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Protecting environments and empowering communities in Uluguru mountains

14.11.2023

The Tengeneza Generation (TEG) in Morogoro, the United Republic of Tanzania, is making a positive impact with its latest project – VUKA. Vuka is a Swahili phrase signifying transition. Launched to address the climate crisis and alleviate poverty in the Uluguru mountain community, the project has provided natural resource management (NRM) training for 157 young people, donated 1 000 trees, and offered weaving training to over 35 young women.

VUKA, funded by the Segal Family Foundation in collaboration with the Morogoro municipal office, aims to create alternative income sources for the community. Agriculture, one of the main economic activities in Ruvuma village near the Uluguru Mountains, has been impacted by climate change, and farming alone is not enough to support families. Many turned to tree-cutting to sell charcoal, resulting in environmental degradation. VUKA is educating and equipping the community for NRM, incentivizing the local community to shift away from unsustainable practices and protect their environment while simultaneously improving their livelihoods.

Weaving training has created opportunities for young women to produce and sell woven products locally and in broader markets. This alternative source of income is empowering youth and women, enabling them to diversify their incomes and skills and become financially independent. TEG has connected the community with markets in different areas such as Nafasi Art Space in Dar es Salaam. VUKA also promotes gender equality by encouraging women's involvement in decision-making and leadership roles related to livelihood and resource management. The tangible impact includes increased incomes and an overall enhancement of the community's economic wellbeing.

Sustainable mountain development in the Eastern Arc Mountains is a core focus of the project. Community training has centred around safeguarding the area's unique biodiversity. Sustainable resource management training has led to more responsible land and forest practices, resulting in a reduction in deforestation, habitat destruction and soil erosion.
Community feedback on the trainings has been positive. Miss Emilliana Habibu, one of the project beneficiaries, expressed "Initially, I relied on my family for financial support as I had no means of generation income. However, the VUKA project was a perfect opportunity for me to acquire new knowledge and skills to produce different products using palm trees. Through the project I have learned to create market-ready woven products from palm trees, and I hope this will enable me to earn sufficient income to meet my needs and achieve financial independence."

Founded in 2014, TEG is a youth-centred organization committed to conserving diverse ecosystems and biodiversity in mountain areas. The organization promotes youth empowerment and sustainable practices through ecological and cultural tourism, as well as environmentally friendly production methods. In January 2022, TEG became the first organization from the United Republic of Tanzania to join the Mountain Partnership, which is the only United Nations alliance of governments and organizations dedicated to mountain peoples and environments.

Photo by ©Tengeneza Generation