Association of Cooperation Tulime

What is Tulime?

Tulime is a NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), an association which groups Italian people cooperating with Tanzanian people living in the plateau of Iringa, a central-southern region of Tanzania, Africa.
“Tulime” is the Swahili word for “Let’s cultivate”, as our commitment in Africa has begun planting trees in order to produce wood, but we chose this name also because we cultivate the hope of a right and equal world, with a new stronger view of ecology and solidarity, an not only in Africa…

Tulime in Tanzania

Tulime started “cultivating” in 2002 at Pomerini, a small village where about 3.000 people live, situated in the plateau of Iringa 2.000 meters (2.187,23 yards) above sea level. Year by year, thanks to our work and our strong will to grow together with those wonderful people living there, we have been able to support more and more villages: since 2006 Tulime has been carrying out its projects in Pomerini, Kitowo, Ukumbi, Lukani, Masege, Kihesa Mgagao, Mawambala and Lugalo.

Tulime in Italy

Tulime arranges cultural events, photographic exhibitions, meetings and concerts all over Italy so as to “cultivate” all the riches Africa convey us by getting in touch with the people living in those villages. We back our schemes by selling Tanzanian handicraft and eco-friendly gadgets.
Tulime carries out its cooperation activity following a model of organizational lightness, total economical transparency and with the deep awareness that every cooperation activity is a great opportunity for one’s cultural and personal growth.
Our coordination in Tanzania is entrusted to our local reporting office: the association Mawaki.

The projects

Wood production line – We believe that planting trees is one of the most important things to do in order to produce firewood and fast-growth type of wood for buildings: this activity will increase local employment and will put many lands out to the community. Wood production line creates employment for many people in the village: it starts from a forest nursery which produces 80.000 plants every year and ends in the great carpentry which provides the schools of the whole plateau area with furniture, chairs, desks and beds.
Teaching programme support – The support Tulime gives to school consists on:
- granting scholarships to the secondary school pupils in order to cover taxes and school kit expenses;
- building schools and dormitories;
- feeding nursery school pupils, providing them with enough milk and sugar to ensure at least a daily nutritious meal.
Orphan project – AIDS pandemic and health service deficiency progressively caused a weakening of the family fabric: the number of orphan children is decisively increasing in the villages. Tulime creates a local support team with the task of analyzing every single case, and, moreover, it helps the host families of orphan children by covering school expenses or providing them with a fertilizer pack.
Health service – Tulime ensures a financial aid to the purchase of medicines, rush equipment and maintenance service for health facilities.
By the project “A Lift for Life” Tulime is trying to raise funds for an ambulance which guarantee an efficient rush (for women to be delivered, for example) from the villages to the nearest hospital (Iringa or Usokami hospital).
Joint and several microcredit: “Tulime Sacco’s Bank” is a country bank created by Tulime to finance people’s business in the villages by microcredits: small loans (€ 150 per natural person and € 300 per social cooperative) allocated to encourage people who want to set themselves up as their own autonomy and entrepreneurship.

Internet

As well as its official web site (www.tulime.org) to find information about projects, events and conscious trips to Tanzania, Tulime has got its own group on Facebook, a video channel on Youtube, a photo channel on Flickr and a blog on Wordpress where our volunteers write.

Links
info@tulime.org
Tel/fax +39 091 42 74 60
To make a donation: C/C 28294437