the possibility for new teaching approach.

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

RAFIKI is now on facebook! You can look up news and current developements on our page.

We look forward to your like and hope for a good interaction with all interested persons!

Here you can visit our page.

Monday 10 August 2015

newspaper article from Norddeutsche Rundschau

Fire for Africa: Caroline Parr from Itzehoe is volunteering at the Kiumako Secondary School for knowledge and joie de vivre.

Just a few weeks ago she was still at school. From September, Caroline Parr (20) will teach children in Tanzania practical knowledge and zest for life. The Itzehoer graduate student goes to Africa as part of the voluntary service of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development for twelve months - "weltwärts", as the ministry calls it.

Her first contact with the "black continent" was two years ago - and after an adventurous vacation in South Africa she was immediately fascinated. As the question became more pressing as to what should happen after school, Caroline quickly decided: Travel would be great. Getting to know africa better as well. She set the course for a combination of these two plans with the support of her football coach. Marcus Wack not only looks after the ladies of VfL Kellinghusen, but is also deputy chairman of the association Rafiki, who initiated the construction of a secondary school in the community association Mrimbo in Tanzania. At the Kiumako Secondary School, young people between the ages of 18 and 28 are also being used in the Federal Volunteer Service: Caroline is already among the fourth "Volunteer" generation.

"Of course, we always look forward to being able to send young people from the region," says Marcus Wack, who is responsible for volunteer services. That would not be self-evident, because applicants from all over Germany must first go through a selection process. The competition is big, but Caroline has done it: She will start her service in September as one of four Rafiki volunteers, two more volunteers will be looked after by the Elimu club from Heikendorf. The six women between the ages of 18 and 22 will live in the small family guesthouse of Kiumako's administrative director Pracseda Towo. She was in Kellinghusen recently, and Caroline is convinced, "I'm in good hands."

The young Itzehoerin is looking forward to their mission, but also expects homesick attacks. "However, because I have already met my guest mum and my host and the other volunteers, I'm not too worried." She already holds it with the life motto of many Tanzanians: "Hakuna Matata" - "Everything in order" , Especially since her parents are planning a visit. In addition, there is the Internet, which works much better thanks to a new mast for half a year, says Marcus Wack. "When you're in the right place, you can even skype."

At the beginning there will be a four-week intensive language course. Because unlike in many other African countries one does not get far with English or French. Wack: "Especially in rural areas you have bad cards without Kisuaheli." The more important is the language course, because: "The young people should learn a lot about the country and its culture." In return, the guests from Germany give the locals practical on the subject Waste separation or reforestation - this is how a tree is planted for each Kiumako student - cooking, sewing or saving energy. This time, a new type of stove is to be introduced, which requires only one sixth of the amount of wood used in conventional fireplaces. In addition, it is about giving joy of life, says Caroline. "We want to make life more beautiful with simple things." Therefore, also games, fun and sports are on the program - depending on the personal inclination of the volunteers. "The good thing is: Everyone can do something, but nobody has to," says the young Itzehoerin. That take the pressure. "For example, we know that even if we do not cook with them, they get something to eat at school." Caroline definitely wants to train football with the kids - especially with the girls. She also wants to get involved in the environmental group. "Wood is very scarce there - everything that grows somehow gets chopped off immediately," reports Wack. If you start with this problem, so Caroline, everyone helped.

Even in the clothing style, the young Germans should adapt and show that they are not just tourists. "The complete immersion in the culture - that's what we feel like," emphasizes the high school graduate. If school holidays are in Tanzania, there is an opportunity to travel to other African countries. Together with Wack, who is coming to Tanzania for the interim seminar during the Easter holidays. On August 19th, he accompanies Caroline with her best friend and teammate Jule to Mrimbo. For example, the 20-year-old has some days off with familiar faces before the service starts. But for the following twelve months away from Itzehoe, she is optimally prepared through seminars, health care and practical tips from former volunteers. For Caroline Parr it is clear: "Ninapenda kuondoka" - "I want to leave!">

Sending Organization of Caroline Parr is Youth Abroad, KJSH e.V .. her project can be supported by donations: Account Owner KJSH e.V., IBAN DE77 2003 0000 0070 3215 05, BIC HYVE DEMM 300, Intended Use: Tanzania 2015 / Donation Caroline Parr.

Friday 24 July 2015

newspaper article from Norddeutsche Rundschau

The Störstadt may continue to call itself Fairtrade Town (FTT). Reinhard Rübner (SPD) in the community center had cause for double joy. The Deputy Mayor not only opened the "Sweet & Bitter" show in the "Make Chocolate Fair" campaign there. In response to the applause, he also announced that the city retains the FTT seal. The title, which was initially awarded for two years in 2013, was extended for another four years following an examination by Fairtrade Deutschland.

At the start of the exhibition, Rübner welcomed not only the members of the local FTT steering group but also Pracseda Towo from the Tanzanian Rafiki partner municipality Mrimbo as well as Markus Schwarz from the alliance Eine Welt Schleswig-Holstein (BEI). He found fair trade products in a tour of all major stores, according to Rübner. "Sugar, rice, tea, coffee and bananas with seals all suppliers have on the shelf." This shows that the trade takes on the topic. Fair trade chocolate, whose "sweet enjoyment and bitter truth" is the central theme of the show, was in many variations. Among other things, the small exhibition shows the path of the cocoa bean to chocolate at five discovery stations. Above all else, fair trade meant that producers would receive a decent wage for their work, he pointed out.

The exhibition, organized by Inkota Network, came to the city on the suggestion of Markus Schwarz, "who regularly provides us with information," said Oliver Zantow, member of the Fairtrade steering group. The show was set up with a video and audio station as well as visual aids and information material with the help of other members as well as the BiBeKu and the city marketing, Zantow thanked all involved helpers.

On the FTT status he said: With calm but continuous strength Kellinghusen has managed to become one of the first cities in the country Fairtrade Town. Also on site, it should be stated: "Fair trade is on the way out of the exotic niche to the mainstream." But it's not just about the end consumers who decide with their shopping for fair wages, added Schwarz. Above all, the manufacturers would have their promises on fair conditions for the producers to redeem.