Tuende Pamoja Charity is based at the Kisampa Conservation Area, a large private community conservation area run by the Barbour family in Tanzania.
Adjoining Saadani National Park, Kisampa is about 80 sq kms in size, the land being leased from the nearby village, Matipwili.
Dr Rob Barbour first ‘found’ the property in 2003, negotiated lease terms with the village and then started to develop a tourist facility to finance the conservation effort.
Rob’s parents, Richard and Jeanann then came from Australia to build and set up the camp.
They lived in a basic tent for over three years while accommodation for guests in the form of star tents under a roof was constructed. When they first came there was absolutely nothing there….no people, no roads….just bush. Employing and training only people from Matipwili the camp slowly took shape and the first guests stayed at Kisampa in 2005.
When they first came there was absolutely nothing there….no people, no roads….just bush.
The Kisampa Bush Retreat is only a small camp with 12 beds. It has grown in stature due, in a large part, to the philosophy of social responsibility, the sustainable development and empowerment of the community as well as the eco friendly way in which the facility is built and managed.
From its very humble beginnings the Tuende Pamoja charity in Tanzania has been run by Jeanann and Richard Barbour and Bori Amri Bori and Caroline Uisso who together manage the charity on a totally voluntary basis. Every cent donated goes to its intended use. There are no hidden costs.In a recent survey Kisampa was reckoned to be among the top 50 camps in Southern Africa. Judged on sustainability and responsibility Kisampa has a couple of pages in the book, Africa’s Finest.
Bori lives in Matipwili and has worked at Kisampa since the camp was set up. He is now the Camp Manager and a very respected member of the community. He is also the Community Liaison officer and as such is able to bridge any gaps.
Caroline lives in Dar es Salaam and helps look after the financial side of things. She organizes the payments for school, colleges and projects and helps with procurement.
Jeanann and Richard came to Kisampa first to set up and build the camp at Kisampa and later to manage it. They have now handed over their camp responsibilities and Jeanann and Richard (Bibi and Babu) are now able to spend most of their time helping to run the Tanzania-based charity during their retirement in Western Australia.
Mbili Kimo, one of Matipwili’s most respected business owners, helps with the procuremnt of goods and labour for the projects undertaken in the village
Those involved with Tuende Pamoja work very closely with the village leaders and the community in making decisions about how to spend any funding.
