OUR VISION
In Zanzibar, it's challenging for women to get an education or a job because they're expected to focus on their families. This means that their chances of leading a self-determined, independent life are rather slim. We're on a mission to change this and reach out to women and children in Zanzibar. We're here to make life better for them, step by step and we do it by working together.
We care about people and culture and we want to make sure that our actions are positive and long-lasting. The most important aspects of life that guide us on this path are
Empowerment - Education - Sustainability
BUT FROM THE BEGINNING: HOW DID IT ALL START?
In 2021, Lara Ameir founded the Kisiwa Art Farm as a project. Lara was born in Germany, worked as a social and trauma educator in Switzerland, and moved to Zanzibar (Tanzania) in 2019. She has been living there ever since with her family. During her first stay in Zanzibar in 2013, she fell in love with the island, its culture and its people.
The Zanzibar society is predominantly Muslim, which has many advantages, including community cohesion. However, women do not have the same status as men, are dependent on them and must conform to traditional gender roles from an early age. If a woman falls outside this pattern, for example because she does not want to marry or her husband has left the family, it can be a daily struggle to earn a living and provide for the family. Lara quickly realized that she wanted to and could help these women. From that moment on, she channeled all her efforts into a project called Kisiwa Art Farm.
WHAT IS KISIWA ART FARM?
Kisiwa means “island” in Swahili (the local language of Zanzibar). If you translate the whole name into English, we are the “Island Art Farm.” In other words, a farm on the island of Zanzibar that is dedicated to art. This farm actually exists. Lara and her family's property is home to many animals and plant species. Here we have club premises, a creative café where tourists can meet islanders, and you can even rent rooms to stay overnight. Since April 2023, we are the non-profit association Kisiwa Art Farm e.V. and since June 2023, the Zanzibari NGO BWECODEO (BWEjuu COmmunity DEvelopment Organisation).
WHO IS BEHIND KISIWA ART FARM?
Find out more about the Kisiwa Art Farm team.
HOW DO WE HELP?
Kisiwa Art Farm e.V. brings together a wide variety of projects in Zanzibar under the professional project management of Lara and in cooperation with the local NGO BWECODEO.
1. Art & Adventure Childcare
Period: December 2023 to present
Content: An art and adventure Kindergarten for the children of our sewing school participants and children from the surrounding area. Here they have the opportunity to experience loving care focused on art and nature in a safe place. Music and dance lessons as well as trips to the beach are on the weekly schedule. Meals are freshly prepared every day and some of the ingredients are planted and harvested together with the children.
2. Happy Hearts Nursery School
Period: January 2025 to present
Content: The preschool for four- to six-year-olds enables our Art & Adventure Childcare kids to continue their non-violent education. Here, they are taught according to the Tanzanian curriculum. Of course, there is also plenty of time for playing, beach trips, and lots of exercise. Something very special: just like in kindergarten, the kids spend the whole day outdoors! There is a roof over their heads for rainy days, but no closed rooms.
3. My Days My Choice
Period: Workshop takes place on demand
Content: Education on the topic of menstruation by trained midwife Johanna in Swahili, mainly for school classes at Kisiwa Art Farm, open exchange about experiences, possible courses of action in case of bleeding or pain (distribution of homemade, washable pads or menstrual cups to married women, yoga, nutritional tips).
4. Bibi Sabuni
Period: January 2022 to present
Content: Support for elderly women who do not receive a pension in Zanzibar. Bibi Sabuni is Swahili and translates into English as “soap granny.” Our soap grannies have a small seaweed farm in front of the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar. The seaweed harvested here is processed into soap with great passion and the addition of local spices. The soaps are sold to local hotels and at markets in Zanzibar as well as Germany. These earnings enable our grandmas to secure their livelihood with just a few soap productions.
5. Various sewing projects related to our Sewing School
Period: January 2022 to present
Content: Sewing training mainly for girls and young women, but also for young men, by local sewing teachers at Kisiwa Art Farm. The traditional Kitenge fabric is used to make outfits for the whole family on electricity-independent sewing machines – known as Butterflys – and industrial sewing machines. We also focus on upcycling and coaching: job-related, English, empowerment. The goal is financial independence and healthy self-confidence for all project participants.
Even after the project ends, orders from regional shops are accepted, such as upcycling for the Waka Wear Shop. This gives the women the opportunity to generate additional income alongside their employment.
6. Sea and Soil
Period: Workshop takes place as needed
Content: Protection of the maritime and village environment through regular beach and village clean-ups, as well as raising awareness of environmental issues through community clean-up campaigns and playful education of children about waste and its impact on our environment. In our Art & Adventure Childcare and Happy Hearts Nursery School, crafting with waste creates an initial awareness of sustainability and upcycling.
7. Future projects
The idea is to gradually integrate various projects into the Kisiwa Art Farm in order to support women and young people with different skills. Starting with sewing, we want to develop a form of training that produces professionally competent young talent and secures a future livelihood for each participant...
So it remains exciting!
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via mail (jambo@kisiwa-art-farm.com) or Instagram (@kisiwa_art_farm_zanzibar_). We're always happy to help!
HOW DO WE FINANCE THESE PROJECTS?
It's obvious: We depend on donations.
With just 2 euros, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast in Zanzibar. Even a small amount of money can make a big difference!
We promise that every euro you donate will go straight to the projects in Zanzibar (minus currency conversion fees). We're dedicated to being as transparent as possible with our donors.
We organize an annual charity day at Gypsea Kronau, Germany and we'd love for you to join us! It would be great if you stop by and get to know us. You can also buy our products and participate in yoga, Zumba, and Pilates classes. The heart and soul of our organization are our volunteers, who generously donate their time to make these classes possible. Every cent you pay for class goes straight to our association's coffers.
We want to say a heartfelt thank you for all the incredible support we receive! We can't thank you enough for all you've done for Zanzibar. Your contributions have made a huge difference and we really couldn't have done it without you!
We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the following organizations, in addition to our wonderful private donors:
- GypSea Kronau for donations, the platform for events and advertising for us
https://www.gypsea-lusshardtsee.de - FRAU HOLLA Marke & Content GmbH for this great website
https://www.frau-holla.de - St. Lambertus Apotheke Bad Schönborn, Germany for donating a first aid kit
- Miri von Modewerk Conceptstore for sponsoring the materials for the Sewing School Project
https://modewerkconceptstore.de/ - Selenacare for the generous discount on their menstrual cups
https://selenacare.com - Kraftmischer GmbH for selling Seaweed soaps and thereby supporting our Bibi Sabunis
https://kraftmischer.de/impressum - Dekographics for the great labels on our products
https://www.dekographics.com
