Trade Aid
The Old Boma is run by Trade Aid, a charitable trust which provides vocational education, training and employment within the local community. The hotel is entirely staffed by locals supported by Tanzanian Managers and European volunteers.
Its aim is to create sustainable employment by providing opportunities for work and encouraging enterprise in the local area.
For more information about Trade Aid or to make a donation please visit our website.
Community Projects
Trade Aid works with the national, regional and local government of Tanzania on a variety of community projects including hospitality training, language classes, and conservation programmes. All the projects encourage sustainable employment, education and environmental responsibility.
Tree Nursery
Trade Aid have planted a tree nursery in the Boma grounds to grow seedlings for local schools so they make their school ground a little more green and to teach them about the importance of the nature around them.
The trees are planted by local school children who watch them grow as we all care for them until they’re ready to be planted. Children are given a booklet on how to care for their tree and about the importance of sustainable growth when they pick up their trees.
Mikindani Eco Kids
Trade Aid are working towards establishing a children’s activity group to encourage an interest in the outdoors and heritage by teaching children the importance of the environment and their history. We hope to encourage this through games, visits to the countryside and possibly even visits to Selous Game Reserve to demonstrate the importance of conservation.
Conservation Area
In August 2017, after years of campaigning from Trade Aid, Mikindani was established as a conservation zone. This created special provisions to protect historical buildings and environmental treasures in this unique region of southern Tanzania.
Trade Aid are now focused on the restoration of key historical buildings throughout this historical site, coordinating efforts for community led protection and encouraging new stakeholders to sustainably restore and re-purpose historic buildings for education and sustainable employment.
Training
The Old Boma is a vocational training hotel and provides training to over 60 students per year and in 2014 secured full time employment for almost 75% of its students with the rest either entering further education or continuing their training in the hotel. All our staff trainees and The Old Boma provides a unique environment where guests can view these lessons and are encouraged to interact as much as possible with our students and even get involved themselves!
VETA- Vocational Educational and Training Authority
Trade Aid sponsor several students each year to attend VETA, the local government sponsored vocational training college. VETA trains students in many different trades such as plumbing, car mechanics and carpentry. It also provides more educational subjects such as business administration and secretarial duties. Trade Aid cover the complete costs of these courses providing vital opportunity to those who cannot afford. There is also opportunity for you to sponsor a student yourself!
Water Projects
Trade Aid recently sponsored the installation of a water pipe in the nearby village of Mitengo. Mitengo previously had no accessible water source and it’s local council simply didn’t have the finds to install one. After an appeal to Trade Aid, Old Boma staff assisted in the preparation and funding of this project and now continue to help maintain and monitor access to this vital resource