EARTHWARD

Campaigns in Tanzania, Africa

Turn your vision earthward –
      'Tis we must lend a hand.
Samuel P. Putnam

Projects of SKS

(Sisi Kwa Sisi; an EARTHWARD affiliate)

We are pleased to have Sisi Kwa Sisi, based in Tanzania, as one of our EARTHWARD affiliates; and below we describe the projects that SKS (Sisi Kwa Sisi) is working on that fall within EARTHWARD's mission.  At the bottom of the page is information on how you can help.

The United Republic of Tanzania is a nation on the east coast of the continent of Africa, bordering the Indian ocean.  It is just east of the Congo, and south of Kenya.  It is one of the poorest countries is the world. Tanzania is the result of the 1964 merger of the former nations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, and began holding democratic elections in 1970. It is a little more than twice the size of California.  Tanzania's population is 30% Christian, 35% Muslim, and 35% holding indigenous beliefs, except for the island of Zanzibar which is more than 99% Muslim. For more information including maps, please see the CIA fact book page on Tanzania.

Sisi Kwa Sisi is Humanist group in Mbeya town, dedicated to bringing positive and progressive social changes to local communities.  They seek "to recapture the renaissance spirit, and to work towards an African enlightenment!"

At this time there are two specific projects that EARTHWARD would like to help Sisi Kwa Sisi begin.  One is to help victims of attempted witch killings, or the family members of witch hunt victims.  Elderly women are most often the victims, and this crime is on the increase.  According to Harper's Magazine (2003), every year 500 women in Tanzania are murdered as "witches".

Ironically, attempts at practicing "witchcraft" do occur in Tanzania among those who participate in the "skin trade", but reported arrests have included men and young people rather than elderly women.  We hope to raise funds that will enable SKS to identify surviving family members of the victims so that we can help with funeral and burial expenses.  The skins are sold for a few thousand dollars and transported to other nations, usually ending up in western Africa.  The skins are used by a "witchcraft man" or sorcerer to create a potion that is believed to make people wealthy.  One such case was reported by Sisi Kwa Sisi at http://www.iheyo.org/newsworldwide.htm.  Although this was a much bigger problem three years ago before law enforcement cracked down on the practice, such murders do still happen on occasion.

Related news articles:

What you can do:

Donate to the Fund for Victims in Tanzania:

or Donate to the Earthward General Fund:

Thank you!