Christian Mission for Dodoma Tanzania crafts and travel

Christian Mission for Dodoma, Inc.

Under Construction

Karibuni! Welcome! to an introduction to the work of CMDI

And seriously – here in 2008 – we will get a functional site up and running. To find out more about our current work, use the email addresses posted further down this page.

Mission and Accomplishments

Primary:

1) Provide a mechanism for crafts and culture from rural Tanzanian to find markets in the more affluent parts of the world in order to enrich the artisans that make art and music
2) Bring people to Tanzania, and especially Dodoma, to learn more and care about the people, and to provide opportunities for income for Dodoma residents, especially rural Christians.
Crafts are purchased from artists at fair market value and so far marketed at craft fairs and church bazaars in northwestern Ohio. Profits support projects and education in Dodoma.

Immersion travel and work experiences have been organized for Americans to spend time with and get to know their Tanzanian brothers and sisters and also to be involved with meaningful work bega kwa bega (shoulder to shoulder) with Tanzanians, most recently in June 2005.

The next planned work trip (at the point, June 2006) will help build a residence for women in remote rural areas with at-risk pregnancies. The women, who live in the Dodoma highlands, must travel many miles down foot trails to get to transportation to the hospital. Women will travel down while still safely mobile. The facility will care for and educate the women while they wait their terms. All kinds of skills needed. CMDI makes all travel arrangements including flights, in-country transport, activities and accommodation. All trips include planning and orientation meetings (mandatory).

Secondary:

1) To generate funds to support travel and shipping for missions and business between Ohio and Tanzania, and to support efforts on behalf of churches in the ELCT Dodoma Diocese. CMDI is a U.S.-state-chartered not-for-profit organization (NFPO) under Section 501.3(c).
2) We serve as a quick, safe and direct conduit for sending funds to specific projects in the church field (roofs for churches, education funds, etc.).

Planned Activities

A. Art sales
1) Internet sales of crafts, art, and music. In the near future, this site (accessible via http://www.tanzania-art.com/) will have an online catalog and secure ordering capability.
2) Consignment sales. Selections of crafts will be available to groups and churches for fundraising.
3) Storefront and seasonal kiosk or craft show opportunities. Where people could come and view art and listen to music.
4) Commissioned items. Develop art specifically for the American market.
5) Wholesale supply to existing craft sales enterprises. Supply to anyone else desiring such art for retail sale. Child labor, fair return on investment and other fair trade standards met.

B. Niche travel and touring
1) Conducting tours including village visits with shopping. Extending the Arusha-dominated tourism bonanza into Dodoma. This would have to be top-drawer and worked out with villages and artists. The experience would include orientation and in-country logistics, and staying with parishes and host families in rural Dodoma locations. Such trips have been organized since 1996 by the principals of CMDI (safely and without incident).
2) Environmental business opportunity trade visit. Organize tours for water, environment, and agricultural businesspeople potentially interested in the Dodoma region and Tanzania.

C. Online donation: The online ordering mechanism would permit online collection of donations with a specific range of dollar amounts requested that can be donated securely online. These can benefit Lutheran parishes in Dodoma, Tractors for Tanzania and affiliated action, and other selected causes.

Contact: David Bliss (blisspadre at yahoo.com) or Stuart Smith (stusmith at udata.com) for more specific information about our work and who we are.

Links

Development Opportunities (and more links) in Dodoma.
Poverty Eradication Network Trust -- Partners with CMDI in serving central Tanzania
Partnership opportunities between NW Ohio Lutheran churches and those in Dodoma

Affiliation and editorial content: Involved people are members of congregations of the Northwestern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, other ELCA Synods, or the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), and friends. TFT, CMD and affiliated efforts are independently conceived and administered ministries dedicated to improved health and welfare of the Dodoma region's people and the Glory of God, and not formally affiliated with the NWOS or ELCA, ELCT or its dioceses, or governments involved, although following ELCA policies for sustainable development (or better) and fair trade policies. This is only the official web site of CMDI. Facts stated are as understood by the author at the time this page was drafted, and opinions expressed are entirely his own.