Tujijenge Tanzania Ltd

 

A Match Made in Heaven

After working at FINCA for six years and then earning a Masters degree in the United States, Winnie Terry was well prepared to start a new microfinance organization (MFI). Together with some former colleagues, she opened an MFI in Dar es Salaam known as Tujijenge Tanzania (meaning “build together” in KiSwahili). With Winnie as the [...]

Related Stores

Continue reading → A Match Made in Heaven

Flying and Hot Buns

Dala-dalas are Dar es Salaam’s form of public transportation. They are buses that run all over the city, charging about $0.30 per ride. There is no set schedule, and they typically only leave once they are full.
Although several Tanzanians warned me about taking dala-dalas during rush hour, I figured it was no big deal. So [...]

Related Stores

Continue reading → Flying and Hot Buns

Homeless in Dar

Fresh off the plane, I arrived in Dar es Salaam eager to begin work with Tujijenge Tanzania as a Kiva Fellow. First task: find accommodation for the year. Without Craigslist Tanzania, the whole process promised to be daunting.
It was. Here are some of the reasons:
Go to a real estate agent, he charges you $20 for [...]

Related Stores

Continue reading → Homeless in Dar

Sorry, Officer, I just don’t do fines.

 
Days go by and I often forget how life in Africa can be so different than life in the States. Events from this past weekend remind me that I am going to really miss Tanzania when I leave in June.
 
On Saturday, I was driving to a friend’s house when I was stopped by a [...]

Related Stores

Continue reading → Sorry, Officer, I just don’t do fines.

Panadol, Anyone?

It would seem that time with Kiva is flying by when I think about my remaining 4½ months left here in East Africa. Almost 4 down, almost 4 more to go. I have been receiving updates from friends in Chicago about their frigid weather and feel grateful even for Tanzania’s thick humidity. I prefer sweating [...]

Related Stores

Continue reading → Panadol, Anyone?

Swahili Blunders

Learning more about Tanzanian culture has been a fascinating journey thus far. Like most things in life, the more I learn, the more I discover how little I know. As my relationships slowly deepen with my colleagues at Tujijenge Tanzania and with other new friends, I’m beginning to gradually pick up more insights into their [...]

Related Stores

Continue reading → Swahili Blunders

Inspired in Tanzania

Greetings from Dana in Dar es Salaam, where I have been placed with Tujijenge Tanzania! In this past month, it’s been exciting to see the initial partnership form between Tujijenge Tanzania and Kiva, as they work together to provide loans to their clients. My officemates get so excited when they see all the different profiles [...]

Related Stores

Continue reading → Inspired in Tanzania

Email Updates