We are a orphanage and education center advocating for self-sufficient help to children and widows
Dodoma
Let me first extend our WELCOME to you! We say Karibu!
If you are comfortable working with children and widows in challenged communities, TUMAINI FOUNDATION may be a fit for you. You will have a choice of living in the compound, with a community member, self-provided lodge rental space or combining options. We are caring for widows with food, occasional visits and support. We house children, teach them, provide for their safety and show them love and affection. We are also involved in no-til, organic farming on a small plot of land. We are actively seeking more land and a variety of business opportunities. The children of the TUMAINI FOUNDATION are polite, well-mannered and loving as is most of the Dodoma community. Although there are many pleasurable activities in Dodoma and the surrounding area, there are many projects and issues that we are working on and hope to address with your help. ‘Karibu’ or feel welcomed. You can check out our missions and our past projects in https://www.tumaini-foundation.org/
The closest airport will be in Dodoma, the capital of Tanzania, we offered airport pickup service and discounted tours to the safaris. These proceedings will go back to the foundation directly. We are located in a rustic community nestled in a village of the Gogo Tribe, with infrastructure challenges such as dirt roads, power outages, occasional minor flooding and out-houses in some places. The town center provides many of the conveniences that are available in most cosmopolitan areas.
We offer private room or shared domatory, depending on the availability. The NYUMBANI Lodge, 5 minutes away, also provides favorable accommodations. Space is limited and the regular diet is based on traditional Tanzanian foods. You can also walk 15 mins to the main town that serve a variety of western styled cuisine.
The minimum required stay for volunteers is (2) weeks. If you are unable to remain for that length of time your visit would actually be more disruptive then helpful to our children. Despite our limitations and requirements, we hope you are inspired to come work with us. We require a minimum commitment of Four (4) hours of labor five (5) days a week. You may choose between organic farming, cooking, teacher support, arts and crafts or maybe you have a useful suggestion that would be helpful. Your assignments will be scheduled weekly and can be adjusted at the end of each week.
Organic methods: Composting, Crop rotation, Green manure
Current projects: Organic Farm Project
Internet access available
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Host type
Self-sufficiency property
0.4
Hectares
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1
Acres
Tumaini
Member since 2021
Languages spoken:
English, Swahili
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Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 3 days
Dodoma
Dodoma, Tanzania
Reviews
Nancy
United Kingdom
•
August 2025
My daughter Emily and I spent one month at Tumaini Foundation, and it was a life-changing experience. We arrived in the late evening to a heartfelt welcome song from the children and a communal meal. Our month was spent playing with the children and preparing them for the new school year, looking after the little ones, accompanying Daniel - the social worker - to home visits, and going to the market in Dodoma. We also got to visit Tumaini's new special-needs school a couple hours drive away, where we set up a sensory room and did some wall stencils. Towards the end of our stay, when many of the children had gone back to school, we had time to ourselves to refresh the Tumaini Foundation website and do some fundraising activities. We finished our time in Tanzania with a short safari with Tumaini, which was fabulous. As others have said, you really must love children to volunteer at the foundation. It can be noisy and full-on, but if you adore children, then this is the place for you! Thank you, Tumaini, for making us feel like part of your extended family. We are already planning our next visit!
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Reply from Tumaini
Nancy and Emily, thank you for your open hearts, hard working and dedication towards this community, you brought so much life to the rabits and goats and more to the children we care, you gave so much of emotional support and opened a new chapter of sensory room in our school, you were always ready to go extra miles to love and serve, thank you for the crowdfund for medication of our children, we are looking forward seing you again.
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Cynthia
United Kingdom
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June 2025
I had an absolute awesome time at the Tumaini foundation. Madam Tumaini, Issac and her team were exceptional in all aspects of hospitality. They made me feel like part of the team, I was included into almost every activity and I settled easily into the community. The children are so wonderful, kind, loving and helpful, they are a reflection of Madam Tumaini and her team. I had so much fun helpjng out that I wish I had stayed longer as I was just beginning to bond with all the lovely children. I definitely will return sometime soon to get to know everyone on a better level. Thank you Issac for introducing me to the foundation, it was a real eye opening experience that has significantly changed my perspective in life.
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Reply from Tumaini
Cynthia you did a graft change into this place, more than farming you brought so much life and laughter in this facility, we are looking forward transforming alot on your coming back so soon, thank you for who you are!
Chrissie
United Kingdom
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February 2025
We volunteered at the Tumaini Foundation in December 2024 and had a fantastic time. Tumaini is an extraordinary woman who is doing extraordinary things supporting her community (she has built an orphanage, and is in the process of building a school for disabled children, she supports local widows, does social work outreach, amongst other projects) We were able to get involved with many aspects of these projects and it was a real education to be volunteering here.
There was a small garden in the orphanage where we were able to restablish the beds and plant up with various vegetables and fruit. We were also invited to create kitchen gardens for the local community which was rewarding work. In December the heat was relentless and we were encouraged to work for only a few hours per day and then we were able to spend the rest of the time playing with and organising games for the children in the orphanage. This is a very special place and I would definitely recommend this placement to other wwoofers.
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Reply from Tumaini
Thank you so much Chrissie and Nick the vegetable you planted grew and we harvested, thank you so much for your kindness you became our family and we are so happy to have known you. Youare the game changers, thanks alot!
Eva
Spain
•
October 2024
The Tumaini Foundation is a big and lovely family. My stay there consisted of two months where I was able to experience and absorb all kinds of experiences and sensations. I would definitely recommend Tumaini and the whole team. They are people who welcome everyone regardless of your abilities, they always find a job for your stay there, you will always have something to contribute! I feel deeply grateful for their treatment, I will definitely come back.... Thank you from the bottom of my heart! God bless you.
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Reply from Tumaini
Thank you very much Eva for coming and for opening your heart to serve with us, you meant the world to us with every single minute shared together, thank you for Totias le patata, we enjoyed alot
Jesse
Germany
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May 2024
Coming to Tumaini foundation was a truly special experience for several reasons.
The first reason and in my opinion most important one is the way you are welcomed and integrated into the foundation. From the first moments I felt like being part of a huge family that cared very much for every single member of that family. From having meals together, playing together to going to church together on Sundays, everything was done with the love and passion that you usually only see in families.
The second reason for this unique experience is the way the foundation is integrated and connected within the local community. Your everyday life will consist of diverse activities that range from gardening in the orphanage garden to visiting local schools where you help with classes. The foundation has many projects in the region and is therefore very connected with local families and especially the children who all have much appreciation for the work that is being done by the foundation.
Overall I can recommend Tumaini foundation to everyone who doesn’t mind a little chaos and always having kids around. It truly is a place with a lot of people with their heart in the right spot.
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Reply from Tumaini
Jesse you are a blessing, the chickens and all the people are missing you so much, call this place home, you know you can always comeback at some point. You touched the lives with your unique hands, it will always be remembered!
Zackaria
Morocco
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April 2024
Peace to every one,, tumaini foundation was an amazing experience,, i enjoyed interacting with all the children and volunteers at the space,, I was treated with respect and shown lots of love,, any issues that I came across the entire team came together to resolve them,, may the almighty bless the foundation and the children
Reply from Tumaini
Thank you very much Zackaria, it was our joy to share our time with you, the positive energy you carry with you is one of its kind, the passion to nature is amaizing, thank you again!
