The Nuru Centre, Mbezi Beach, Dar es Salaam

Income Generation at the Nuru Workshop

Necklaces have been a very successful product of the workshop with sales in the UK during 2010 of about £3,500, plus local sales of £4,000. A number of other craft items are being designed and made, incuding banners, shoes and cakes! Go inside the workshop to see how the necklaces are made

The vision of a local Presbyterian pastor, and the Mbezi Beach Presbyterian Church, the Nuru Centre is an exciting development which has grown rapidly since the Imbaseni Trust made a significant grant to facilitate land purchase. 

The site is in an attractive location, in a suburb of Dar es Salaam.  The aim of the centre is to be a Christian community based on the Mbezi Beach Presbyterian church.  This church already counts a number of disabled adults among its regular members. 

It is planned that the Centre will eventually provide employment for 12 disabled adults living locally or in hostel accommodation on site. Currently there are nine disabled adults in full time employment at the Centre, and they are generating income by producing a wide range of crafts, with necklaces in particular being very popular, and sold in the UK. Eventually other income generating activities will be added including produce from the land on the Centre.  

To maximise self-sustainability, a well has been drilled and produces about 200 litres per hour! In addition rainwater is being harvested from the roof of the main church/workshop building.  Solar power has also been installed to supplement the mains electricity supply.

Key supporters of the project are Pioneers, the Imbaseni Trust, Hilfe fur Bruder, the Korean Presbyterian Church and Eaglesham Parish Church, Glasgow, Scotland. The Imbaseni Trust was instrumental in helping acquire the land and providing grants to enable work to proceed at a very encouraging rate. 

The Simpson family arrived in August 2009 and opted to live at the Centre itself, in what was to be the second hostel.

Pastor Charles Konea, Dorine, Priscilla and baby Ephraim

The Simpson Family