PROJECT | SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Reducing dependency on overseas aid
As part of the Sustainable Communities project, in Tanzania, The Wilder Network team has been providing business development support and funding to the Tanzania Deaf Skills Forum (TDSF), a group of deaf and non-deaf people that are supporting access to education and training for deaf young people in southwest Tanzania. In order to become less dependent on external funding, TDSF had an ambition to set up a community cafe social enterprise that is run by and for, deaf people.

How?
Alongside, capital funding from UK donors, The Wilder Network practitioner, Naomi Mwasambili, has been mentoring the team to help them develop a strong business plan, fit out a cafe, and make the transition from a NGO, to a thriving social enterprise. Their Farijika Cafe opened in April 2014 and now provides a space for deaf young people to come together, as well as providing opportunities for work placements for deaf young people who are studying catering at VETA in Mbeya, southwest Tanzania.

Naomi has been an inspiration to our team. She has helped us make the transition from a small NGO that was solely dependent on external funding, to a self-sustaining cafe, run as social enterprise, to support deaf young people in Tanzania.

– Lugano Janken, Director, The Deaf Skills Forum