About Lawate Village:

Lawate is a relatively new community of approximately 4,500 inhabitants. The largest village nearby is Sanya Juu, about fifteen minutes up the road. Lawate is located about twenty minutes north of the main road running between Arusha and Moshi. Both communities are in the Kilimanjaro region and offer fantastic views of the mountain in the distance.

The region is predominantly agricultural, although Moshi thrives on tourism and many tour operators organize expeditions to climb the mountain from here. The main crops are coffee, corn, sunflowers (used to make oil), and beans.

Most people in the area seemed to live off of subsistence farming, selling their extra crops at the local market. If people can afford it, they have livestock: chickens, cows, and goats that provide eggs, milk, and meat for the daily diet. The local market on Thursdays and Mondays is a colorful event filled with local people selling every item imaginable and Masai who have come with their donkeys to buy provisions.

Lawate Lutheran Parish:

Lawate village church that work with local women's groups to help and assist family and village youth enhance their lives. The church assists family in need, support Lawate village women group - Umoja Women Group - with their effort to equip young people with life skills.

Umoja Women Group:

Umoja Women Group is an assiciation of women in Lawate Village. The group was established in 1989 with 12 members. The group membership has increased to 20. The aim of the group:

• improve the living standard of women
• raise house-hold incomes by teaching skills to young family members

  Group activities:

  • Vocational education for girls (sewing). Since 1993, on average 15 young girls a year have graduted with sewing skills. (with 169 graduates as of December 2005)
  • The Group farm: The group has a 10 acres that they cultivate maize (corn) and beans. The food harvested helps to argument the Lawate Village food supply and sewing school meals..
  • Restaurant: The group runs a restaurant which generates income to cover the running cost of the group
  • Assist families in need: in colaboration with Lawate Lutheran Parish, we assist families in need in the village.