Jithubutu has continued to establish itself as a space for learning, collaboration and creativity for many young people in Arusha. With the support of volunteers, visitors and donations, we have been able to offer activities that foster personal and community development. In this report, we highlight the most significant achievements of 2024, as well as the challenges we face and our plans for the future.
GROWTH AND PARTICIPATION
In 2024, we registered 120 new members, bringing the total number of active participants in our activities to 297. In addition, we are assisted by numerous people who enjoy practicing dance and relaxing in our outdoor area, although they have not yet been formally registered.
Depending on the activities scheduled, we receive an average of 15 to 40 people daily, including visitors and active members.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2024
1. INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT FOR OUR MEMBERS
During 2024, Jithubutu organized a variety of activities that attracted participants of all ages and levels:
Language classes:
- Spanish: Sessions for basic, elementary, intermediate and conversation levels, covering topics about wildlife, as well as Tanzania’s parks and reserves, which is especially relevant due to the tourist activity in this region. In addition, we had the first Spanish class taught online from Spain, led by our volunteer Esther.
- English: Basic and conversation level classes.
Morning craft workshops:
Thanks to the help of our volunteers, Jithubutu has been able to expand and consolidate the morning workshops that help children acquire new skills. The workshops we run range from making notebooks, earrings, bracelets and key chains using local materials such as kitenge, to cutting glass bottles to make glasses and lamps.
Special workshops:
This year, we want to highlight the mental health workshops we have run in collaboration with creative entrepreneur Jacky Mgani and psychiatrist Milu Buijk, activities we will continue to carry out throughout 2025. Promoting a mental health workshop in a country like Tanzania is no easy task. In this context, attention to emotional and mental health is not common, so these initiatives have a great positive impact and are well received by young people.
Dance classes:
In a country like Tanzania, dance and music are of crucial importance, functioning as a means to awaken the interest of our young people in other activities we offer.
- Daily dance classes
- Special sessions on Wednesdays, which encourage unity and collaboration between different groups of dancers in the city and have managed to bring together some of the best talents, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
- Special dance workshops such as salsa, bachata, capoeira.
- Free use of the stage: used approximately 60% of the available time.
2. EMPLOYMENT
Five of our members, Spanish language students, have found employment in a major travel agency. This is a clear example of how, through the training we offer, we identify talents, expand contact networks and generate new opportunities for our members.
The Jithubutu team is made up of several people, most of whom collaborate in a totally altruistic way from our own center in Arusha and also from abroad. But we are pleased by the fact that 3 people from the local team receive a bonus for their daily work, as well as the musicians and dancers of the Traditional Dance Show, the dance teachers and the teachers of some of the workshops that we carry out occasionally; so we promote local employment and we hope to be able to increase it in the future.
3. INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VISITS AND THEIR IMPACT
In 2024, we received a total of 34 visits from groups of international travelers from 11 different travel agencies, with the certainty that many of them will repeat this new year.
Visitors are mainly interested in learning about our project and participating in our dance and traditional dance classes. These visits have been key to increasing the visibility of the center, attracting new collaborations and donations, and, most importantly, motivating our young people. They give them the opportunity to practice languages, improve their communication skills and, above all, feel valued.
We have also established relationships with companies and entities in Arusha such as Arusha Dance, Fitness Dance Academy, Arusha Branding Agency, Coca Cola, SGA Security… promoting cultural exchange and strengthening our support network.
4. CONSOLIDATION OF A CONSTANT AND STABLE FLOW OF VOLUNTEERS
We received 11 volunteers, who have played a fundamental role in activities such as:
- Language classes
- Creative proposals for new workshops
- Marketing, communication and fundraising
- Online Spanish sessions
5. IDENTIFICATION AND INITIATION OF CONCRETE ACTIONS ORIENTED TOWARDS OUR SELF-SUSTAINABILITY
Our income in 2024 came from traditional dance shows and dance classes for visitors, as well as from donations and the sale of handcrafted items developed in our workshops.
We are working on obtaining partnership and collaboration agreements with companies and organizations
We are establishing improvements in marketing and communication, continuous updating of our website and the production of monthly newsletters.
6. FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS
We have organized two fundraising campaigns. Although the first one was not as successful as expected, we learned valuable lessons to improve future initiatives.
The impact of the second one – recently carried out – is being greater
WHAT HAVE WE INVESTED DONATIONS IN?
Thanks to the generous donations received, we have been able to make significant improvements to our facilities and activities, directly contributing to the well-being and development of our members. Key investments include:
- Efficient lighting fixtures: Installed in both classrooms and the office, significantly improving conditions for studying and working, especially during low-light hours.
- Replacement of locks: Implemented as an additional security measure and ensuring a safer environment for all users of the center.
- Construction of a roof in the outdoor area: This covered space has enabled an additional area for classes and outdoor activities, offering greater versatility to our facilities.
- Educational and training materials: Provided to support language classes and craft workshops, boosting both the learning and creativity of our members.
- Materials for productive projects: These include materials to make lined notebooks and other craft products, which are sold to generate income and support the sustainability of the center.
THANK YOU
We would like to express our deep gratitude to all donors, entities and collaborators for their constant support, as well as to all volunteers who with their time and energy have given a great boost to our project; without them we would not be where we are. Thank you with all our hearts!
OUR GOALS FOR 2025
Our main goals include:
- Increase the number of volunteers and strengthen collaborations.
- Increase the number of visits and activities.
- Identify the needs of our members and explore ways to offer certifications in our activities.
- Get greater participation, consistency and commitment from young people in our workshops, making them understand the benefit of optimizing their free time.
- Obtain sufficient funds to cover the structural expenses of our project and to increase the number of our activities, as well as improve their quality.
We invite you to be part of this story. Together, we can make a difference.