Since its creation in 2022, Jithubutu’s centre has aimed to provide Tanzanian young people with a positive alternative to spending time on the streets. To achieve this, all activities are completely free of charge for our members, and the centre only relies on personal funds, small donations, and spontaneous sales of products created during our art workshops.
More and more members are joining, taking this opportunity to grow and develop new skills, rather than seeking refuge in addiction or any other harmful behaviour.
We are already seeing the positive impact, with our members directly applying the knowledge gained here to enhance their professional lives and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.
To help them continue on this path, WE NEED YOU.
As a volunteer, you can support us by sustaining foreign language classes and workshops to improve our members’ CV and job prospects, as well as assist with office tasks and social media, organising events, or contributing any creative ideas you may have!
Jithubutu means “have the courage to dare” in Swahili. Today, we invite you to dare to dive into Tanzanian life, support the local community, and share your knowledge, just as Tanzanian people are sharing. In other words, bring your smile and enthusiasm to make the most of your time by building something meaningful—just as the young people here are doing!
Our centre is always in need of a helping hand—whether you’re in Arusha or anywhere else in the world! If you’re not planning to travel, you can still support us from your hometown by hosting online teaching sessions, collecting materials, organising fundraising events, and more!
Testimonials
I had the privilege of meeting Cristina, the heart and soul behind Jithubutu. Her passion and love for the project were immediately evident. She had created a cultural and social centre with a mission to empower Tanzanian youth, particularly those from Arusha, by fostering their talents and encouraging them to explore new ones. Captivated by her vision, I knew I wanted to be part of this incredible initiative. And so, I began offering Spanish classes, helping organize workshops, and supporting other aspects of the project. Even after returning to Spain, I remained connected to Jithubutu, promoting its mission and selling beautiful recycled notebooks made by the young people of the centre in one of the craft workshops Cristina organized. These notebooks, covered in vibrant African "kitenge" fabric, symbolized the creativity and hope that Jithubutu inspires.
Jithubutu is a space filled with love, kindness, and shared values. It promotes learning from one another, regardless of background or circumstance. Through dance, music, and the arts, the centre celebrates Tanzanian identity and offers a place where young people can find meaning and purpose, especially those who feel lost or face significant challenges in their daily lives. Having volunteered for various projects in the past, I can say that Jithubutu touched my heart in a unique and lasting way.
Born from the desire to create a shift in the lives of young people who may feel incapable of taking risks or overcoming the barriers in front of them, Jithubutu dares them to dream of a brighter future. It is a space where growth, personal development, and a sense of community thrive."
Jithubutu is a center that reaches out to the local community by offering them the necessary space for a diversity of cultural activities, such as the promotion of dance and music by local artists, by providing free learning opportunities, by offering different language courses, by facilitating the opportunity to read books and play boardgames, by organizing workshops on a variety of subjects and by offering interested groups the possibility to exchange on different themes.
This community space being a place that promotes educational facilities, creativity, cultural arts, entrepreneurship and social relationships, all while offering a sense of belonging and pride to many young people who otherwise might be dwelling on the streets.
Hats off for Cristina who blew this project into life, not without its challenges, with unwavering courage and enthousiasm, and who can certainly use the willingness of any person as motivated as herself to participate and make sure they can continue offering such promising opportunities to the local community to make their dreams come true.
Jithubutu being a center that promotes the exchange between communities, it will undoubtedly teach us that we can all learn from eachother. Any visit to Jithubutu will lead to an unforgettable experience.
Cristina
Jithubutu Project Director and Founder
&
Head of Partnership Engagement at Samaritan Initiative Organization