CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY IMPACT

Beekeeping

Our main objective of the project is to educate the school students in Maasai community to harvest honey and train them for beekeeping maintenance and conservation. This project will also help us understand how to build resilient bee colony in the Maasai Land area. Data and research findings will be shared with the broader scientific communities in the future.

With a generous private grant, Mswakani Primary School located in Monduli District in Arusha Region is partnering with TAWIRI ( Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute) to launch Beekeeping training at the school . Mswakini Primary School is located in the Buffer zones of Tarangire National Park, one of the largest National Parks in the Northern circuit. The Maasai people living in this area are pastoralists. Grazing livestock is the only possible source of livelihood in this part of the Maasai land. Mswakini school was established in 1977 ( by the Tanzanian Government) with the aim of supporting the Maasai community. All the students are Maasai from the surrounding areas. There are 536 students in total currently attending the school. The location around Mswakani school has very favorable conditions for beekeeping type of initiatives. There are enough places to hang the bee hives and water holes for water. The school authority is very happy for this beekeeping project for the school.

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Main Objectives:

• To help Mswakani Primary School in the Maasai community build a self-sustainable economy.

• To train members of the Masaai community in honey production.

• To help the community sell honey in the local and international market. 

• To inform the community about beekeeping and its conservation. 

• To gather data and conduct research on beekeeping in Tanzania

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Advancing Community Health in Monduli: 2025 Health Screening Initiative

In 2025, Rik Munshi, a Hutchins Scholar at the University of Chicago, organized a community health screening camp in Monduli District, Tanzania, in collaboration with Monduli District Hospital and Dr. Anderson Bender. The initiative focused on expanding access to preventive healthcare and essential health services for underserved rural communities.

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The program provided free health screenings to more than 1,200 villagers, helping identify potential health concerns and connecting individuals with appropriate medical guidance and follow-up care. Screenings covered a broad range of conditions and health risks, including tuberculosis (TB), HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), cardiovascular disease, and other prevalent health concerns.

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Beyond screening, the initiative emphasized early detection, disease prevention, health education, and greater access to healthcare. Working alongside local healthcare professionals and Monduli District Hospital helped ensure that the program was grounded in the needs of the communities it served.

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The health camp reflects a broader commitment to strengthening community health through meaningful local partnerships and sustainable, community-centered initiatives. By bringing essential screening and preventive healthcare services closer to rural communities, the program aimed to improve health awareness, facilitate earlier intervention, and contribute to better long-term health outcomes across Monduli District.

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Core Team Members:

Dr. Nicephor Pius Lesio (PhD)

Community Development & Conservation Director 
Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute,
Njiro Wildlife Research Centre

 

​Rik Munshi

Community Health & Social Impact Head

University of Chicago, USA

 

Leonard A. Sangeth
Field and Operation Director

The Singing Grass, Tanzania

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