PROJECT-SUPPORT TANZANIA

Association Engoitoi Epuan, Zurich, Switzerland

Country / Place

Tanzania, Mtaa wa Seuri village, near Arusha

Tanzania is a country in East Africa. It is located on the Indian Ocean and borders Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the DR Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. With just under 56 million inhabitants, the country is the fifth largest in Africa by population. The capital of the state is Dodoma, but the largest city is the coastal city of Dar es Salaam. Arusha is a city in north-eastern Tanzania, and it is the third largest city in the country.

General

The Association Engoitoi Epuan is committed to education, secure jobs, fair pay, and equal rights for Maasai women. In 2019, Sara Schälchli founded the women's empowerment project Engoitoi Epuan together with the local population. The long-standing relationships with local families, the high level of commitment of all involved and the positive response from interested people in Switzerland provided a secure framework for the sustainable growth of the non-profit association.

The association is active in the three project regions of Naiborgosso, Kitumbeine, and Mtaa wa Seuri. Unique products made of glass beads, wax fabrics, and natural leather are created entirely by hand. The handicraft combines ethics and aesthetics.

The three projects

Women's empowerment in Naiborgosso
The Engoitoi Epuan women's empowerment project was established in Naiborgosso in 2019. The project offers participants a secure and fairly paid job. Due to their cultural traditions, almost every Maasai woman brings with her a basic set of handicraft skills. Due to the wide range of products, the manifold designs, and the high-quality standards, the women expand their knowledge and skills during the accompanied daily work.

Cooperation with the leather tannery in Kitumbeine
On a natural basis, the animal skins are tanned by hand and processed into different accessories. The high potential that the leather group in Kitumbeine brought with them moved the association to enter into a cooperation. Engoitoi Epuan learned a lot from the leather group about natural tanning and the subsequent processing of the leather. In return, the association supports the leather group with further training in design and through commissions in product manufacturing.

Mtaa wa Seuri Tailoring School
Based on various discussions with the local population as well as with staff of the local NGO 'Pastoral Women's Council', Engoitoi Epuan recognised the potential that a tailoring school would have for socially disadvantaged young women. Education is the key to helping Maasai girls and women become more empowered and resilient. The tailoring school is a future vision of the association, which has been put into practice since the end of 2022.

Project-support: Shule kwa Ushonaji wa Engoitoi Epuan = Tailoring School Engoitoi Epuan

Self-determined pursuit of one's own desires and earning an independent living through one's own efforts - the tailoring school aims to make these a reality for socially disadvantaged young women. Learning a trade also raises their status within the community. The one-year training programme includes holistic training in the tailoring profession, English lessons, and practical experience through sewing work on behalf of Engoitoi Epuan, which earns the women their first salary.

Custom-made clothing is in great demand locally, which is why the tailoring training will create very good opportunities for the women to earn a permanent income of their own. The successful training of the programme participants also benefits their family members, especially the children.

As most of the participants will be travelling from the countryside, a home-school is to be built, which will give the women the opportunity to learn and live locally. In April 2022, the association bought a generous piece of land near the provincial town of Arusha, in the green surroundings of Mtaa wa Seuri. Construction of the school campus began in autumn 2022. The aim is to complete the construction in 2023 in order to welcome the first trainees in spring 2024, and start with the teaching.