The Rukwa Foundation uses subsidiarity as a guiding principle.
In our outreach, we look for the smallest organizational unit with which to partner to create the most good. Practically that means we would prefer to partner with National organizations working in Tanzania; rather than, International organizations.
We would prefer well-run Regional organization over National ones, and we would ultimately prefer local partners with which to work directly. In our view, the most effective giving would occur from families in the developed world directly to families in the Rukwa region, which was, in fact, how the early Rukwa Foundation projects were organized.
This focus on the smallest organizational unit is driven by a recognition that the closer you get to the problem the less input is required from donor nations and the more likely the aid is to be both effective and well-targeted.
Tools for education
Imagine trying to learn in a boarding school without beds or read at an evening study-hall without lights. The Rukwa Foundation sees basic infra-structure interventions in rural schools as the highest impact return for an outside organization. Bold young students who travel miles for an education and work extremely hard to learn in a foreign language should not have to worry about fundamentals like heat, light, and a place to lay their head. These things are not hard to fix and are an appropriate place to start.
Clean water
Clean water is a basic human need and access to it can mean the difference between a thriving village or a borderline outpost of poverty. The Rukwa Foundation looks for water production projects that can be instituted efficiently and focuses on creating long-term maintenance funds to keep these new sources viable for years to come.
Supporting Families
Health & Education outcomes are dependent on the home environment, so The Rukwa Foundation looks for high-impact initiatives that improve family living conditions. Many of these projects are centered on empowering women. Any effort that saves time or reduces cost on a family budget inevitably yields improves the community.
Active Projects
At the Rukwa Foundation we believe in the ingenuity, creativity, and vibrancy of the people of Tanzania. Our aim is to issue grants that improve health and education outcomes in this special corner of the world.
