Wema Ventures

Programs: Training and equipping in spiritual and economic developmentwema ventures currently provides training and equipping in economic development primarily through the basic utility vehicle program we facilitate, and through smaller ventures. The basic utility vehicle (buv) is a highly effective transport vehicle manufactured on-site in arusha, tanzania, and distributed to any buyer, as well as to low-income entrepreneurs through the rent-to-own program. Buvs allow people to immediately begin to earn an income as they launch their own transport business with these affordable, rugged yet simply maintained vehicles. We provide on the job training for the men in the manufacturing shop, and owner/operator training to the men and women who qualify for our rent-to-own program. Wema is also involved in other local ventures in a facilitating and training role. In 2017, wema ventures*completed one week-long buv driving training sessions for new owner/operators, resulting in new certified drivers*exported buvs to kenya*supported buvs in the field throughout tanzania. These buvs support childrens homes, local schools, securing of drinking water, crops to market for subsistence farmers, medical clinics, local entrepreneurial business, local families operating transport services to their community. *supported new business/product line, the mwendo kazi speedy work off-road wheelbarrow with 16 wheel, and assorted hand tools. *hosted multiple national and international guests who came to support and/or serve wema, including intern, julian mankel, from the uk. *facilitated training/job skill development in metalwork*facilitated training/job skill development in auto mechanics*facilitated training/job skill development in welding*facilitated training/job skill development in vehicle bodywork*facilitated further design development/improvement of basic utility vehicle*facilitated training/job skill development in fruit drying business*provided work experience/training internships for local young men*training of local upper level management staff in tanzania*training of shop managers for buv and b4t in tanzania*training of office administrator in excel, office management skills, petty cash etc*training in spiritual development with emerging leaders in tanzania*hosted multiple tanzanian officials at buv manufacturing plant, raising awareness of our service to tanzania through job-skills training and the manufacturing of buv, a high quality agricultural vehicle that can handle local terrain and maximize tanzanias productivityon-going effortson-going assistance to and training of new local entrepreneurial effortson-going development of buv tanzania manufacturing planton-going training for buv driver/operators and their businesseson-going support/facilitation of bee-keeping programspiritual formation/developmentpreached at arusha community church in tanzania multiple times throughout the year (approximately 200 congregants in attendance each time)taught on spiritual formation at local seminaryfacilitated local prayer groups and hosted small group retreat weekendson-going counseling with individuals and coupleseducation/development/environmental careextensive work done in land restoration, teaching by example regarding restoration efforts where land has been severely abused and degraded through over grazing and bad agricultural practices, resulting in destructive erosion and loss of land value. Designed and completed water catchment dams and ponds for rain harvesting, terracing, and run-off management. Co-led 4 day writing retreat for teen girls, developing writing skills and self esteem/life skillsaid/community developmentcontinued advisory relationship with u. S. Medical team that comes to tz every other year, providing medical relief for hundreds of patients during each visitprovided educational grants to local primary studentsmicro-loans out to local individuals to help build homes and develop businessesfurthering the causerepresented wema and buv at international gathering of 24-7 prayer in birmingham, ukhosted multiple donors from u. S. And showed them the workinternet presence for wema ventures, maintaining website and blog, facebook, twitter and instagraminternet presence for buv, maintaining website and facebook. Fundraising through mailings, us events and one to one meetings, donor development effortsparticipated in further training of our own staff through luke 10 small group and church planters training, order of the mustard seed spiritual development, and amherst writers and artists for leading creative writing workshopsdonor relations workraising awareness of wemas work among churches in the united states and europe and east africa