Zanzibar: "Drop by drop an ocean is made"

Location:	Tumbatu Island, Tanzania
Category:	Infrastructure & Economic Development
Published:	06 July 2008
Progress:	100% funded
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Rating:	131 Ratings

„Together it works better", the women of Tumbatu - an off coast island near Tanzania - thought and decided to become independent from the middlemen broker of their fish selling. In the future they want to trade their fish directly on the mainland or at the marketplace on Zanzibar Island. Therefore they need a boat. 8 women cooperatives, lead by the biggest one Acheni, joint together for this to better their living conditions.
The women, mainly from the Gomani part of the island, have been active for nearly a decade now. Women - whose men leave the villages for Zanzibar Island, because of the bad local job situation - have to raise the children on their own and must find different ways to earn money and make ends meet.
Besides chicken and goat farming, offshore-fishing gives them their income. Offshore fishing here means to catch the big swarms of Dagaa-fish close to the coastline with nets, since they have no other possibility of fishing.
Buying an own boat will enable the women of Tumbatu from the need to sell their fish cheaply to the middlemen. They will get better prices on the big markets. With this money they can buy fresh water, vegetables and rice for reasonable prices for their home.
Also it will give them the possibility to start fishing regularly themselves increasing their independence.

Supporters (35):

• 
  M. Willhar–
  dt
• 
  J. Tenhaven
• 
  A. Rehse
• 
  Christian
  G.
• 
  A. Fleisch–
  er-Wetzel
• 
  P. Föhrenb–
  ach
• 
  Paul F.

• 
  H. Cramer
• 
  d. gryllus
• 
  E. Eckert
• 
  Lidia W.
• 
  M. K.
• 
  G. Mueller
• 
  A. Schröder

• 
  f. baran
• 
  t. kistner
• 
  G. Goethe-–
  Universitä–
  t Frankfur–
  t am Main
• 
  S. Wagner
• 
  Renée F.
• 
  J. Dreimann
• 
  Joana B.

• 
  L. Bolz
• 
  E. Zummo
• 
  A. Schwier–
  sch
• 
  V. Schlevo–
  gt
• 
  BINGOS.CO.–
  UK ..
• 
  L. Reiländ–
  er
• 
  J. Best

Advocates (12):

• 

  M. Willhardt

  M • Ditzingen, Germany

  Das Projekt hört ja mit dem Motor nicht auf, sondern geht für die Frauen von Sansibar erst richtig los. Es ist ein Projekt voller Energie, Hoffnung und Zuversicht. Was bringt die Zukunft dieser Familien mit dem Motor? Ich will es wissen.

• 

  Susanne K.

  F

  TWENDE People which are knowing the coutry, the location the people. They know were the donations go and can always give a helping hand if things don't go as they should. I support this projects wholeheartedly!! Susanne Wildlife Action Group International

• 

  A. Fleischer-Wetzel

  Ich hatte während unseres Aufenthaltes auf Zanzibar die Gelegenheit, dabei zu sein, als das Boot an die Frauenkooperative in Tumbatu übergeben wurde. Jetzt bin ich sehr gespannt darauf, was sich durch das Boot und die Arbeit damit vor Ort verändern wird. Die Anschaffung des Motors halte ich für super notwendig. Mit dem Segel allein als Antrieb wird es zu schwierig sein, den Fischfang effektiv zu betreiben. Die Menschen brauchen Hilfe vor allem als Impuls, um dann mit ihren Ressourcen, Erfahrungen und Ideen eigenverantwortlich das weiterzuentwickeln, was ihnen am Herzen liegt und für ihre Zukunft wichtig ist.

• 

  C. Boesenberg

  38/F • München, Frankfurt, Germany

  Ein wunderbares Projekt! Wir haben ebenfalls ein Frauen-Einkommens-Projekt in Tansania und ich empfehle dieses gerne!

• 

  V. Schlevogt

  F

  Ich finde das Projekt sehr beeindruckend, weil hier Frauen dabei unterstützt werden, mit einfachen Mitteln ihr Leben selbst zu verbessern.

Visitors (2):

• 

  c. omar

  M

  I frequently visit Tumbatu Island. I have seen the women of this Island suffering from hard work while in return earn very little. At 5.00 am women are out to look for water and firewood. At 10.00am they are at sea-shore fishing. The catch of the day is very little becausae theur don't have proper gear for fishing. They have to sell the little they get to middlemen at very low price becaused they can not go to urban centres to sell their catches. They are left with nothing. Their children are mulnourished while the mothers look tired and exhausted. I'm certain this project will bring about changes to this society. It will liberate them from sheer poverty.

• 

  annamaria l.

  F

  I was on the island, Tumbatu one year ago accompained by mr Chande Omar from Zanzibar. The people live there a really hard life, not only because of the lack of work, but also because it is hard to have the food for themselves and feed the children. The women need especially the support. With help they could buy nets and other equipment for fishing, and they would have the possibility to learn how to run a business. Now they use only mosquito nets which is not good enough, of course. The women made companies to become stronger,to help each other, but they need our help very much.