Floresta Tanzania was established in August 2004 in Masia Mamba, at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. With unpredictable weather and a rapidly expanding population, Tanzanian farmers face a daily battle against unavoidable circumstances in their quest to provide for their families. Floresta has been able to come alongside and provide the physical and spiritual tools needed for them to change their situation.
Twenty one communities are now directly working with Floresta Tanzania, implementing the bio-intensive agriculture techniques they have learned. Hundreds of family gardens have been established, and the high rate of farmer-to-farmer promotion is impressive, as it multiplies the impact of the Floresta program. In addition, under the supervision of Floresta, community members participate in a village community banking system as access to credit is a critical need the community. Floresta has also been able to partner with churches to create a holistic program that ministers to both the physical and spiritual needs of communities. Floresta seeks to continue these partnerships and further empower the churches to effectively ministerto their surrounding communities.
Floresta’s newest program in Tanzania continued to expand and develop during its third year of operation, working with over one thousand farmers and their families. Floresta introduced a Village Community Banking (VICOBA) system for distributing microcredit loans, which was met with enthusiastic support and resulted in a number of new economic opportunities, particularly for Tanzanian women.
- Floresta worked with community members to establish 34 tree nurseries for the purpose of growing new seedlings for reforestation and agroforestry efforts. By the end of the fiscal year, these nurseries housed a supply of 54,405 seedlings.
- 75,351 trees were planted in reforestation efforts, bringing the program’s 3-year lifetime total of trees planted to 147,514.
- Floresta worked with Tanzanian communities to operate a total of 9 Village Community Banking (VICOBA) groups, which collectively distributed 164 loans in the total amount of $17,083. Group members contributed $16,231 of their own funds to use for these loans.
- Floresta provided communities with 17 rainwater-harvesting cisterns, providing farmers with improved access to water for household and garden use.
- 551 improved, fuel-efficient stoves were provided to community households for cooking and heating, reducing local wood consumption and improving respiratory health among community members.
- Floresta worked with farmers to construct living barriers and 146 soil contours, protecting 7 watersheds from potential soil erosion.
- 762 compost heaps were established, providing a safe, low-cost source of organic fertilizer for use on farms, tree nurseries, and gardens.
|
