CSR explained

What does CSR mean?

CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility.

It is all about companies going the extra mile to do good things for society and the environment, even if they are not legally required to.

CSR is important to companies because it helps them show that they care about more than just making money. When companies take actions to address social and environmental issues, people tend to like them more. Customers, employees, investors, and others see these companies as responsible and trustworthy.

By being socially responsible, companies can build better relationships with their customers, employees, and the communities they operate in. It's like saying, "Hey, we're not just here to sell stuff, we genuinely want to make a positive difference in people's lives."

Being socially responsible also helps companies manage risks. They can anticipate and tackle problems like climate change, human rights issues, or changes in regulations, which can protect their business from potential harm.

Another important aspect is that CSR helps companies attract and keep talented employees. Nowadays, many people want to work for companies that align with their values and have a sense of purpose. So, if a company shows that it's committed to doing good, it becomes more appealing to potential employees and can keep its existing ones happy.

CSR also encourages companies to be innovative. By considering social and environmental factors, businesses can come up with new ideas, develop sustainable products and services, and stay ahead of the competition.

Finally, CSR is essential for the long-term survival of businesses and the planet. By taking actions that make the world a better place, companies contribute to a more fair and sustainable future. It's about looking beyond short-term profits and thinking about the well-being of future generations.

In a nutshell, CSR is about companies doing good things beyond what's legally required, and it's important because it helps them gain trust, manage risks, attract great employees, be innovative, and ensure a better future for everyone.

Does every company have a csr programme?

Not all companies have a formal CSR program in place. The adoption of CSR practices varies among companies and industries. While many large corporations have established dedicated CSR initiatives, smaller businesses or start-ups may not have formal programs but still engage in socially responsible activities on a smaller scale.

The decision to implement a CSR program depends on various factors such as the company's size, resources, industry, values, and stakeholders' expectations. Some companies may prioritize CSR as a fundamental part of their business strategy, while others may focus on different priorities or may not have fully recognized the importance of CSR.

However, it's worth noting that the concept of CSR and the awareness of its importance have been growing in recent years. Many businesses are recognizing that being socially responsible is not only beneficial for society but also advantageous for their reputation, customer loyalty, and long-term sustainability. As a result, more companies are integrating CSR principles into their operations, even if they don't have formal programs.

In some cases, companies may engage in specific CSR activities without having a comprehensive program. They may support local charities, participate in community events, implement environmentally friendly practices, or donate a portion of their profits to social causes. These individual actions can still contribute to CSR, even without a structured program.

Ultimately, the extent and formality of a company's CSR program depend on its unique circumstances and the importance it places on corporate social responsibility.

CSR vs Social Enterprise

CSR and social enterprise are related concepts but have distinct differences.

CSR is typically integrated into a company's operations and can cover various aspects such as ethical business practices, environmental sustainability, community engagement, and employee well-being. CSR is generally practiced by both for-profit and non-profit organizations, with the aim of aligning business activities with social and environmental goals.

On the other hand, a social enterprise is a specific type of business entity that operates with the primary goal of addressing a particular social or environmental problem. Social enterprises are profit-driven organizations, but their core purpose is to create positive social impact rather than maximizing financial returns for shareholders. These businesses use commercial strategies to tackle social issues, combining entrepreneurship with a mission to bring about social change. The profits generated by social enterprises are often reinvested into their social mission rather than being solely distributed to shareholders.

While CSR is an approach adopted by companies to demonstrate responsibility and contribute to society, social enterprises are businesses specifically designed to create social impact through their products, services, or business models. CSR can be part of a company's broader strategy, whereas social enterprise operates with a primary focus on social or environmental objectives and uses business as a means to achieve them.

In summary, CSR represents the responsible actions and initiatives undertaken by companies to address societal and environmental concerns, while a social enterprise is a business entity created with the explicit purpose of generating social impact alongside financial sustainability.

CSR and Australia for cedar tanzania

With so many concepts and acronyms, many of them overlapping, it is easy to get a just a little confused.

We can deliver CSR programmes for companies. We have the experience and expertise - just like you would outsource IT services or accounting to companies with that expertise.

Winner of the "CEO of the Year Award 2023"

Nina Hjortlund not only got nominated in the category for CEO of the Year 2023 in the category for Best Community Empowerment Organisation. She also WON!

Below we share the article APAC Insider has publicised upon announcing the winner

Tanzania acts as a home to approximately 60 million people, but, unfortunately, 90% of said population lives in poverty. Just over half of the populace are living on a daily income that amounts to less than the cost of a takeaway coffee, with almost 50 million having to manage their lives on significantly less.

Its people struggle with what is inarguably the definition of extreme poverty, and this is something that Nina Hjortlund, CEO of Australia for Cedar Tanzania has recognised. We investigate how Nina utilises her position to advocate for a better tomorrow for the people of Tanzania.

Poverty is a horrendous state of living that has unfortunately struck a vast majority of the globe, and it’s an issue that has been ongoing for countless years. It’s a vicious cycle that traps adults and children alike, and introduces a whole host of problems that affect the entire world. Australia for Cedar Tanzania, spearheaded by Nina Hjortlund, aims to do all it can to influence change, however. Be it through its on-the-ground projects, or its informative articles on how important it is to contribute towards change, it’s devoted to making a true difference that’ll benefit the people struggling the most. 

Australia for Cedar Tanzania provides volunteers and advisors wherever necessary to its on-the-ground organisation, Cedar Tanzania, in order to try to build up a better state of living for the population of Tanzania. Not only does it provide education and better healthcare, but it contributes towards empowering the local populace to ensure that their voices are heard. It strongly values respect, safety, quality, partnerships, forgiveness, and integrity, and adheres to these prospects to deliver world-changing assistance those who desperately need it. 

At the forefront of all of this is Nina, a CEO unlike any other. After having lived in Tanzania for 13 years, Nina founded Australia for Cedar Tanzania – an organisation that supports the implementation of projects that are each built around the desire to provide more for the people of Tanzania. She takes a holistic approach towards poverty alleviation, and is already creating a sustainable and positive change for over 35,000 residents in rural Tanzania. But this is just the beginning, and Nina is constantly spreading awareness through multiple platforms and methods. 

Since establishing Australia for Cedar Tanzania, Nina has expanded the business with Swahili Sensations in 2020, which focuses on importing handmade crafts with a modern twist from Tanzania. The entire purpose of Swahili Sensations is to secure the culture and livelihood of artisans across East Africa, and its success is all thanks to Nina’s compassionate approach towards collaboration. She is frequently developing new ideas and proposing new projects, and her work is quite clearly making a difference within rural Tanzanian communities.

However, despite being well equipped to lead Australia for Cedar Tanzania, Nina still isn’t satisfied with her current level of knowledge. As such, she follows her pursuit of continuous learning, and is currently undertaking a Micro Master’s at Queensland University in Leadership and Global Development. She does this, all whilst managing the practises of Australia for Cedar Tanzania. Her determination to give her best to the people who need it the most is truly inspiring, and it’s visible through every action and project that Cedar Tanzania undertakes.

Nina puts her heart into the difference she’s making and will never hesitate to explain to anyone who’s curious just how crucial it is to eliminate poverty. Her beliefs are steadfast and admirable, and the work that she’s encouraging has already proven to be making a monumental difference. And yet, Nina is insistent that more work can always be done, and it’s this dedication towards advocating for the people of Tanzania that truly makes her a CEO that stands out among the rest. 

Thank you for celebrating with us.

5 reasons NOT to support a charity in Africa

We often hear arguments as to why people feel they shouldn't support us. Here are the 5 most common ones - and what we think.

Please tell us if you agree.

#1

“Charity begins at home”

We have problems in our own country and we should resolve those first. Only then, when all our problems are solved, should we start worrying about others.

To that, we believe we all have a “Global Responsibility”. One doesn’t negate the other. In fact, we strongly believe in doing both. Looking after people and causes in our own country never finishes and should continue. But that doesn’t mean we cannot also care about other people and other causes.

#2

“Aid doesn’t work anyway”

We keep giving money to people in Africa and we can’t see any changes or any improvements. It doesn’t make any difference.

To some extend we agree. Handing out money is not sustainable and doesn’t foster change. We believe in evidence-based solutions proven to improve living standards for generations to come. The old saying ‘Give a man a fish and you help him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you help him for a lifetime’ is very relevant here.

#3

“Corruption”

We don’t know where the money goes anyway. Only a fraction of donations are going to help the people in need.

We have seen our fair share of corruption and therefore we know the pitfalls. By having an office in both Australia and Tanzania - which also means we are registered in both countries - means we are very transparent with our spending and costs. Look for organisations that have minimal layers and are hands-on.

#4

“Aid creates dependency”

If we keep supporting people they will never learn to be independent. We will end up having to support them financially forever.

We believe in empowerment. Showing and teaching people they are able to learn a skill, set up a business, or improve their academic capabilities - no matter their situation. We believe in community-led solutions and working together as a team finding ways people can lift themselves out of poverty - with a little nudge.

#5

“Donor Fatigue”

We can’t bear to hear another word about how miserable other people are. We already give left, right and center.

Choose your causes and stick with them. Change doesn’t happen over night. Being able to have empathy with people across the globe can open your eyes to new experiences. And sometimes, sharing a post with 5 friends is just as valuable as a donation. Anyone can afford that, right?

Are you going to share this post?

Thank you,

Nina

Are you looking for a partner?

We are!

We believer partnering across sectors makes us all stronger. That’s why we seek out companies who really wants to get bang for their buck and make a difference in the world.

When a company partner with us on their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR or the ‘S’ in ESG) projects, they can focus on their core competencies and business activities. CSR projects often require a significant amount of time, resources, and expertise, which may not be available within the company. By outsourcing these projects to us (or other NGOs), companies can free up their internal resources and focus on what they do best.

Another benefit to cross-sector partnerships on CSR projects is access to expertise and experience - for both the company and the NGO.

We have a wealth of local knowledge and experience in the local area, in the culture, social issues and strengths, environmental problems and potential solutions, community development, and healthcare. By working with us, companies can tap into this expertise and leverage it to achieve their CSR goals.

We have established long-standing networks and relationships with local communities, which can be difficult for companies to build on their own. We can help companies gain access to these networks and build stronger relationships with stakeholders and communities.

Partnerships enhances company reputation and brand image. When a company engages in socially responsible activities, it can help improve its public image and reputation. We deliver regular reports ready to publicise, financial reports and a solid measurement of impact. That’s a pretty good ROI!

Overall, partnering on CSR projects is a win-win situation for both companies and NGOs. Companies achieve their CSR goals more effectively and efficiently while freeing up their internal resources, and NGOs can leverage their expertise and experience to make a positive impact in the communities they serve.

What do we offer you?

We assist you, and your company, to reach your ESG goals in an easy and impactful way. We have the experience and expertise to implement sustainable CSR projects on your behalf.

We create pathways for engagement and value alignment throughout the process. We make sure the project we work on together reflects your core values and beliefs.

We provide clearly defined targets and well-documented results. We deliver regular reports both on social impact and on financial measures.

What are you waiting for?

Contact us now to be our partner!

Thank you

Nina

Why should we care about poverty in Africa?

Africa, and Tanzania specifically, is so far away. That can’t possible affect me, nor be my responsibility, right?

I agree, Tanzania is far away - more than 8,000km if you could fly directly - but poverty in Africa DOES affect you on daily basis, and it IS everyones responsibility. I’ll tell you why:

First of all, there are the humanitarian reasons.

Poverty is a human rights issue, and everyone deserves to have access to basic needs such as food, water, healthcare, and education. Poverty in Africa can lead to widespread suffering, and it is our moral obligation as global citizens to help those in need. Don’t you think?

Secondly, there are economic reasons.

Poverty in Africa has negative economic impacts not just for the continent but also for the global economy. Poverty leads to decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs, and decreased economic growth, which has a ripple effect throughout the world. We are seeing it now with inflation and recessions, and increased costs of living.

Poverty also affects political stability.

Poverty is a major contributor to political instability and conflict, which has serious consequences for both the continent and the world. By addressing poverty in Africa, we can help promote political stability and reduce the likelihood of conflict and instability.

Conflict and instability often leads to an increase in migration and in refugees.

Global health is another reason to want to minimise poverty in Africa.

Poverty can contribute to the spread of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, and recently we have all experienced how COVID affected us all.

Addressing poverty in Africa can help to improve public health outcomes both within Africa and globally.

Finally, climate change is connected to poverty alleviation.

Poverty also contributes to climate change and environmental degradation, which has serious consequences for the world. By addressing poverty in Africa and promoting sustainable development, we can help to mitigate the effects of climate change and promote a more sustainable future.

This is truly in everyone’s interests, right?

We can help you!

We give you a tangible and impactful way to make a positive and sustainable change for people living in severe poverty.

We offer you a pathway to create this change with minimal administrative layers between donation to beneficiary.

 Thank YOU

Nina

There is nothing small about a smallholder

Smallholder farmers are people who own or work on small plots of land, typically less than two hectares, and rely on farming as their primary source of income. These farmers often grow a variety of crops and raise livestock to provide for their families and sell surplus produce in local markets.

Smallholder farmers are a vital part of the global food system, producing a significant amount of the world's food, particularly in developing countries. In Tanzania, for example, over 75% of the country's population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, and smallholder farmers produce about 90% of the country's food.

Smallholder farmers face a number of challenges, including limited access to financing, markets, and technology. Many also lack basic infrastructure, such as roads and irrigation systems, which can make it difficult to transport and store their crops. Additionally, smallholder farmers are vulnerable to climate change and other environmental risks, such as droughts and floods.

Women make up a significant proportion of smallholder farmers in Tanzania. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women make up over 70% of the agricultural labor force in Tanzania and are responsible for producing over half of the country's food.

However, despite their significant contributions to agriculture, women farmers in Tanzania face a range of challenges that can limit their productivity and economic opportunities.

These challenges include limited access to land, credit, and markets, as well as social and cultural barriers that prevent women from fully participating in decision-making and accessing resources.

By investing in women farmers, we can help to promote sustainable development, reduce poverty, and ensure food security for all.

Thank you

Nina

How do you grapple with old age when you live in severe poverty?

As most women are not employed formally, they do not have a pension to look forward to, nor would they have a any savings for old age. Less than 25% of all Tanzanians hold a bank account – and the number of women with a bank account is significantly less.

Working in the informal sector means doing cash-in-hand jobs like selling tomatoes on the side of the road, rearing chickens and selling the eggs, doing cleaning services for someone more well-off, or mending clothes.

Typically, these jobs only generate enough cash for you to get by (or not even that) and there is not anything left for saving.

So how are you going to eat and pay for medical needs in old age?

The most common way is to have enough children for them to look after you financially and practically in your old age.

Tanzanian women have an average of four or five children – the global average is two. It is a vicious cycle. Having children young – Tanzania has a high rate of teen pregnancies – negatively affects their opportunities to have a better education or job. Knowledge and acceptance of contraception is lacking or misleading. Abortion is illegal and although backstreet clinics exists their procedures comes at a high risk.

Tanzania will be one of eight countries responsible for more than half of the increase in global population by 2050. Five of those countries will be in Africa. According to UN, sub-Saharan Africa’s population will nearly double to more than 2 billion by 2050. The region is growing three times faster than the global average and, by 2070, it will become the most populous place globally, surpassing Asia.

One way of breaking this cycle is providing ways for women to become financially independent and remove barriers (such as finances) to send girls to school to acquire knowledge, and getting better and higher paying jobs.

That is one of the very important outcomes of our Kilimu Bora | Smart Farming project:

“Participants are offered a hands-on training, in which they are taught both the agricultural and business aspects of operating and managing a mushroom farm.

By giving a preference to women and people with disabilities we are ensuring the initiative is supporting the most vulnerable groups within the community.

Through research, it has been proven that when women are being supported in taking up income generating activities, the financial outcome is then reinvested for the benefit of the entire household i.e., invested in children’s education and health or in long-term and sustainable investments in collective living standards. Furthermore, such women tend to benefit from increased social status due to their newfound income, directly improving situations in which gender inequality is the norm.”

If you want to support us or know more about our Kilimu Bora | Smart Farming project you can click here

Are you off to a great year like us?

2023 has begun and we have hit the ground running! 

First, I owe you a MASSIVE thank you!

We raised a whooping AUD $8,300 during our Christmas Campaign - well above our $5,000 goal - for our Outreach project.

This means we can buy TWO NEW MOTORBIKES as well as cover all expenses to MEDICINE AND TREATMENTS, and MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. All of this is covered for a FULL YEAR. Thank s to you and your amazing support. 

We are beyond grateful for the generosity and trust you have shown us.

Our team has ordered the motorbikes and as soon as they arrive I will send you an update from the field. We can’t wait - and neither can the 35,000 residents of Nyamatongo.

What are we planning for 2023?

Healthcare

With our Outreach Team well supported, we are going to continue to deliver healthcare to residents who are unable to come to the health centre. Many times this is because of disabilities, or simply due to not knowing a condition should or could be treated. A lot of our work consist in sharing knowledge around prevention and treatment of injuries and diseases.

Kamanga Health Centre, our small-scale hospital, is also thriving. It is a busy place tending to more than 1,000 patients every month. Although we do not have a surgical unit only a small number of our patients (less than 3%) needs referral to the larger District Hospital. We are happy we can provide those who need it safe and stable transport in our on-site ambulance.

Ante- and postnatal care as well a safe environment to give birth is also a very important function of Kamanga Health Centre. We generally tend to 100+ pregnant women every month and deliver just short of two babies a day on average. Giving birth in Tanzania can be a deadly event and every day 30 mothers die during childbirth. In most cases, from preventable causes.

Every week we invite families to bring their babies under 5 years old to our ‘baby clinic’. Here we vaccinate children, weigh them and check their general health. We talk to families about nutrition and answer any health concerns they might have. This means we have a very high vaccination rate in our communities and generally we see about 30 children and their families every week.

We couldn’t do this work without our close relationship to the local Community Health Workers. These are locally elected health workers from each village or area and is often the first person to know if anyone in the area is in need of medical care. We provide medical training to our Community Health Workers and in turn they help spread knowledge on family planning, danger signs during pregnancy, and many other health related topics. They visit close to 250 households on a monthly basis.

Entrepreneurship

Last year, we finalised our pilot projet focusing on mushroom farming, entrepreneurship and Climate Change. Mushrooms are a great crop as it climate change resilient and you do not need to own land to be able to grow them.

Our Pilot was a great success. We learned a lot along the way and we are now ready to launch a full 12 month program after which it will be financially sustainable in itself. We are aiming to educate 200 residents every year and assist them to set up their own collaborative small-holder farms. The reason we are encouraging collaborative farms is to benefit from shared overhead costs and shared knowledge and responsibility. 

This project has so many benefits - I have listed a few of the major benefits below:

·       Increase in income for the whole household

·       Increase in income leads to better healthcare and education

·       Increase in self-esteem for women and people with disabilities

·       With self-esteem and independence comes healthier individuals and a higher uptake of birth control

·       A new and affordable nutritious crop available to the whole community

·       Mushrooms can help combat some of the nutritional deficiencies we see daily

·       More children in schools/less drop out caused by economic strain or health issues

·       Innovative low-tech and low-cost driers not needing electricity

·       Any excess production to be dried and access to international export channels

·       Project able to finance itself within 12 months

·       Excess funding and earnings to be used for scaling and other projects within our organisation

Of course, all of this is pending funding. We are actively seeking funding from all corners of the world. The full cost for a 12 month project is AUD $150,000 (approximately USD $100,000). If you want to know more about the Theory of Change, budget and project details please feel free to contact me directly by clicking the button below:

Climate Change and Green Kamanga

As everyone else, we are trying to do our part to combat climate change. In 2021 we planted 600+ trees germinated from seeds. We focused on quick growing timber and fruit trees such as mango, papaya and avocado. We continued this in 2022 and planted an additional 600 trees in Kamanga and surrounds.

But this is just the beginning. 

We are currently developing a 3-year project that will see to plant no less than 100,000 trees! Yes, you heard me right, 100,000 trees in 3 years! 

This 3-year project will build on establishing 100 community self-help groups, as well as provide education on environment and climate change through primary school clubs. Focus will also be on fuel-efficient stoves and the importance of using improved latrines and clean water. 

It is a project with BIG goals and a huge IMPACT or all our 35,000 residents. Of course this also comes with a need for funding with a budget of AUD $65,000 (~USD $45,000) per year for 3 years.

Again, if you want to know more about this project you can contact me below.

We are looking forward to share all our wins and stories with you in 2023.

Do you give meaningful gifts?

Are you, like me, searching for meaningful gifts that won’t have to be returned or sold cheaply on Marketplace first week of January?

Do you end up with gifts that never gets used and gets hidden in the back of a drawer, or in a cupboard for years?

Gifts, that makes no difference and has no significance?

Then I have the perfect solution for you!

a Meaningful Present

From my own experience, sometimes gift giving is hard. It either feels like order-lists are given out (as opposed to wish lists), or gifts are just not quite hitting the mark.

And sometimes you just don’t really need any more stuff to clutter your home.

By giving a gift of a donation you are making a difference in more than one person’s life.

You can donate as little $10 and have a significant impact. Make it a monthly donation and let the receiver receive a thank you note every month. I am sure that will bring a smile to their face remembering what an awesome present you chose.

Each of our Outreach motorbikes enables a medical officer to deliver quality healthcare to patients in our community of 35,000 people every day. For less than $50 you have given the gift of fuel, medicine and maintenance of our motorbikes for a week! $48 to be precise.

An impactful present

Every year we make over 1,000 home visits to people who would otherwise have gone without medical care and support.

We provide training an education to the locally elected Community Health Workers who are visiting another 2,500 households every year. They provide advice on family planning, educate on danger signs on severe medical issues, and encourage families to vaccinate their children.

Our Health Centre sees approximately 1,000 patients every month, and we average 2 births a day.

In total, we provide medical care and advice to more than 15,500 people every year. That is worth having a part in, don’t you think?

We all wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a joyful time with your families.

WOW! That's all I can say!

You have been incredible.

It is not even December yet, and we have already surpassed our initial goal of $5,000.

We are deeply grateful.

That said, this doesn't mean an additional donation isn't going to help us. If we can raise another $5,000 then we have all the medical supplies, fuel and maintenance for the motorbikes for 1 year funded as well.

Do you think we can make it before Christmas?

I believe in you.

Fuel, medical supplies and maintenance of the two motorbikes costs AUD $5,000 each year.

This will enable us to deliver quality healthcare to children, people with disabilities and the elderly within our communities. People, who otherwise wouldn’t receive any healthcare.

You can read more about how our outreach project is changing lives here:

Thank you

Nina

P.S.

Please share this with your friends, in a post, in an email.

Hold a bake-sale, charity dinner, or raise money at your office or school.

Please sign up to our newsletter if you have not already.

Reaching out... For outreach.

Today I am reaching out to you.

We need your help. 

For the past 8 years we have run our outreach program providing quality healthcare to people who otherwise wouldn’t receive any medical care. 

But now we are struggling to deliver this service. The only way we can reach people is on our motorbikes and our old ones are literally falling apart. 

We need new bikes. Can you help?

1 motorbike costs AUD $2,500 and we need 2, so our total need is AUD $5,000

You can read more about how our outreach project is changing lives here:

https://www.australiaforcedartanzania.org/outreach-team-australia-for-cedar-tanzania-changing-lives

Thank you

Nina

P.S.

Please share this with your friends, in a post, in an email.

Hold a bake-sale, charity dinner, or raise money at your office or school.

Please sign up to our newsletter if you have not already.

Take a sip of your water...

Climate change is causing havoc across the world. Devasting floods in some parts - and severe drought others. Tanzania is suffering from the lack of rains along with the rest of Horn of Africa.

Major cities such as Dar es Salaam and Dodoma – home to 6.5M people – are currently rationing water. Water is only available every second day. No running water. No drinking water. No cooking water. No flushing toilets. No showers. No washing clothes or cleaning. No water.

In rural areas everything is just dry. Rivers and water holes are drying up. Only few crops can withstand the drought. Livestock is suffering. Livestock and farming is crucial to the survival of the 61M people living in Tanzania.

This video shows how dire the situation is starting to get for people living in rural areas:

https://www.dw.com/en/tanzanias-drastic-drought/video-62986414

Is there any hope for Irene's children?

It is 12 noon, and the sun has reached its highest point, beating down on my head as I walk towards a few neighbourhood houses scattered in a remote village.

A delicious smell of cooking is reaching me from some of the homes. However, when I reach Irene’s house, the smell is different; a stale and empty smell come from the little mud house in which she lives.

Irene* is sitting on the ground under a tree outside her one-room mud house. She is not alone; with her is her youngest daughter aged 3. After spending hours looking for water, this is the only time she gets to rest before she starts to prepare the evening meal for her family. “I am so tired; I have been up since 4am to fetch water from a seasonal waterhole. It has taken me almost six hours to fill all my buckets. Because the waterholes are dry most of the year, once there is water, you spend a long time waiting in line,” she explains.

The 38-year-old mother of five is currently raising her children alone after her second husband left her two years ago. Coming from a poor family, she never had an opportunity to go to school because her parents couldn’t afford to pay for her school expenses.

Even though tuition is free in Tanzania her family could not afford the costs for a school uniform, pencil, paper, and books. 

She admits poverty is taking its toll on her children, especially her eldest son. Irene says her son has become a village boy with no future after completing form four (Grade 10 equivalent). There are no jobs and they do not have the money for school fees for him to go to college.

Irene earns about $2 a day selling tomatoes on the side of the street. Most days she can afford to cook two meals a day for her little family but some days, when business is slow, she can only afford to offer her children one meal a day.

Irene sees little hope for her children. She wishes her children will get to finish their education, get a job, and break the poverty cycle in her family. “It’s hard to predict the future. Unless my children finish their education and get good jobs, they will end up like me. No parents wish to see their children live in poverty. Reality is, things are hard, and they keep getting tougher each day,” the struggling mother says.

Last Monday we marked the International Day for Eradicating Poverty. Irene and her children are just one family among thousands of families living in poverty throughout the Nyamatongo Ward, and Tanzania.

If you would like to help us eradicate poverty, you can make your difference here:

https://www.australiaforcedartanzania.org/make-a-difference-australia-for-cedar-tanzania-changing-lives

Thank you.

* Irene is not her real name.

Best Innovation in Corporate Social Responsibility

Australia for Cedar Tanzania received a Highly Commended award for our mushroom project in Tanzania.

This award is part of Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group’s (AAMEG) yearly Africa Awards presented as part of the Africa Downunder (ADU) conference.

ADU is the largest mining conference with a focus on Africa held outside Africa, and AAMEG is the peak body representing Australian companies engaged in the development of Africa’s resource industry. 

What is Kilimu Bora | Smart Farming?

Kilimu Bora means Smart Farming in Swahili. All projects under this banner revolve around food security, entrepreneurship, gender equality, climate change, nutritional health, and the environment.

Our first Smart Farming project has been the establishment of mushroom farming. This includes mushroom growth, drying methods, business skills and export agreements.

Mushroom farming as a business is new in Tanzania, and we are one of the leading pioneers in the area.

Through this project we are addressing a range of social, economic, and environmental challenges. We provide skilled training for vulnerable groups such as young women and people with disabilities and their household members.

Participants are offered hands-on of training, in which they are taught both the agricultural and business aspects of operating and managing a mushroom farm. The training includes how to grow and harvest mushrooms, preparing substrate, drying and packaging, how to meet international sterilisation and hygiene standards, quality control, bookkeeping, environmental best practises and compliance, market navigation, and customer service. The participants also learn how to source organic substrate materials locally and how to store this for optimal produce production.

Our high-quality mushrooms can be sold both locally and internationally thanks to our innovative custom-built driers, not using electricity but only the heat from the sun and a clever use of the airflow.

During the selection of participants priority was given to young women and to people with disabilities or their household members.

Gender inequality is prevalent in Tanzania and starts for girls already at a very young age when they often are deprived of the chance of an education in favour of their brothers. Without a good education, many girls and young women will remain both financially and emotionally dependent on parents, partners, or husbands. People with disabilities bear the double burden of poverty and exclusion due to financial, social, and environmental barriers coupled with a high degree of stigma present across Tanzania.

Why Mushrooms? 

90% of the Tanzanian population of 60 million people are living on less than $5.00 PPP. 49% is surviving on less $1.90 PPP per day – the international definition of severe poverty. Of these, the vast majority, 80%, are living in rural areas such as the Nyamatongo Ward.

Choosing mushrooms as the vehicle for agri-business is beneficial for several reasons:

No Land Required

Mushrooms are grown in buckets and indoors, and hence easier allow women and disabled people to become equal participants in their family’s and community’s economic life.

Research shows that fewer women and people with disabilities own land, and that they do not have equal access to manual labour.

Year-Round Crop, Independent of Rainfall

Through careful selection of species and growing conditions, mushrooms can be grown year-round regardless of change in rain patterns.

Climate change has shown irregularities to rainfall in the region with current draught and famine in the Horn of Africa. More specifically, the Mwanza region has experienced persistent irregular rainfall over the last number of years, which can have extensively harmful effects on local agriculture.

Minimal Initial Investment

This allows for economic opportunity even for women and people with disabilitiess with minimal control of their family finances.

Our project encourages collaborative farming and includes financial support and training during the initial set-up period.

Fast Return on Investment

The mushroom growth cycle can be as short as 8-10 weeks, allowing farmers to see profit extremely quickly.

This is important for the ability to establish income and re-investment in next growth cycle.

Not Labour Intensive

Mushrooms can easily be grown by any member of the household without the need to hire additional help. One of the main barriers seen to extensive farming is access to labour and machinery.

No Educational Background Required

After a relatively short training period, participants are ready to begin cultivating mushrooms.

We embrace a hands-on learning process which allows participants to gain the necessary skills no matter previous level of schooling and their academic capabilities.

High Nutritional Value

Mushrooms are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals and provide an excellent nutritional boost in areas that suffer from malnutrition such as the communities in which we are working.

Community Benefits

We encourage all our participants to establish collaborative farms servicing the local community. Collaborative farming minimises investment costs for the participants including cost to transport bio waste, initial purchases of buckets and tools, and a cost-effective solution to house the farm.

A collaborative farm has other advantages too: the strength of the shared knowledge and the ability to support each other in farming duties. This increases the success rate of the farm as well as enhances the quality of the produce.

By giving a preference to women and people with disabilities and their household members we are ensuring the initiative is supporting the most vulnerable groups within the community. Through research, it has been proven that when women are being supported in taking up income generating activities, the financial outcome is then reinvested for the benefit of the entire household i.e., invested in children’s education and health or in long-term and sustainable investments in collective living standards.

Having an increased production of fresh mushrooms will benefit the entire community of more than 35,000 people through access to an additional and affordable crop with high nutritional value.

Stunted growth and development are caused by a combination of malnutrition, prolonged and repeated infections, and untreated worms and parasites. This is common sight as it affects 38% of children under 5 years old in rural Tanzania. Supplementing their diets with oyster mushrooms will assist in combatting stunted growth in children.

 Sustainability

Responsible Cyclic Agriculture and Prevents the Burning of Agricultural Waste

Our mushrooms are grown on agricultural waste, saving expenses, and preventing the common practice of burning waste.

Avoiding burning of agricultural waste ties in with climate change best practises.

No Pesticides or Fertiliser Required

This both saves on expenses while also ensuring no chemical runoff or harmful agricultural practices. Spent substrates can be reused or sold as fertilizer after the mushroom growth is complete.

With the current hike in fertiliser price and scarce availability this makes mushroom farming a very appealing and cost-effective crop. In addition, in rural areas women are often at a significant disadvantage in regard to purchasing quality fertiliser, since access to such products are often prioritized towards male farmers.

Long-Term Financial Growth Potential

There are several ways a farm could expand: Entrepreneurs can expand into more exotic, high-value mushroom strands as their financial stability increases. Alternatively, there is a growing market for medicinal mushrooms.

Further several niche products are being produced such as mushroom leather, mushroom bricks, or to dispose of oil spills and non-degradable waste products.

Part of our long-term project plan is to provide a safety-net option to purchase any surplus production which will be dried and exported as wholesale to the international market.

High Demand on the International Market

Dried mushrooms have a one-year shelf life and can be sold internationally to a wide range of customers. This includes both B2B and B2C customers, wholesaling, distribution, and to businesses for further processing.

We currently have buyers in Singapore and in East Africa for distribution in Europe and in the USA.

Financial Sustainability after Seed-Funding

After initial central set-up and establishment of first round of collaborative farms the project is financially sustainable with income generated from export of central production as well as surplus production from the collaborative farms.

As a not-for-profit, any financial surplus will be re-invested into further strengthening and expansion of the mushroom project or into our healthcare services.

Furthermore, interest has already been shown from international impact investing companies for further scaling and expansion.

Scalability to other areas

Long-term plans include scaling this project to other areas outside of Nyamatongo Ward. Interest for our project has been shown by organisations working in the refugee camps in the Kigoma area housing approximately 250,000 residents.

Additionally, a potential collaboration with companies working with other dried fruit and vegetables could be imagined. Also in this area, interest has been shown from potential partner companies.

What now?

Currently we are actively seeking seed funding for a year-long upscaling after which the project is financially sustainable.

Our goals include creating a permanent production and ongoing teaching centre at our Community Centre. In the first year we are aiming to have successfully trained 200 residents in mushroom farming. We will deliver ongoing support to new farms and provide teaching in business skills and banking.

Wellbeing and nutritional health will improve throughout the area for all its residents. There will be a steady supply of highly nutritious locally sourced produce and indirectly an increase in household income. It will also strengthen women and people with disabilities position in their communities. 

Through an upscaled project we will also be able to safety-net newly established mushroom farms against loss from over-production by setting up procedures to approve and test each farm is in alignment with international requirements allowing their produce to be used for export.

You can of course help us get a head start towards our ambitious AUD $150,000 goal by clicking on the big green button to donate. Even $20 gets us towards this goal.

If you want to know more about the project you can contact Nina here.

 Thank you!

Why should a not-for-profit be a member of a private sector industry group?

Yesterday was my first day as a member of AAMEG. AAMEG stands for Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group.

What am I, as the head of a Not-for-profit, doing as a member of a mining and oil & gas industry group?

The thing is, we have successfully collaborated with the private sector on several projects. Many of these private sector companies being from the mining industry. 

AAMEG CEO Roger Staley

How do we collaborate?

To me, a collaboration is not just for a private sector company to hand over a cheque and then be done with their ESG commitments. I like to invite the private sector to actively participate with their knowledge and expertise. This could be sharing technical knowledge, that could improve delivery of a project. Or lend us administrative capacity, that is more efficient than what we have access to. It can be practical assistance with logistics or training workshops. The possibilities are endless.

What can we offer the mineral and energy sector?

Our strength is we work holistically and on many different projects simultaneously. We have great experience in project development and therefore we can align any of our projects to fit in with your company’s core values.

Another strength is our global registrations. With our on-the-ground entity “Cedar Tanzania” being registered in Tanzania as an NGO, Australia for Cedar Tanzania in Australia, and further registrations and offices in Switzerland and Bulgaria, we have many people and networks to draw on. 

Through that, we can also guarantee we are adhering to rules and regulations in whichever country we are working in.

Well, this goes for any private sector we collaborate with. Not only the mineral and energy sector.

Do you want to collaborate too?

We welcome new partners, new ideas, new projects.

Send me an email and let's start the conversation.

6 myths most people believe

Myth #1

Not-for-profits are not supposed to make a profit.

Certainly, not-for-profits should be a profitable entity. The difference lies in how the profit it makes is used.

Just like other businesses, a not-for-profit should be both sustainable and viable. A not-for-profit has to spend its profit according to its mission and vision. It cannot go to the owners as a profit.

I often like to say a not-for-profit is a for-purpose business.

Myth #2

You can see if a Not-for-profit is good by looking at the overheads.

This myth implies that an effective and good not-for-profit only spends a small amount of its expenses on overheads.

The nature of many not-for-profits are that their projects and programmes are delivered by people. People, who often must be paid for their knowledge and expertise. Often this is by far the most costly expense for a not-for-profit. And it is the hardest expense to get funding for.

Having professional leadership, diligent planning and sound measurement of impact is the most cost-effective way to run a not-for-profit.

Myth #3

Not-for-profit vs charity vs NGO – it’s all the same.

These words are often used interchangeably although they are not entirely equal. Here’s some definitions:

Not-for-profit: These are organisation that provide services to a community and does not exist to make a profit for its members, owners, or shareholders. Non-profit is typically the American word and means exactly the same.

Charity: In Australia, a charity is an organisation that is registered the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). All charities are not-for-profits but not all not-for-profits are charities!

NGO: Non-Governmental Organisation. Sometimes NGOs are called Civil Organisations. These are organisations that operate independently of any government. Of course, they adhere to laws and regulations, but they are not led by, or created to fulfill a government policy or programme. They are typically not-for-profits – but not all not-for-profits are NGOs!

Australia for Cedar Tanzania are all three. We are a not-for-profit, a charity and an NGO.

Myth #4

Not-for-profits are not businesses.

Just like not-for-profits should make a profit, not-for profits are also often registered businesses.

A not-for-profit follows the same rules and regulations as normal business and has an ABN and is registered with ASIC.

As a business, they need to report to ATO and have their finances audited. They need to have opening hours and be publicly accessible.

In my opinion, successful not-for-profits are run like any other successful business.

There are a few exceptions such as associations, cooperatives, corporations, and trusts.

Myth #5

People working for a not-for-profit are all volunteers and they are less professional than in other businesses.

Although many not-for-profits are lucky to have dedicated and brilliant volunteers it is often necessary to employ people especially in key positions.

When a not-for-profit grows larger and is able to take on more work, it is often also time to start hiring professional staff as the workload no longer can be expected to be performed by volunteers alone.

Just like other businesses, hiring professional and skilled employees is connected to how successful your business or not-for-profit is going to be.

Of course, many not-for-profits are grateful for the time and efforts given by volunteers and couldn’t function without them.

Myth #6

Not-for-profits are not important for society and the economy.

Many not-for-profits provide important and fundamental services to communities both in Australia and abroad. If these services disappeared overnight, it would cost billions of dollars to the Australian economy – late interventions lead to more costly recoveries for example.

The not-for-profit sector contributed $143 billion to Australia’s GDP in 2018 (source) and employs 11% of the population (1.38 million people). That’s around the same number of people that works in retail (10.0% of people employed) more people than in construction (9.2%), professional, scientific, and technical services (8.6%) and manufacturing (7.2%) industries. Charities employ five times as many people as the mining (2%) industry. (source)

Mushrooms are the answer to…. EVERYTHING!

Poverty alleviation, better nutrition, job creation, equality, health, climate change, sustainability, and long-term funding of al our projects!

It can’t get much better than that, can it?

Please listen to Tzippora explain here:

How does it work?

We are currently teaching the skills of mushroom farming in the rural communities in which we work. Collecting 2 tonnes of harvest waste from the surrounding fields that would otherwise have been burnt. This creates the basis of our substrate in which the mushrooms will grow.

Our mushrooms grows in buckets in which we have drilled holes in sides. We are using a couple of rooms in our newly refurbished community centre to house the mushroom farm.

Once the mushroom are ready, our participants will learn the right technique to harvest the mushrooms.

Fresh mushrooms have a relatively short shelf life and needs to be sold quickly. To help with this potential issue, we are adding a drying process at the end. Custom built driers not using electricity but only the heat from the sun has been developed and will enable us to make a product ready for local distribution and export.

How can mushrooms help fund other projects?

Once we start selling our crop the income will be used to sustain the mushroom farm and any surplus will support any of our other projects like Kamanga Health Centre and our Outreach Team.

How does the participants benefit?

Each participant learns a skill. Mushroom farming is very new in Tanzania and as such we are pioneers in this area.

The participants can use this skill to set up a small scale farm at home for own consumption, or they can set up a collaborative farm producing mushrooms in larger scale.

Any surplus of produce can be sold to us where we dry the mushrooms and package them to international standards and export the end product.

How can YOU help?

Even though we have provided the training for our participants free of charge, and we will provide continuous support to those who chose to continue to grow mushrooms, there is a small initial cost for the participant to get things needed to starting growing.

You can help by sponsoring one of our conveniently packaged bundles that will enable our participants to start growing mushrooms right away.

“Home Growing Kit” consists of everything needed for a participant to take home to start growing for own use, or maybe sell any little extra at the local market. A kit costs AUD $15 (USD $10).

“Farm Bundle” consist of everything needed for a 30 bucket farm. This is a small scale collaborative farm that can produce for own consumption, the local market or for drying and export. A farm bundle has the value of AUD $110 (USD $77).

Want to know more?

You can read more about this project on our website here

Regular updates are also on our social media platforms - click one of the Social Media buttons below and make sure to follow us!

Or contact Nina, our Founding Director and CEO, directly here

Can you combine a holiday with volunteering?

Hi, I’m Sarah! I come from London, in the UK, and I’m currently having a sabbatical, volunteering and travelling across the world. I’ve volunteered in Bangladesh, Ukraine and now Tanzania. I’ve also done some volunteering in the UK with people who are homeless and people with disabilities.

Sarah, what is your role at Cedar Tanzania?

I’m a short-term volunteer in the office, helping out with various office tasks, such as proof-reading the annual report, organising the photo database and creating spreadsheets. It might not sound very glamorous, but it’s very important! I think no organisation can run without this type of support.

What inspired you to take a position at Cedar Tanzania?

I’ve been friends with Claire Michelotti, [then] Cedar Tanzania’s Executive Director, since we were at university together, and so that’s how I found out about Cedar Tanzania and the work they do. One of the things I really like about Cedar Tanzania is how they tackle issues holistically. This is something I learnt while I was volunteering in Bangladesh; attempts to tackle just one issue on its own would often fail. For example, it’s easier to help people set up businesses if they are well-educated; literate people can read health advice; it’s no use running a campaign to encourage people to wash their hands if they don’t have access to clean water. 

Sarah enjoying the fresh air during the ferry crossing to Kamanga

Sarah meeting some of the residents of Nyamatongo Ward

Learning to cook ugali is not as easy at it looks!

How long is your volunteer placement?

Just one month, but I hope to continue after I return home to finish a few of my projects.

What things have you found surprising?

The number of girls in the village who drop out of school because of pregnancy and other reasons. I read the baseline survey about Kamanga, which was commissioned by Cedar Tanzania in 2015. In Nyamatongo Ward, 10 girls in primary school (which runs up until the age of 13) became pregnant and stayed in school, but the report stated that it is difficult to get data on the number of girls who get pregnant and drop out of school, because the families sometimes do not disclose this. The drop-out rate at primary school for girls may be as high as 40%.

What things have you enjoyed?

One of the things that I enjoyed the most was going to visit Kamanga village with Abduli, one of Cedar Tanzania’s Field Officers. In the morning, we went to the port to catch the ferry from Mwanza to Kamanga. I was clutching a take-away coffee, but buying it had made me a little late, so we had to rush to get the boat. I loved the ferry ride: the sunshine, the beautiful scenery, the light reflecting off the water, the huge birds flying overhead, the cooling breeze. It was all very different to my commute when I was living in London, which was an hour and a quarter on an underground train, which offers no views whatsoever. I put on my kanga (local cloth wrapped round the body on top of your clothes, for extra modesty) and we got off the ferry, alongside trucks and people and the occasional chicken.

Abduli and I first went to Kamanga Health Centre, and he kindly showed me round. I was very impressed with how lovely the grounds looked and the high standards to which the health centre had been built. As we were looking round, patients were coming in to take advantage of all the facilities; for example, seeing a doctor, getting medicines, having post-natal check-ups. It was great to see, since I knew that before the Kamanga Health Centre was built, local people had had difficulty accessing healthcare. I had read about it in the annual report, but to see it in person really brought home to me the importance of Cedar Tanzania’s work.

In Kamanga village, Abduli was meeting with the Community Activists, who are local people trained to run sessions on SASA!. It was inspiring to meet people who give up their time to improve their communities. One of them worked in the cluster of restaurants that’s by the ferry port, another in a little market, a third we visited at home. Then for lunch we went back to the local restaurants by the ferry port and had grilled goat meat and ugali (a local staple, a cooked cassava and corn flour dough) with lemon juice, salt and chili. It was delicious!

At the end of the day, we got the ferry back. It was a tiring and hot day, so on the way back I just sat quietly in my seat, rather than running all over the ferry exclaiming as I had done on the journey out. Even though I was sweaty and exhausted, it was my best day at Cedar because it reminded me of what we are working for.

What things have challenged you so far?

I come from a cold country, so the heat can be a bit challenging at times!

Would you recommend this volunteer scheme to others?

Absolutely! It has been an amazing experience, and Cedar Tanzania is a great organisation.

What would you say to anyone who said that they could not volunteer because they do not have a skill to offer?

Volunteering can be intensely rewarding; it is the best thing I have done with my life. So I would say, don’t let negative thoughts like that put you off! Firstly, you almost certainly have more skills than you think. For example, I was really worried when I started at Cedar Tanzania about my lack of skills. But it turned out that my ten years working in a job in the civil service had furnished me with all kinds of skills that I hadn’t previously valued, but that turned out to be unexpectedly useful. For example, my computer skills, and the fact that I have worked on a database project before. Secondly, sometimes larger organisations will provide training. And finally, things that you might not think of as skills, like the ability to listen compassionately to those in trouble, might be just what an organisation needs. So don’t delay, look for a volunteering opportunity today! I promise you won’t regret it.

Can a Tanzanian Law student volunteer?

My name is Kapwani Kavenuke, but I’m more  commonly known as Jasmine. I am 21 years old and have currently finished a Diploma in Law at St. Augustine University, Tanzania and am looking forward to commencing a bachelor’s law degree in November 2018.

Jasmine volunteered with Cedar Tanzania in her university break. Thank you Jasmine!

What inspired you to volunteer with Cedar Tanzania?

After hearing about what Cedar Tanzania is all about from a friend, I was inspired to volunteer with them because I wanted to be a part of such a good cause. The passion that Cedar Tanzania shows towards achieving their goals in helping out the citizens of Kamanga, is absolutely inspiring and I just thought it would be nice to think about other people other than oneself for a while!

What is your role at Cedar Tanzania?

I am volunteering as an assistant project manager; this means I help out in a few projects, for example in the Clean Kamanga project. Right now I am helping out with the planning of Global Hand Washing day which will be on the 15th of October 2018.

How long is your volunteer placement?

I started volunteering with Cedar Tanzania in August 2018 and I shall be with them until the end of October 2018.

What things have you found surprising?

One of the things that really surprised me is the lack of water stations in the village of Kamanga and the fact that around 30 children suffer from diarrhea every month. To me this is a clear indication for the need to help the community in the area of WASH and safe waste management, which hopefully the development of the Clean Kamanga Project will help towards addressing these issues.

What things have you enjoyed?

I have enjoyed a lot of things whilst volunteering with Cedar Tanzania. One of my highlights is getting onto the ferry to Kamanga. If it wasn’t for Cedar Tanzania I guess I would have never got onto the ferry. It was frightening at first but absolutely fun later on. Secondly, I enjoyed my tour of Kamanga village with field officer Abduli. I have enjoyed working with the rest of the Cedar Tanzania team too, they are really friendly and welcoming and ready to help whenever I’ve needed it.

What things have challenged you so far?

I have had some challenges but they were not anything that I couldn’t handle; mostly just trying to remember certain formalities and protocols in the village or in the office was a problem in the beginning, but I soon got used to the new procedures.

Would you recommend this volunteer scheme to others?

I would strongly recommend other people to volunteer with Cedar Tanzania because in my experience I have learnt a lot of things, seen a lot of things and life is all about learning. I have become more competent in skills I already had and I have developed new skills too.

What would you say to anyone who said that they could not volunteer because they didn’t have a skill to offer?

I would say that it shouldn’t really stop anyone from volunteering because when you are a volunteer you become open to any work that might come your way therefore at the end of the process you end up having more skills than you came with. I can say that you will gain much more than you think you will give; which is a win-win for everyone I think!

Can a GP be a volunteer?

Hi everyone.

My name is Sian Ashby, and I am a GP (family doctor) from the UK. I was brought up in the beautiful Scottish borders, studied Medicine at Glasgow University and then completed my GP training in London. I had always wanted to work abroad as a doctor, so after finishing my GP training I chose to study the Diploma of Tropical Medicine in Liverpool, and it was here that I first heard about Cedar Tanzania.

What inspired you to volunteer with Cedar Tanzania? 

I was struck by Cedar Tanzania’s holistic approach to care. On looking at their website, I could see that they understood the importance of health and well-being in a broad sense, rather than being entirely disease-focussed. Cedar Tanzania approaches community well-being from many angles - health, education, female empowerment and entrepreneurship - and understands that tackling all of these factors is crucial if the community is to flourish.

From my research it seemed that Kamanga Health Centre, the health centre jointly run by Cedar Tanzania and the government, was a good fit for a GP, as there were many parallels in the types of patients seen. Of course, I knew that there would also be tropical illnesses which I had never encountered, and I hoped that I might increase my knowledge of tropical medicine by working in Tanzania.

On contacting Cedar Tanzania, I found the staff to be welcoming and accommodating. They were keen and enthusiastic about my voluntary placement and this naturally increased my own excitement!

Sian offering volunteer HIV testing alongside our permanent staff

How long is your volunteer placement?  

6 months provisionally.

What is your role at Cedar Tanzania?

My official title is ‘Volunteer Health Centre Advisor’. It’s a fairly flexible role, but for the most part I am working alongside the Quality Assurance Officer at Kamanga Health Centre, putting policies in place to improve the quality of care. I also work alongside the Tanzanian clinical staff, exchanging knowledge and skills, and I give regular teaching sessions. I hope that as my Swahili improves I will be able to practice medicine independently at the health centre.

Can you mention highlights of some of the activities that you have been involved in whilst you have worked for Cedar?

We have recently set up a teaching program here at Kamanga Health Centre and one of my personal highlights was the neonatal resuscitation training which I ran. We used dolls to role-play and simulate neonatal resuscitation, which was both fun and educational. At the health centre we deliver on average one baby a day (and the numbers are increasing) so it is vitally important that the staff are well trained on how to react if a newborn baby does not breath spontaneously.

Another highlight was the World Aids Day Fair organised by Cedar Tanzania. At the fair there were stalls offering HIV counselling and testing, free condoms, and information about the health centre and Cedar Tanzania projects. There was dancing, drama, and even a ‘catch-the-chicken’ game. But most importantly over 500 people were tested for HIV in a safe and non-judgemental environment.

What things have challenged you so far?

One of the main challenges has been the language barrier. I am currently learning Swahili but it is a slow process... I find it incredibly frustrating not being able to understand the patients, particularly if they are distressed and in need of assistance. I am constantly running around trying to find someone to translate which gets quite exhausting!

The health centre staff do speak English but many are not fluent, so we too have trouble communicating. Getting to the root of an issue is much more difficult when you do not speak the same language! If you are considering coming out to Tanzania, I would advise you to start learning Swahili as early as possible!

The other main challenge which I have noticed is the difference in healthcare economics. Coming from the UK, I am used to the National Health Service (NHS) which provides free healthcare for all UK citizens. Treatment is entirely based on need and not on personal finances. However, here in Tanzania there is a division – those who are exempt and those that have to pay for healthcare. The exempt group includes pregnant women, children under five years old, people over the age of 60 who cannot support themselves and people with chronic diseases like HIV and TB.

Although treatment at Kamanga Health Centre is relatively cheap (government prices), for those not in the exempt group, we still have to make management decisions based partly on the patient’s finances, which is something I find difficult. Sometimes patients cannot follow your advice because they simply cannot afford to. For example, we recently saw a patient with a large abdominal mass who required onward referral to a specialist hospital. However she could not afford to attend the hospital and pay the fee for the necessary imaging and surgery. Instead she returned a week later, the mass having increased in size and the pain having subsequently worsened. This is truly heartbreaking to see, and makes me really value the NHS.

What things have you found enjoyable or surprising about Tanzanian culture either socially or at work?

The Tanzanian people are incredibly welcoming. The health centre staff have been wonderfully accommodating and friendly towards me since my arrival and I have really enjoyed working here thus far.

Socially I love the culture of dancing.  In general Tanzanians seem to have a fantastic sense of rhythm and tend to be incredible dancers! The staff at the health centre have been trying to teach me (without much luck).

Through my work I have noticed that Tanzanian families are much more close-knit than at home. Grandparents usually live together in the house with the parents and children, and they help to care for each other. I think that this is something which has sadly been lost in the UK. I certainly noticed as a GP in London that I visited many elderly people whose children lived thousands of miles away and who were thus unable to care for them. I noticed a huge burden of loneliness, particularly amongst the elderly, but also amongst young people living and working in London - a city with so many people! Perhaps we need to regain the closeness of families and communities in order to reduce the escalating rates of loneliness, anxiety and depression in the UK.

To counter this, I have noticed that here in Tanzania there is very little, if anything, in the way of social support for those without the means to look after themselves. So if, as an elderly or disabled person, you do not have a supportive family then there is no support network to help you survive. We have encountered some difficult cases of disabled patients who have been mistreated or neglected, and this is very challenging work. This is why the work of the Outreach Team (the community-based rehabilitation project  run by Cedar Tanzania) is so important in providing support for those with disabilities.

What would you say to anyone who said that they could not volunteer because they didn't have a skill to offer?

Most people have something to offer. Speak to the Cedar Tanzania team and find out what skills they are looking for! It’s a really rewarding and fun place to work!

If Sian’s experience has whet your appetite to volunteer for Cedar Tanzania then begin the journey with this first step