About Heshima

Heshima means Respect in Swahili and this underlies all that we do.

Where is Heshima located and what are its aims?

Heshima is located near Kisongo, a rural village about 12km to the south of Arusha, in Northern Tanzania. This village largely serves the Maasai Community. Sadly, Maasai people often face discrimination and prejudice and find it difficult to get good jobs. At Heshima, we hope to support these people by offering their children a good start in school and life and by offering their mothers training and skills to enable them to make an income and become more independent.

Heshima is based on a one-acre site and now features a house for the caretaker/groundsman, a classroom for the pre-school, a large 2 story building housing the textile project and shop and a computer laboratory, and toilets. On the remaining land, some fruit trees have been planted, but still leaving a large grassy space for the pre-school children to play on.

The project employs a caretaker/groundsman; a teacher in charge of the pre-school and who also has oversight of the textile project; and a textile trainer.

The site generates electricity through solar panels, and is now also connected to the mains. Under the main building is a large tank for the storage of rainwater.

Heshima is a registered charity in both the UK and Tanzania, and is listed on Companies House in the UK.

Pre-School

We have a preschool class in its own classroom. There are about 10 children aged from 3 to 6, some of whose mothers are involved in the textile training project. The children are able to engage in creative play. They sing songs, play games, listen to a story and enjoy Art and Crafts. All the activities are carried out in English: this is important as if they don’t have a basic understanding of English, they soon get left behind at school and have no chance of being accepted into a secondary school. There is a large play area equipped with swings, climbing frame, children’s bikes and many other toys. The children also have access to interactive resources on lap-tops. The children are provided with a nutritious meal during the morning.

Saturday School

Class sizes in local schools are big. Many teachers try to teach classes of 70 or more. Children have to share desks and chairs and there are few resources. In association with Braeburn International School nearby, we can offer local primary and secondary children individual help on a Saturday. We can listen to their reading; help them with their Maths and spend some time developing a sport such as basketball or swimming, and they can enjoy some art and craft activities. Saturday school is making a difference and has helped many students to improve their confidence and therefore their achievement in school. In the near future, it is hoped to employ a teacher on the Heshima site who can operate an after-school homework club.

Textile Training

To make a lasting difference to the families that live around Heshima, a well- equipped textile training centre has been operating for around 10 years. This is now located in 2 rooms in our main building. A number of unemployed women come in the afternoons to learn textile skills, including basics such as measuring and cutting accurately. The trainer is a local lady who herself was trained by the project. The aim is to enable the women to set up their own textile business in their own community so that they have some financial independence. English classes are also provided, using the lap-tops, which help them run their own successful businesses once they have finished the training. In the mornings, some of the women who have finished their training and have stayed on at Heshima make different textile products, which are sold to provide them with an income and funding for Heshima. There is a small shop on-site where tourists are able to see and purchase items. Items are also sold in local tourist hotels and at an annual charity fair.

Some of the younger women have also formed themselves into a netball team, and have participated in several matches with other women’s teams, thus breaking gender stereotypes!

Future Development

It is hoped to begin the construction in late 2022 of a purpose-built classroom/workshop to enable young men to develop a variety of vocational skills, and therefore gain employment.. Funding is at present being sought for this project.

Volunteering with Heshima

We always need help at Heshima and thankfully people both old and young, from around the world, volunteer to help out. Some volunteer for a couple of weeks, whilst others commit to a longer period of time … but all are useful! We try to find out where your strengths and interests lie and then we match you up with something you feel comfortable with. These are some of the jobs that our volunteers have taken on:

  • Organised activities for the mother and toddler group.
  • Taught English to Maasai women.
  • Supported students with reading at the Saturday School.
  • Developed the Garden.
  • Built an obstacle course for Children.
  • Helped with the building and maintenance work including painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrics.
  • Run art, music or drama workshops for local children.
  • Coached football
  • Assisted with training at the textile training centre, providing design ideas.
  • Organised or participated in a sponsored event eg. climbing Kilimanjaro. Let us know what you are interested in and I am sure that we will be able to make the most of your skills and gifts.

Cost of Volunteering

You will need to buy your return flight: the nearest airport is Kilimanjaro, about 90 minutes away. A taxi can be booked for you (approximately £30/$35 each way) We can arrange accommodation for you on the Braeburn International School site, which is around 5 km away from the Heshima site. Accommodation here is around £10 a night for a room. Two people can stay together in one room. The room is basic but clean and includes a mosquito net, and an ensuite shower room. In the courtyard behind your room there is a shared kitchen and dining area, where you can cook your meals.

There is an outdoor swimming pool, bar, basketball court and squash courts on the school site, which all our volunteers can use.

You will be expected to be self-sufficient, and have the confidence to make your own daily travel arrangements to/from the Heshima site by either dala-dala (local minibus) or bicycle. Tanzania is generally very safe for visitors during daylight hours, but you may feel more comfortable volunteering as a pair. Local people are generally very friendly, and are delighted when visitors engage with them, for instance, at the local market stalls. Language can be a problem: many people only have a smattering of English, Swahili being the “official” language, so a willingness to learn a few phrases in Swahili is always appreciated! Volunteers who are prepared to engage with the locals will benefit much more from their visit.

Please remember that there is no National Health service in Tanzania and so all volunteers need to come with medical insurance. The Tanzanian Government also requires you to come with a yellow fever certificate and evidence of Covid vaccination.

A tourist visa can be obtained on arrival at the airport ($50), but to avoid queuing, it may be better to apply for the Visa online.

Things to do and see

All volunteers need “time out” and there are many things to do and see in and around Arusha: Arusha National Park is nearby as well as, further afield, Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorogoro Parks. In addition there is Mt Meru (5000m), towering above Arusha, and Kilimanjaro. But be warned: charges for visitors to all of these are high! For a cheaper day out, the Monduli Hills (about 50p on the dala-dala) are worth exploring, and there is also an organised walking group which meets on Sundays. Other local attractions include the weekly Maasai Market in Kisongo, and the maasai Craft Market in Arusha. For the more adventurous, there is Dar-es Salaam, recently reconnected to Arusha by overnight train, and Zanzibar, both also accessed by flights from the local Arusha airport.

If you are interested in coming out to help please get in touch with alan@heshima.org.uk