Last month, over 500 members of the Oldeani community visited the Rift Valley Children’s Village to celebrate the 15th Annual REAP Day hosted by our Rifty Economic Advancement Program (REAP).  

The Rifty Economic Advancement Program provides over 640 local entrepreneurs with the microloans, training, and resources needed to launch and operate a small business. As part of its efforts, REAP launched the Rift Valley Women’s Group in 2014 to empower local Mamas with specialized training in beadwork, basket weaving, and sewing.

To turn her dreams into reality, in 2010, Elfrida Safari joined our Rifty Economic Advancement Program (REAP) which provides local entrepreneurs with the necessary loans, business training, and resources to successfully launch and operate a small business.

2022 has been our busiest year yet as we start making major investments in Education to provide more students with the opportunities they deserve. This year, we started on two of our biggest projects: taking on a new primary school partnership and transforming OSS into a residential campus.

In Tanzania, 15% of rural households are defined as food insecure. As an organization, we are actively monitoring additional threats to food security as Tanzania continues to be impacted by secondary impacts of the pandemic, rising global food prices, and a below-average rainy season.

Eli Frida Safari, watched as her sister Christina took out loans, started a business, repaid her loans, and enjoyed economic freedom. Inspired by her sister’s success, in 2015 Eli opened up her own shop with a loan from REAP.

With access to increasing loans and foundational business support through our Rifty Economic Advancement Program (REAP), average incomes in the Oldeani community have more than doubled. Over the last month, we’ve seen the tangible results of this as loan repayments from community members have increased by 4%.

Learn about our five-year strategic plan!

Looking back at 2020

We’ve got big plans for the next five years!

Our Microfinance Program takes on a new strategy and new name. Meet our Rifty Economic Advancement Program!

Back in 2018, we formed a beekeeping team comprised of 13 female and 17 male REAP members that trained with us in the art of sustainable honey harvesting. Maintaining beehives is no simple task. Our 30 keepers learned how to clean, bait and colonize hives as well as practiced making honey filtering systems and harvesting beeswax for candles and creams.