These days it is no small thing to truly belong to a community.
Community building is the intentional act of bringing people together and creating a sense of belonging. In traditional Tanzanian society, children were not orphaned. They belonged with the tribe or extended family. Contemporary lifestyles have changed that. Families and tribes have been split by outmigration, HIV, and community structure has fractured, leaving children like ours rootless and lost.
From this profound sadness, and our own desire for a sense of belonging was built a community of joy. The Baobab Kids who grew up here are the foundation of our community. The Baobab Moms created positive family rituals, raising them surrounded by music, gratitude, love and respect. Your support from afar made it all possible. The kids knew they were loved and today remain with a deep sense of belonging to the Baobab family.
To keep our community safe, we created STA so that our kids would not be hit at school. Now STA has become the new and larger heart of our global community.
When the students graduate and leave us, The Baobab Home becomes their lighthouse. We can’t go rescue them from stormy seas, but we are the light that guides them home, where they know they can get a meal, advice from elders and return to that sense of belonging.
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Whether they sense it or not, our sponsors are a part of our community. Every day we know that we live by the kindness of others. When we get to connect to you, by phone, email, the community strengthens. Sponsorship not only provides financial support, but also fosters a unique sense of global connection. Regular updates, letters, and photos allow sponsors to witness the direct impact of their contributions, and to create meaningful connections. We build a future where every child in our care has the opportunity to learn, dream, and achieve. The children absolutely love having a friend in another country! |
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Even without international volunteers, the Baobab community is culturally diverse. Every day at Baobab kids get to work, eat and learn alongside farmers, cleaners, office staff and teachers from around their country. Often there are Tanzanian college students here doing internships. Massai cowherders speak their tribal language and learn to read with our Massai teacher. Farmers from the Sukuma and Makonde tribes work together. There’s, a carpenter from Cameroon and an office worker from Mozambique. But there is nothing quite like the synergy and joy that happens when volunteers from around the world visit. Everyone gets to connect and learn from one another here at the shamba. Our kids have learned greetings in Mandarin, French, German, Spanish, and more. Short term volunteering gets negative press, but volunteers are essential to our reading intervention program and the students always benefit from having someone to read to. Volunteers bring a wealth of skills, experiences, and cultural perspectives. Their hands-on contributions—whether in teaching, mentorship, or organizational support—create a shared sense of purpose and collaboration. These interactions foster mutual learning and a sense of belonging, encouraging the exchange of knowledge and the development of open-minded perspectives. Beyond their immediate contributions, volunteers often remain engaged, becoming long-term advocates for the children and the cause. Many stay in touch and return to their home away from home in Tanzania.
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