More than a place of work
Neema Crafts is much more than just a place of work for our staff, it is a community of friends who enable each other to live more abundant and enriched lives.
Neema Chaplain
We have a dedicated chaplain who is available throughout the week for counselling, advice and prayer. Our pastor also runs (non-compulsory) weekly Bible studies for our staff and helps to organise a staff two-day retreat every year. The retreat is held at the end of each year and it is a wonderful time to relax and reflect on the year together as we hear visiting speakers from across Tanzania. It is also a chance for sports and fun team-building activities.
Football Team
Neema Crafts has its very own deaf football team who play regularly against hearing sides from across Iringa town. Communication on the pitch is obviously more of a challenge between deaf footballers, but despite this disadvantage the team has fared very well against hearing sides. The side is ably captained by Ally (also our Kitchen Manager) who arranges fixtures and ensures everyone has the right kit.
Mobility
Good mobility is key to enabling staff to engage with all aspects of normal life and to be more fully part of their community. Neema Crafts provides all staff with bikes, hand-trikes and wheelchairs, where these are required. Sadly, many disabled people across the region do not have access to these modes of self-transportation, which is why Neema Crafts is working in partnership with the PET, MN - Twin Cities to distribute hand-trikes to scores of people with disabilities from across the region.
Staff Housing Commitee
Many of our staff at Neema have to pay a hefty percentage of their income out as rent. Given that they often have wider family members reliant on their income too it is often very difficult for them not to live in a hand-to-mouth way. The Neema Housing Committee is looking for ways to help staff to buy land and build their own properties so that they can begin to establish more security for their future. This will involve helping staff to save money and also giving grants to help our staff own their own homes.