Ve’ahavta is a pioneer in the Canadian Jewish movement of Tikun Olam and is perceived as an innovative and creative NGO with dynamic projects and a leader of a committed volunteer movement. We have spent the past decade developing strong international projects and supporting them with experienced staff that has considerable cumulative expertise in international project design and management. Now we are ready to replicate our successes and create new volunteer opportunities in new corners of the world.

Kilema is a village located in the district of Moshi, in northern Tanzania, which is laid out on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Its population consists of approximately 3600 people, who mainly speak Chaga and Swahilli. Most of Kilema’s residents manage small subsistence shambas (farms) or small local businesses. Kilema is a stunning and picturesque setting of rural African village life. It is also relatively easily accessible through its proximity to Mount Kilimanjaro Airport and the city of Arusha’s bus station. Mount Kilimanjaro is a 50-minute flight from Nairobi.

Ve’ahavta is currently recruiting volunteers for medium-long term placements in Kilema to focus on education, public health, and natural resource management.

Our project goals are:

• To enhance and diversify the educational experience of rural children, improving their chances of continuing on to further education, as well as to deepen the youth’s understanding of important social, cultural and health issues, fostering sensitivity and awareness.
• To assist in laying the foundation for successful renovations of Kilema’s community lifeline: its local water canal. The irrigation system in Masaera- Kilema comes from a principal canal, that feeds smaller individual canals, all of which is fed by a river off the mountain. This system is used by all the local farmers to irrigate their crops.