The Umoja Centre
The Umoja Centre, located in southwest Arusha, is the heart of everything we do. Spanning two sites, it is a place full of energy, potential, and possibility and we couldn't be prouder to call it home.
The main site houses our education, sports, programme offices, social enterprise, and social welfare facilities. The second site, our Volunteer Village, provides accommodation for volunteers, alongside spaces for courses, training, workshops, and agriculture. Both sites were built with sustainability at heart, largely constructed from wood, with rainwater harvesting, solar power, and a permaculture garden.
History
For our first 14 years, Umoja operated from a modest rented house. Converted chicken coops served as classrooms, cramped, poorly ventilated, and served by a single outdoor toilet. Our Finance Manager worked from an ensuite bathroom. Sports took place on an open field where we cleared thorns and glass before every session, with no goalposts or nets. Performing arts happened on a septic tank cover. Cooking and dining were outdoors.
We knew we could do more and our community deserved more.
A New Chapter
In June 2019, after a year of discussions and careful planning, Umoja announced the acquisition of a remarkable site in Sinoni, southwest of Arusha, a semi-rural location accessible from across the city, ideal for us and the young people we serve.
The main site spans 2.6 acres and includes classrooms, offices, workshops, a sports hub, a library, gardens, and community meeting spaces. The nearby 2-acre Volunteer Village features accommodation, a kitchen, gardens, and farmland we continue to develop for future programmes.
The site was originally developed by Australian organisation Food Water Shelter Inc. (FWS). Founded by Darren and Rebecca, FWS served this community with heart and purpose for over a decade. We are deeply grateful for what they built here, and it is a privilege to continue their legacy. FWS actively sought partners from 2017 to see the site brought back to life and we were honoured to take on that vision.
Our move in May 2023 was made possible by two Rotary Clubs, Mont Albert and Surry Hills in Australia, and Braunton Caen in the UK, who raised funds for essential sanitation improvements, including new toilets and a water tank. Moving day was a joyous occasion for everyone.
Renovation & Partnership
From 2023 to 2025, Branches Community Projects partnered with Umoja to deliver a fully renovated facility, contributing both financially and through hands-on project oversight, working alongside contractors, suppliers, local government, and our team. That work is now complete, and the result is a site we are truly proud of.
Our partnership with Branches Community Projects continues. They remain committed to the long-term sustainability of the centre, providing ongoing funding for site maintenance as well as expertise and support as we grow.
We continue to develop the centre in partnership with Nord Anglia International Schools, who are supporting the next phase of growth, including the development of new buildings, a vocational hub, and a sports hub, ensuring the centre continues to evolve and serve our community for years to come.
How You Can Help
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Rotary and other donors, we have made great progress in fitting out the centre. However, we still urgently need support for furniture, equipment, and resources, particularly desks, chairs, library furnishings, and IT equipment for our laboratory and classrooms, as well as core costs across our programmes.
If you'd like to be part of this next chapter, we'd love to hear from you.
