Written by Aika Roberts, Wamboma Tourism & Hospitality Liaison Officer
On 10th November, the Wamboma project in Namwai was delighted to host Alexander Panczuk, Managing Director of the TUI Care Foundation, for a short but meaningful visit.
With Wamboma being one of the Tanzania-based partners in the TUI Field to Farm programme, Mr Panczuk came to see the project’s progress and its positive impacts firsthand.
The visit began with a tour of the greenhouse, where the women proudly showcased their farming activities. Mr Panczuk was impressed to see the flourishing broccoli, as well as the red and yellow peppers. Although the fruits were not yet ready for harvest, they were able to see the healthy plants growing.
The tour continued with a visit to one of the women’s homes, where the guests saw dairy cows and coffee trees – something they shared they had only ever seen packaged in supermarkets. As a gesture of support, they purchased coffee directly from the farmer.
Afterwards, the group visited the Cultural Centre, where the women welcomed the guests with traditional songs and dances. They also explored the display boards showcasing past visitors and various activities, along with our brochures and produce flyers. Mr Panczuk then spent time hearing directly from the women about how tourism has benefited them.
The women shared their journey – how the project began, the training they received, and the impact of hosting around 26 tourists so far (15 international and the rest non-residents). They expressed how much they enjoy preparing local food for visitors, sharing stories, and learning about life beyond their village. Many visitors, they noted, are deeply moved by the unity and teamwork within the group.
Before the visit ended, the women kindly asked the Mr Panczuk to share their message with the TUI tourism team: they warmly welcome tourists visiting the northern region to book and enjoy the unique Wamboma cultural experience – featuring storytelling, local cooking, vegetable farming tours, and tasting produce from their own farms.
We invite any tour operators working in the Kilimanjaro to partner with the Wamboma project. Email Aika on wamboma88@gmail.com for more information about adding this cultural experience to your itineraries and supporting the ongoing empowerment of the Wamboma women.