Defenders of Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the Africa's most recognized wonders. The highest peak on the continent attracts hikers and backpackers from around the world. For the people of Northeastern Tanzania, however, the mountain is more than just a tourist hotspot. It's also a matter of survival.

As climate change has begun to cause the mountain's snowcap to melt, the farmers below face the possibility of floods washing out the nutrients from their soil, resulting in food shortages. If the loss of snow continues even further, then the water sources that would otherwise nourish their crops would begin to dry.

The farmers who live below Mount Kilimanjaro are often among the world's poorest. They may be vulnerable, but they aren't helpless.

NARRATIVES

Emma Suya

As a farmer on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, she suffered the effects of the environment’s turn for the worse.

Read Emma's Story

Julius

When Julius returned to the farm, he knew without question that it was exactly what he was supposed to be doing.

Read Julius' Story

PHOTOGRAPHY

ARTICLES

celebrate as you go

celebrate as you go

Cheers, yodels, and songs immediately engulfed both sides of our vehicle. We turned onto a small pathway shaded by palms. We were bordered by smiling and cheering farmers, mostly women, rushing out to greet us. As we drove further up the path, they fell into a parade-like formation that followed us, erupting in songs that seemed to get louder and louder. The volume of the celebration only increased once we opened our doors to get out.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

@plantwpurpose

“In all these environmental restoration activities, we are very happy because we’ve learned that doing this is taking care of God’s creation. We are not using harmful chemicals that will kill other organisms or affect our health. We are taking care of ourselves and we are happy about this.

We give vegetables to friends and people we know. We understand that God is love and we are happy being in a group together where we love each other and help each other. This is what I love about Agape group."

Since 2011, Richard Mhina has served Plant With Purposw
Tanzania as the Country Director. Richard leads the local Tanzanian staff by setting priorities, strategies and overseeing implementation of programs as well as managing relations with stakeholders, communities, and donors.

When we asked him about being the boss to his 65 local employees he corrected us by saying “no no, I get to be a servant to my 65 person staff.”

"I want to tell you a brief history of my group. We started in a year and a half ago with twenty members. We are so thankful for Plant With Purpose for enabling us to do so many good things, especially with organic farming and environmental conservation.

We met a Plant With Purpose facilitator who told us about organic farming and conservation. Since then, we’ve changed. We’ve started using compost, and we no longer use harmful chemicals. We used to spend money on industrial fertilizers, but now we can save that money and use that in better ways.”

Ellie showed us where she used to live- a mud-and-clay structure, small in space. This was her whole house when she joined Plant With Purpose’s program.

Some relatives were ill, and she had signed up to take care of their children. Before she had much to give, she already had a very generous spirit.

It’s great when generous people succeed. Through hard work and the help of Plant With Purpose’s program, she was able to make upgrades to the home, eventually making a much nicer and more spacious home, right on the same plot as her old abode. She now uses it as her laundry room.