Zanzibar

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Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous state of Tanzania with its own government, parliament and president. The Zanzibar archipelago is located about 40 km off the mainland of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. It consists of the islands Unguja (colloquially Zanzibar) and Pemba as well as other smaller side islands. Zanzibar is very fertile thanks to many rivers and streams, and long, palm-fringed sandy beaches dominate the landscape.

The population consists of Africans, Indians, Persians and Arabs as well as numerous people of different origin from these groups. At the last census before independence, 97 percent of the population adhered to Islam. The remaining 3 percent were Hindus, Christians or adherents of African religions. Since independence, religious affiliation is no longer recorded in population censuses for political reasons.

The average annual income is $250. More than half of the population lives below the poverty line. The infant mortality rate in Zanzibar is 54 per 1000 live births. It is estimated that about 12 % of the children suffer from acute malnutrition.

Zanzibar's economy thrives primarily on the production of spices, especially cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper, as well as, the cultivation of coconut palms and tourism. Women grow seaweed around the island in the shallow waters, which is taken from traders at rock-bottom prices and exported for cosmetic and medicinal production. This work is highly harmful to health. The aggressive salt water, which also strongly reflects sunlight, causes many women to lose their vision and suffer from arthritis. The species of seaweed grown is not part of the native fauna of Zanzibar. The algae was imported from Asia and is destroying the island's fragile coral reefs.

Herrnhuter Missionshilfe has also been active in Zanzibar since 2015 through its commitment in Tanzania.

A deeper insight into Zanzibar and the Moravian projects can be found in the (german) booklet Weltweit verbunden - Sansibar.

News from the projects

Inauguration of three new classrooms at the Herrnhut Academy in Zanzibar

On September 1, 2025, the Herrnhuter Academy in Mwera, Zanzibar, celebrated the inauguration of a new building with three classrooms. The school expansion was implemented in close cooperation with Tanzania Mwangaza and made possible by generous financial support. The varied program of the inauguration ceremony included musical performances, traditional dances, words of thanks from the students, and speeches by those responsible. Afterwards, the children received gifts before the day ended with a communal lunch. With the new classrooms, the Herrnhut Academy now offers significantly more students the opportunity to learn in a safe, modern, and well-equipped environment. We would like to thank everyone involved, especially the Prümmer and Prihoda families and the Fly & Help Foundation, for their active support and trust in the work of our school.

"Mwangaza Academy" opens in Zanzibar

On 1 August, the Mwangaza Academy opened its doors in Kiboje, Zanzibar. The new inclusive nursery school is an important step for the region: here, children with and without disabilities have the opportunity to play, learn and grow up together from the very beginning. Shortly after opening, the facility is already very well attended. This is thanks to barrier-free rooms, adapted learning materials, individual support from a special needs teacher and accompanying counselling for parents. The construction of the kindergarten was made possible with the support of the Fly & Help Foundation. The Mwangaza Academy is a special place that promotes equal opportunities and early childhood education in a sustainable way.

Success story from Zanzibar – Oresta's path to independence

Oresta Osward Anganisye (27) comes from Mbeya in Tanzania. Like many girls in her region, she had to drop out of school after becoming pregnant in secondary school. For years, she raised her son alone – without education or career prospects. In 2024, she received a scholarship to attend the Herrnhuter Berufsbildungszentrum (Herrnhuter Academy) for tourism and hotel management in Zanzibar. There, she completed training in food production – funded by Herrnhuter Missionshilfe. After an internship at the Melia Hotel, Oresta now works as a cook and supervisor at the Mwangaza Academy. She is able to provide for her son and looks to the future with confidence. Oresta's story shows that education opens up new paths – especially for young women who previously had few opportunities.

Solar irrigation and sustainable agriculture in Zanzibar

Bettina Nasgowitz, Project and Finance Officer at Herrnhuter Missionshilfe, visited two impressive agricultural initiatives in Zanzibar together with the NGO Tanzania Mwangaza. In Kilongani, the Shukurani Zetu Women Group cultivates its land with the help of a solar power system and wells – a huge benefit in times of extreme drought. The group generates its own income and invests in its future with foresight. In Jozani, the Kimbojo group is still struggling with an unreliable power supply – a solar power system would be an important next step here. Both groups impressively demonstrate how local initiatives and targeted support can enable sustainable development.

Tourism as a future prospect: school competition in Zanzibar

In April 2025, the local NGO Tanzania Mwangaza held an essay competition on tourism in Zanzibar. The aim was to raise awareness among young people of the potential of the tourism sector and to promote their interest in this important industry of the future. Students from 16 secondary schools took part and presented creative ideas and in-depth knowledge about Zanzibar's tourism industry in their entries. The event was accompanied by a panel discussion with representatives from politics and education, as well as other activities to strengthen youth participation. Particularly successful contributions were awarded prizes at both the student and school levels. The event took place in the presence of the Deputy Secretary of State in the Ministry of Tourism and was supported by the Moravian Church Zanzibar and numerous other partners, including our Herrnhuter Missionshilfe.

Awareness Raising Project of the Herrnhut Academy School

The team at the Herrnhuter Academy vocational training center for hotel management in Zanzibar launched an “Awareness Raising” project last year with the support of the Bauder Foundation. This is about raising awareness of the need for vocational training. This initiative was launched in response to the alarming youth unemployment rate, which particularly affects young women and girls whose education is neglected. Cultural and social barriers prevent women and young girls from embarking on a professional career They are often forced into early marriages and are not given the chance of vocational training. The team of teachers at the Herrnhut Academy imparts knowledge and opportunities in teaching units at secondary schools and raises awareness of the importance of high-quality vocational training. With various activities such as workshops in the villages, building partnerships with local companies, competitions with the schools, trade fair events and information campaigns, open days at the school and publications in social media and other media, society is also involved in order to overcome social and cultural barriers.

Pemba kindergarten continues to grow

The kindergarten of the Moravian Church in Pemba was opened in February 2024 with just eight children. Today, 55 children are already being cared for and taught there. This success is an important step in the educational work on site. Milestones already achieved include a safe playground that provides a protected environment for the children to play and learn, as well as a school vehicle that provides transportation for the pupils. Safety precautions on the premises have also been significantly improved to provide a safe space for the children. In addition, the quality of education has been further strengthened by the purchase of printers and laptops, which helps teachers to make lessons more efficient and varied. These advances make a significant contribution to providing the children with a good foundation for their future.

Kindergarten

In 2015, the Moravian Church launched the Herrnhuter Academy School project in Tanzania. The aim of the project is to support families living in poor conditions in the education of their children. It helps children from Christian and Muslim families alike and teaches them tolerance in dealing with each other from an early age. In a first step, a kindergarten was opened. A short time later, an elementary school was built. In the meantime, a secondary school has also been financed. The project is to be completed in the near future with the construction of a vocational training center. This will give the children the opportunity to complete their entire education in the same place within the same institution.

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Project

In 2015, Herrnhuter Missionshilfe started its school project in Mwera, Zanzibar, together with the Moravian Church Zanzibar. Initially, 36 children were cared for and taught by 2 educators in the kindergarten. Four years later, in 2019 a new elementary school (252 children - as of 2022) and a new kindergarten (139 children - as of 2022) could be opened. Then in 2022, the secondary school was completed (13 children - as of 2022). Moravian Church has a very good reputation in the area and the school is well recognized and in demand by families in the area. Some of the teaching staff are Muslims, others are Christians. The children and young people also belong to different denominations, but they play and learn together in peace and harmony.

People are open and happy to talk about their faith. Since 2017, there has been a children's Sunday school on the premises of the school. More than 100 children and young people, including Muslims, come regularly to this day to sing, dance, play and hear Bible stories. A multi-purpose hall is available next to the school, which can be used by the school during the week and for church services on Sunday.

Target groups

The project's target groups are children between the ages of 3 and 6. The facility has a sponsorship and scholarship program to support poor and destitute families. Many children are picked up by their own school bus so that they can make the sometimes very strenuous and long journey to school safely.

Project goals

The Herrnhut Academy School provides access to education and self-determination of one's own future in one place.

Promotion of intercultural-interreligious sensitive education and coexistence of Christians and Muslims.

Children from poor backgrounds also receive basic medical care and support with school fees and school equipment.

Acivities

Playground
Introduction of the Montessori pedagogy
Provision of a school bus
Sponsorship and Scholarship program

Project progress

In 2019, a new kindergarten and a new school building could be opened. The buildings in which the children were previously cared for were badly dilapidated and could no longer ensure a safe environment for the children. Demolition took place at the beginning of 2019, and now there are ten classrooms with sufficient space in the new, spacious buildings. The rooms are sufficiently supplied with light through the large windows and good ventilation is ensured.

The materials used are based on an environmentally sustainable construction process. The children can now be prepared for the future ahead in a safe environment and without fear of health hazards. The associated change is made much easier for the children since the kindergarten and the elementary school are located on the same site.

In 2020, a multi-purpose hall was built on the premises. This will be used for celebrations, meetings, church services or even as a teachers' room.

In 2022, the construction of the secondary school was started. The next step will be to finance the vocational training center in the field of tourism. This is to be inaugurated at the beginning of 2023.

Project Managers and Project Partners

Bettina Nasgowitz	Markus Kuhn
Tel. +49 (0)7164 9421-22 bettina.nasgowitz@ebu.de	Tel. +49 (0)7164 9421-23 markus.kuhn@ebu.de

in cooperation with

Moravian Church Zanzibar

Moravian Church Tanzania

Donations for Zanzibar Kindergarten

Wir freuen uns über eine Spende für:

Kindergarten Sansibar

Donation Account
Herrnhuter Missionshilfe e.V.
IBAN: DE25 5206 0410 0000 4151 03
BIC: GENODEF1EK1, Evangelische Bank
Projekt 1171 Zanzibar Kindergarten

Primary and Secondary School

In 2015, the Moravian Church launched the Herrnhuter Academy School project in Tanzania. The aim of the project is to support families living in poor conditions in the education of their children. It helps children from Christian and Muslim families alike and teaches them tolerance in dealing with each other from an early age. In a first step, a kindergarten was opened. A short time later, an Primary School was built. In the meantime, a Secondary School has also been financed. The project is to be completed in the near future with the construction of a vocational training center. This will give the children the opportunity to complete their entire education in the same place within the same institution.

Project Pictures

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The Project

In 2015, Herrnhuter Missionshilfe started its school project in Mwera, Zanzibar, together with the Moravian Church. Initially, 36 children were cared for and taught by 2 educators in the Kindergarten. Four years later, in 2019 a new Primary School (252 children - as of 2022) and a new Kindergarten (139 children - as of 2022) could be opened. Then in 2022, the Secondary School was completed (13 children - as of 2022). Moravian Church has a very good reputation in the area and the school is well recognized and in demand by families in the area. Some of the teaching staff are Muslims, others are Christians. The children and young people also belong to different denominations, but they play and learn together in peace and harmony.

People are open and happy to talk about their faith. Since 2017, there has been a children's Sunday school on the premises of the School. More than 100 children and young people, including Muslims, come regularly to this day to sing, dance, play and hear Bible stories. A multi-purpose hall is available next to the school, which can be used by the school during the week and for church services on Sunday.