African Roots Foundation

Make a Difference…

Millions in Tanzania live without reliable access to electricity and most burn dangerous, unhealthy, polluting and expensive kerosene lamps for light. These can easily be replaced with small scale, affordable solar products – leading to a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous community. (more…)

A quick update on our quest for a sustainable source of electricity for the people of Esilalei. Last week was spent installing solar panels at the Bush2Beach semi-luxury Permanent Tented Camps at Karatu and Esilalei, which gave us the perfect opportunity to move forward on the community solar project next to the Esilalei camp. (more…)

Our community centre in Esilalei is a useful space for the community to meet, to have workshops and even more so, for the children and adults to study.

The one thing limiting this however, is the fact that here – around the equator – the sun sets around 6:30 every day, and everything is in darkness until the following morning. (more…)

Esilalei is a village in Northern Tanzania located in the heart of Maasai land. Situated on sloping hills overlooking Lake Manyara National Park and the Great Rift Valley, the Maasai’s livelihood still largely depends on cattle herding. With a per capita income of about $1 a day, the primary focus of families is on providing for the basic needs (food and shelter). For many, providing education for their children is something they simply can’t afford.

In 2007, ARF started working with the community leaders and local residents on a community development program, aiming to improve the available opportunities of the community involved. (more…)

Esilalei village has been a settlement since 1977 before which time the Maasai, it’s current occupants, lived a nomadic life. They still enjoy free access across the land, including across the country borders.

Nowadays, Esilalei village comprises over 500 people living in around 50 separate Bomas (traditional Maasai settlements), covering the area between Manyara lake and the mountain ranges running from the North-West to the East. (more…)