Mt Meru Women’s Poultry Project

Mirco-Entrepreurship in Tanzania – Hatching a better future

As we travel the world, beautiful landscapes and kind people capture our hearts. Many of us also became aware of our journeys’ impact. We are privileged to be able to visit and enter other places and different cultures. Yet so often locals have to cope with the negative influences. Often, without sustainable gain from the number of visitors.

We have often left places with a desire to give back or sustainably support the local economy. Naturally, we were thrilled when we met Hans-Robert Gabriel, Executive Director of the Better Nation Foundation. Inspired by his own personal fate, the Foundation helps women through tourism to establish a self-sustaining economic basis.

Better Nations Foundation gives you as a tourist a chance to impact the lives of women through by enabling to engage in micro-entrepreneurship.

Impact travel Tanzania

Arusha is the so-called tourism hub of Tanzania. Almost every traveler is likely to pass the charming city on his journey through the Northern Circuit. Many travelers stay in hotels, hostels, or Airbnbs owned by foreigners. Often missing out on the chance of really getting to know the place and its people. So when it is time to leave, we take our memories with us but leave little sustainable gains behind.

IMPACT TRAVEL
TANZANIA

Women’s econimic status in Tanzania

Mirco.entrepreneuship through impact-travel

Women in Tanzania

Women in the rural areas of Tanzania often participate in economic life through their husbands, brothers, or other male family members. Many women lose their ability to participate due to a lack of education.

Both bureaucratic and family restrictions keep women from visiting schools, resulting in dependency. Divorced, widowed, or merely abandoned women easily slip into poverty. Stigmatized, they can rarely break the cycle of poverty. The patriarchal system neglects these women.

Impact travel enables micro-entrepreneurship

Mt Meru Women’s Poultry Project

If you are seeking a deeper and more sustainable travel experience, the house of Hans Robert‘s parents is the perfect place to stay!

Local women on their path to micro-entrepreneurship benefit in two ways: the fees cover the set-up costs. Secondly, volunteers actually help to construct the building, incubation boxes, and support the planning process. Throughout your stay, you will not only get to know the women and all the other supporters, but you are also able to witness how lives change. Hatching a better future

The project aims to enable women to break the cycle of poverty through micro-entrepreneurship. Since a recent change in legislation prohibited the import of eggs from neighboring countries, eggs have become a popular source of protein. By providing women with chickens, the project enables them to establish a sustainable business.

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Here is one example:

Usually, one woman receives one chicken house and 30 3-months old female chicken, her start into micro-entrepreneurship! Each chicken lays one egg per day. The woman is either able to sell the eggs or keep some of them for further growth. Depending on the woman’s ability and ambition, she can make decisions and manage her project. Just like any other beginning micro-entrepreneur. This sustainable practice enables women who otherwise would have slept in poverty. It enables Tanzania’s women to create and form their future. They become able to support their children and families, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty not only for them but for future generations. Throughout our journey, we have always felt most welcome and often wondered how we could give back. Better Nation’s Mt Meru Women’s Poultry Project is an outstanding opportunity to become a more thoughtful and sustainable traveler.

Despite the poultry project, Better Nations is also heavily engaged in community mobilization. If you are interested in hearing and learning more about dance, culture and Foundation’s other projects, visit their website.

GOOD TO KNOW

Impact Travel

What is impact tourism?

Impact tourism allows visitors to not enjoy pristine landscapes and wildlife but also enables travelers to contribute to the social impact that tourism has on community development.

Women in Tanzania

Traditionally a man is always the head of a household as he makes the majority of income. He’s also responsible for final decision making. Tanzania’s women can again respect by bearing children. The role is accentuated by a traditional name change. Once a woman had her first child, she will be referred to as “mother of ….”. With life so closely tied to the one of her husband or male relative, it’s hard to establish economic independence. Women who have lost their husbands or suffer from HIV have little opportunity to build a life.

Tourism in Tanzania

Tanzania’s tourism industry has grown by 300% over the past decade. In 2017 it accounted for 446,000 jobs, which is 3.3 percent of the total employment. A further rise to 7.1 percent in 2018 is expected. However, this factor has not benefited everyone equally. Women still suffer from their traditional roles.

Impact Travel opportunities Tanzania: