Happy Holidays!

The weather is fine in Mto wa Mbu, hot spelled off with rain as we are into the short rainy season. We are looking forward to pilau and goat bbq on Christmas Eve!

2018 was full of projects and new adventures, and in 2019 we look forward to welcoming a passionate group of doulas, some avid mountain climbers, a high school group of adventurers, and a volunteer for the LK Kindergarten.

We will have our Boma la Mama sea container released by the end Jan 2019, and our Birth centre manager will be starting work in January as well. In April she has been sponsored to take a course in ultrasound, specialising in pregnancy, which may also lead to an ultrasound unit being donated to our centre. We are working hard at getting some grants and super grateful to our private donors that have made it possible to actually get Boma la Mama seeing patients in 2019.

Boma Handmade is flourishing with amazing products such as baby carriers, sleepsacs, baby clothes, nursing and maternity tops, baby slippers, and hand carved wooden toys.  We are also making natural soap that has been really popular and barely has time to dry before it’s flying off the shelves. Most exciting we were chosen to open a Days for Girls enterprise at our workshop, which means we will be producing cloth pads for girls and women that can be washed and used over and over. Many go without any reasonable option when it comes to their feminine hygiene and miss school or suffer with nothing to wear or avoiding activities.

Boma Community School continues to run it’s LK Kindergarten class with happy students and our awesome teacher who has been with us since the beginning!  We are working on some maintenance of the building, and hoping to get a new mural and new playground in 2019.

We also opened Tanzip Zipline Adventure, Tanzania’s first and only zipline in 2018, and the Mosquito Creek Cafe is launching on Christmas Eve!  Karibu Sana!

Wishing a fun and safe holiday season and all the best in 2019!!

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awesome new promo video!

Boma la Mama Birth Centre is gaining momentum!  Check out this great new video that explains what we are doing!

Non Profit Business for LK Kindergarten

Excited to announce that we are planning to start a non profit business devoted entirely to the LK Kindergarten class.

It will be an animal husbandry project. We’ll start with 8 goats and 60 chickens. We’ll build them a nice shelter, and hire someone to care for them. They will live up the rift valley wall, at the Boma land. They will lay lots of eggs and have lots of babies!

An initial investment of $2500 should then generate apx. $2500 annually for the school. This will free up some Boma Africa funds for expansion, improvement, more toys, better playground,… oh my!

BOMA AFRICA VOLUNTEER TANZANIA SCHOOL

Photo Gallery! African Wildlife Safari

Absolutely stunning wildlife roaming in the world famous Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the many other parks and reserves of Tanzania.

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Leopard in the grass. Photo by Jarrad Seng. Boma Africa
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Tarangire Sunrise. Photo by Jarrad Seng. Boma Africa
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Eagle takes flight in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa
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Dik Dik. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa.
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Mama & Baby. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa
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Elephant, Tarangire National Park. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa
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Hyena takes her share. Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa

 

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Crown Cranes. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa
Zebras boma africa safari tanzania kilimanjaro wildlife serengeti
Zebras in the dust. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa

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Zebra lioness boma africa safari tanzania kilimanjaro wildlife serengeti
Zebra Hunt. Serengeti National Park. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa
Zebra Ngorongoro Crater boma africa safari tanzania kilimanjaro wildlife
Zebra Hunt in the Ngorongoro Crater. Photo by Andrew Knapp Boma Africa.
Zebra  Serengeti boma africa safari tanzania kilimanjaro wildlife
Zebra Hunt. Serengeti National Park. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa
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Zebra Hunt. Serengeti National Park. Photo by Mare Eve Lord. Boma Africa
"Pumba" Warthog  boma africa safari tanzania kilimanjaro wildlife
“Pumba” Warthog. Photo by Andrew Knapp. Boma Africa

 


Tanzania’s Non- Profit Tour Co.!

Testimonial! Keri-Lyn, Canada, 2018

I stayed with Leesha and Lau and family on a 6 week trip through Tanzania. I’ve known Leesha for many years and it was wonderful to reunite with her in Mto Wa Mbu. They showed me around the village, introduced me to their community and I got to witness the passion and inspiration that lives in their entrepreneurial projects. I had such an incredible time in the village. The people are kind and welcoming, the scenery of the Rift Valley walls and Lake Mayanara stunning. I shared some art classes, visited the market regularly, enjoyed the local food and hit the dance floor for a little nightlife! I highly receommend connecting with Boma Africa. Mto Wa Mbu is the perfect place to set out for safari or take some time to relax and settle in and make some friends after travelling around. I hope to make it back one day!! Thank you for being such amazing hosts! xoxo

Keri-Lyn; Canada; 2018

boma africa ngorongoro tanzania non profit tourism serengeti kilimanjaro safari lion cub christmas travel adventure game drive wildlife

Volunteer Profile: Carly Beaulieu

Carly first came to Tanzania in August 2017 and volunteered to be in midwife (for my own birth!) here in Mto wa Mbu town. Tanzania got under her skin and she is back in June!  Carly wears many hats and is using them all this month.

boma africa school lk kindergarten mto wa mbu

First she an educator. She worked in Canada as a teacher for several years before her calling to midwifery led her back to her own training. Carly brought supplies for the school and spent a week at the LK Kindergarten mentoring our teacher, Sophia, in the concept of “learning through play”.  They played games, set up stations, and Sophia got tonnes of new ideas and resources to use with the children. Sophia’ second week of immersion she spent in a mentorship with the with the kindergarten teacher at Black Rhino Academy, International School.

Carly is also an EMT and trained in wilderness first aid. She developed a first aid course relevant to our zipline activities and environment and delivered an awesome course with the Tanzip Zipline team.  The course is in the Tanzip training manual and will be used annually.  She also guided us to put together a great custom first aid kit.

Carly also spent some time observing and mentoring students at a couple of local hospitals, on the L&D ward. She is passionate about the rights of birthing women to safe and dignified care. Carly got inspired to support Boma la Mama Birth Centre, and is committing to a giant donation in 2019; which should allow us to open the doors and start providing care. We are also putting together a prenatal course to offer to the public with information on nutrition and safety in pregnancy, what happens in labour, breastfeeding and infant nutrition, and more.

Last but not least, Carly provided Harieth and I a micro loan of $300 to start a small business sewing baby carriers.  Harieth is a talented tailor here in the village. We started making mai-tei style carriers and were able to pay back our micro loan within 1 week(!) form pre-sales. Amazing. Once this first order is done and sent off the Canada, we have a second batch that are pre-paid!  Harieth is dreaming of a sewing workshop with 4 sewing machines and 2 assistants. We will make baby carriers, sleeps sacs, reusable pads, and maybe even cloth diapers.

Carly has been a huge supporter; sharing her skilled training, smiles, and also money!

ASANTE SANA DADA!

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Tanzania Doula Retreat offered in Jan 2019!

Two amazing and inspired doulas are offering an eleven day Traveling Doula Retreat to Tanzania focused on enabling birth professionals from around the world to serve the local women and gain hands on experience during labor and delivery in a foreign setting.

Additionally, the mission of this trip is to learn and connect with different cultures, explore the beauty of Tanzania, connect with other women, and deepen individual Doula practices.

For all the details click on their website:

 

https://www.wombsoftheworld.com

boma africa tanzania
Doula Retreat

LK Kindergarten!

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Founded in 2015, the Boma Community School is in the village of Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania.  Through the support of partner organizations Boma Africa founded and maintains this free school as one their two primary charitable projects.

The village of Mto wa Mbu asked Boma Africa to help them to provide a kindergarten for the area of Mlimani Park. During the rainy season the young kids couldn’t access any schools because the creek would get to high and they could not cross the water.

This was a perfect project for Boma Africa, and the next year with funds from the Lindsay Kimmett Memorial Foundation, the first classroom was built, the Lindsay Kimmett Kindergarten!

We were also able put in two roadways to access the area, and access a water source to provide running water to the community (Thank you to the Rotary Club of Cochrane.)

The first class of students began attending in 2015, and the school is expanding every year as the children move forward.

The Boma Community School students attend for free, get porridge everyday, and they also have a playground (funded by Martin & Sue Parnell), the only playground in the village!

 Boma Africa and Mto wa Mbu village have big dreams and would one day like to see the school with kindergarten through to grade 12 classes.  The vision includes international school syllabus, and specialized sports, arts, and technology programs.

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OUR AMAZING SUPPORTERS!

The Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation

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This amazing foundation literally provided the foundation for the Boma Community School Project. The first classroom, The Lindsay Kimmett Kindergarten, is Lindsay’s namesake and will continue to set the children of Mto wa Mbu on an amazing learning journey; in keeping with Lindsay’s passion for both children and education.

 

From Lindsay’s Family:

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We, as Lindsay’s parents, are completely consumed with sorrow at her untimely passing but in an attempt to move forward positively, we have a great desire to carry on her legacy. She was an academic and so we want to encourage other youth to reach their potential by the establishment of enduring scholarships both at the High School and University level. She loved children and we are committed to supporting local youth programs in Cochrane. She shared a passion for ‘all things medical’ with her Mom and thus we hope to offer the U of C Medical School technical tools to enhance the education of the physicians of tomorrow. She shared a love of sports with her Dad and so we want to assist with local sporting facilities and enduring sponsorships for hockey players who could not normally afford to play.

The Rotary Club of Cochrane

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The Rotary Club of Cochrane has been a solid supporter of Boma Africa & the Boma Community School. The club’s support has allowed Boma to identify a water source and install equipment to pump the water to the school site and the community.  The Cochrane Rotary Club also provided a substantial contribution to the Sue & Martin Parnell Playground at the school site.

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Sue & Martin Parnell

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Sue and Martin Parnell are both from England and have lived in Cochrane, Alberta since 2005. They have been great supporters of the humanitarian organization Right To Play and over a 5 year period from 2010 to 2014 raised over $1m for the organization. Recently, they fund raised $12,000 for a playground and bouncy castle for the students of the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Kindergarten in the village of Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. Sue and Martin have three children, Kyle, Kristina and Calum and three grandchildren, Autumn, Nathan and baby Matthew.

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Have you ever seen a cashew nut tree?

I am in the South of Tanzania, just a 2 hour drive from the border of Mozambique.

The main tribe in this area came originally from Mozambique and is called Makonde. It is a matrilineal tribe, so children follow the maternal line and traditionally the man would move to the woman’s village. If he has several wives he would travel from village to village. Modern ‘work model” economy has changed life for this tribe and more and more women are dependant on men.

The main industry here is cashew nuts and Tanzania is known as one of the world’s best cashew producers. Unfortunately I am not here at the right time of year to see the beautiful cashew fruits but was completely shocked and amazed to see how cashews grow!  When they are ripe they just fall off the tree and the farmer harvests them from the ground.

They are quite expensive here, assuming due to the global price of cashews. Tanzanians do snack on them, but they aren’t a common ingredient in meals.

Serengeti Yoga Safari

We are offering an amazing yoga safari in October, 2018!

Imagine… sunrise yoga in the Serengeti, steaming chai masala, elephants wallowing at the watering hole,  and the vibrancy of Africa beating in your heart…

/yoga

 

When: Oct 8-17, 2018

Where: Tanzania, East Africa

Accommodation: Serene African wilderness camping (privately catered)

Who: Boma Africa Non Profit Tour co., Oriane of YogaVinyasa (www.yogavinyasa.co.uk ),  and you!

Why: 10 days of yoga practice on a dreamy African safari: supporting Boma Africa’s projects; pre- school and birth centre

Cost: $3675 USD (minimum 6 guests required)

Itinerary:

boma africa ngorongoro tanzania non profit tourism serengeti kilimanjaro safari lion cub christmas travel adventure game drive wildlife

Day 1-

Arrival

 

Day2-

Morning yoga @ 8

Breakfast @ 9:30

Opening grounding circle @ 10

Swimming at Chemka Spring Oasis

Evening yoga @ 6

Dinner @ 7:30

 

Day3-

Morning yoga @ 6

Breakfast @ 7:00

Game drive at Tarangire National Park

Lunch at Tarangire Safari lodge

Evening yoga @ 6:00

Dinner @7:30

 

Day4-

Morning yoga @ 7:00

Breakfast @ 8:30

Visit to Kindergarten (do a kids yoga class with the children)

Mto wa Mbu village tour on bikes

Lunch in village of local cuisine

Tanzip Zipline Adventure

Short hike around Lake Miwaleni

Evening yoga @ 6:00

Dinner @ 7:30

Bon fire

 

Day5-

Sunrise yoga @ 6

Breakfast @ 7:30

Game drive in Ngorongoro Conservation area

Evening yoga @ 6:30

Dinner @ 8

 

Day6-

Morning yoga @ 7

Breakfast @ 8

Transfer to Serengeti for game drive

Yoga @ 6:30

Dinner @ 8:00

Day7-

Sunrise game drive at 6 with light breakfast

Morning yoga @ 8:30

Full breakfast @ 9:30

Option for spa treatment or game drive

Sunset game drive

Dinner @ 7:00

Evening yoga @ 8:30

 

Day8-

Morning yoga @ 7

Breakfast @ 8:30

Transfer out of Seregenti with game drive en route.

Mid day Yoga @ 3

Evening visit to Maasai Boma village.

Dinner @ 7

 

Day 9-

Morning yoga @ 8

Breakfast @ 9:30

Tinga tinga painting class

Hike up rift valley wall- lunch at Kirurumu Lodge

Free afternoon

Closing circle and final yoga @ 6

Dinner @ 7:30

 

Day 10-

Departure

boma africa ngorongoro tanzania non profit tourism serengeti kilimanjaro safari lion cub christmas travel adventure game drive wildlife