Economic Growth Tanzania, United Republic of Project #72454

Empower Rural Tanzanian Women with Microloans

by Ngorongoro Community Network, Inc.

Project Report | Mar 13, 2026
We're 83% Funded!

By Felicia Smith | Managing Director

Dear Team,

We've just returned from our annual trip to Tanzania at the beginning of March. We brought the news to the women in the Alcheniomelock loan program that we had raised extra money for them, and that they could expand the loan program to include more women this year. They were so excited! They sang, danced, and even made us a cake, which was a first! Even the children from the local school had a song prepared for our visit. You can watch videos of this on our YouTube channel (link below). Like the women, we are also filled with hope and gratitude to have been successful in raising funds for them on this new-to-us platform, GlobalGiving. We have raised enough money so far to expand the loan program by 100 women, and are still hoping to reach our goal of raising enough funds to expand by 200 women.

In addition to celebrating with us, the women in the loan program also showed us how they pay back their loans each month, and even brought out the big metal box where they keep their money. There are 3 locks on the box, requiring 3 separate keys to open it, and each of 3 different women wears a key around their neck to keep everyone accountable. This system seems to be working well for them, and they claim that they have all been very successful using and paying back the loan money. Without banks in the village, these are the only loans available to women who want to start or expand a business, and they are so grateful to be given this opportunity. We will continue to update you on the progress of our project, and hopefully by the next report we will have reached our goal! Thanks so much to everyone who is helping us to better the lives of these rural Tanzanian women.

With hearts full of gratitude,

Judy Lane & Felicia Smith of Maasai Partners

Links:

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Nov 14, 2025
First Goal Reached!!

By Felicia Smith | Managing Director

Maria Mirumu, co-founder of ReCAF

Dear Team,

Our first ever GlobalGiving project to Empower Rural Tanzanian Women with Microloans has filled us with hope. We are thrilled to report that you all so generously helped us to reach our first funding goal for thisproject in just a few weeks! We can’t begin to express how humbled we are by this outpouring of support from our community for the Maasai women who so desperately rely on these microloans. These funds will immediately go to Resilient Communities Africa Foundation (ReCAF) in Tanzania, who manages the loan program.

The funding recieved so far means that we can expand our loan program by 100 women in Alchenmiomelock village through the creation of 4 new Village Community Banks (VICOBA). We will keep the funding efforts going to try and raise enough to sponsor 200 new loan recipients, as we are already part of the way there. Resilient Communities Africa Foundation (ReCAF), our Tanzanian-based nonprofit partner that manages these village loans, will train these women to help better manage their loans and businesses, giving ongoing support to the groups for as long as they need it, and ensure that each VICOBA group will have a woman leader who is numerate and literate. Maria Mirumu, co-founder of ReCAF, said this when asked about her motivation to start managing the Alcheniomelock loan program: “At first, I was motivated by the need to empower women financially. I saw how lack of access to credit kept many women dependent and struggling. Over time, my motivation deepened—I realized that financial empowerment also improves women’s confidence, decision-making power, and overall well-being. Now, I continue because I see real change happening. Women are starting businesses, sending their children to school, and gaining respect in their households. That keeps me going.” May we be just as inspired by this important program as Maria is.

We have our next trip to Tanzania planned for February 2026, and we cannot wait to share our excitement with the new microloan recipients there! We look forward to bringing back pictures of the impact this program has made on the lives of these rural women to share with you all. Of course, there is still work to be done. Our next project, focused on mother and child health, will be posted in time for Giving Tuesday, an international day of fundraising celebrated with a proportional matching grant by GlobalGiving. Please check it out to continue following our progress, and watching the impact that we have on the lives of these lovely indigenous people when we all work together. We are so grateful!

With hearts full of gratitude,

Judy Lane & Felicia Smith of Maasai Partners

Loan Recipient Sells at Alcheniomelock Market

Loan Women Sell Goods at the Alcheniomelock Market

Links:

Check out our website to learn more about our current programs!

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