Community Projects

Community & Scholarships

For many years, Wildlife-Explorer has endeavored to give back to the communities we touch during the course of outfitting safaris.  We have learned that through the conscientious coordination among communities, schools, individuals and charitable groups, it’s possible for even the smallest contribution to make a huge difference in the lives of Tanzanians.

In setting up our community support, we have emphasized education as the key to helping young people better cope with the problems they face here in underdeveloped Africa.  
Within the communities we have selected, there is a fundamental desire and willingness to strive for better education.  Yet, limited resources result in inadequate school facilities and supplies.  Moreover, the lack of funds all too often prevents children from pursuing the secondary studies that can shape their futures and the future of Tanzania.

Together with friends, individual clients and charitable groups established by those who have visited Tanzania with us, Wildlife-Explorer supports various community projects, as well as secondary school scholarships.  Over the past 15 years we have provided school uniforms and supplies and participated in the renovation and construction of primary and secondary school classrooms, teachers’ quarters, toilets and libraries in villages near the Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha and Moshi.  We are currently helping with the construction of a village health clinic for women, and we continue to pledge 1% of our annual turnover to Mkombozi Centre for Street Children.

Scholarships

For our guests wishing to help with a scholarship, we work with The Hodari Scholars Foundation, a California non-profit organization that provides secondary school scholarships to Tanzanian girls who are eligible to continue their education, but don’t have the financial means to do so.

Hodari (which means “courageous” in Swahili) Scholars works with local primary schools, teachers and village leaders to identify girls in need.  Girls are selected on the basis of their primary school records, financial need and expressed reasons for wishing to continue their education.  Hodari Scholars supports selected girls for a four-year period as long as they continue to meet the program’s criteria of (1) maintaining at least a B grade average; and (2) providing progress and grade reports to Hodari and Sponsors and Patrons to whom they are assigned.  Scholars are enrolled in girls’ private boarding schools, where possible, and are monitored through grade report review and school visits.

The cost of a one-year scholarship is currently between $700 and $800.  Scholarships include tuition, room and board, uniforms and any other contributions the school may require.  They also include textbook purchase and tutors when needed.

Donations to Hodari Scholars may be made at the Donor ($100), Sponsor ($700) or Patron ($2,800) level.  Sponsors and Patrons are assigned individual scholars and Patrons’ contributions provide a four-year scholarship that is named for the Patron.

To give Sponsors and Patrons the opportunity to develop more personal and potentially long-standing relationships with their assigned scholars, the scholars directly communicate, through Hodari, with news of their progress and life at school.  Hodari Scholars also provides Sponsors and Patrons with photos and yearly updates on their assigned scholars.

Donations (tax-deductible in the U.S.) may be made to Hodari Scholars and sent to Sandra Breaum, Treasurer, Hodari Scholars, P.O. Box 21549, Oakland CA 94620.  More information about Hodari Scholars may be found on www.hodarischolars.org. Hodari Scholars is an I.R.C. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; EIN #26-0660544.

Mkombozi Centre for street children

Find out more at
www.mkombozi.org

In addition to the above, we support Mkombozi Centre for street children, which is a non-profit making organisation. Mkombozi works with vulnerable children and young people in Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions, Tanzania. Their work with communities reduces the number of children coming to the streets. They also offer support and services to street children. They help them with work and education opportunities, provide a safe space for 107 children at their residential centre and help them rebuild their ties with their families.

Mkombozi gives these children a childhood. A chance. A future.