THE BAOBAB HOME INTRODUCTION
The Baobab Home started as an orphanage in 2004 when the founders, Terri Place and Caito Mwandu, dreamed of opening a home for orphaned children in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The reality they found was that most children were not truly orphaned but rather came from homes that could no longer support the children due to issues related to HIV/AIDs, physical health, or mental health. Work through the years taught them that in order to effectively provide for orphans and other vulnerable children, the focus had to be not only on the kids, but on their extended families and the broader community.
Thus, The Baobab Home expanded focus to help improve the Bagamoyo community. The approach is holistic, taking into account the various social, economic, and psychological aspects of poverty, in order to come up with sustainable solutions. As of 2023, the largest program of the Baobab Home is the Primary School, Steven Tito Academy, which is set on a sustainable farm that provides nutritious food and a living laboratory for teaching students about sustainability, nutrition, agriculture, and more.
Our vision is to make the world a more connected place, one student at a time.
Our mission is to educate the children of Bagamoyo, TZ and build a strong global community.
Our values are Curiosity, Gratitude, Kindness, Unity, and Well-being.
The Following Are Our Current Programs
The Baobab Children’s Home – a family-style home for orphaned and vulnerable children, whose families are unable to care for them due to the impacts of HIV/AIDs, mental illness, or poverty
The home is located on a solar-powered, biogas-fueled farm just outside of Bagamoyo and currently has nine children in care
Over the next five years, as our current Baobab kids move into their teens and adulthood, we will slowly transition out The Baobab Home Orphanage program
The kids that have grown up with us will always be a vital part of our Baobab family and we will continue to support them, but we anticipate that the bulk of our work will focus on education through our Primary School, Steven Tito Academy
Steven Tito Academy – STA is a donation funded primary school that opened in 2012 to serve the kids of the local community
We provide high-quality, safe, English-medium education focused on creativity and individualized learning
We aim to create empowered thinkers who can contribute to a better Tanzania
We have 120 sponsors from more than 10 countries, supporting 162 students
We are working toward becoming an official green school as we have incorporated biogas cooking, filtering water systems, solar panels and waste management systems into the everyday activities and education focus
We also have a school garden where students learn about agriculture and science (and the produce they grow is used in cooking student lunches)
Sustainable Farm – we have 12 acres of arable land where we manage two fishponds, 40 cows, poultry, a biogas system, fruit trees, and several organic gardens
Breakfast Program – providing food to HIV+ patients at our local hospital (we serve 1600 patients per month)
In addition, we have helped build homes, sponsored income generation projects, helped the local community access critical medical treatment and/or operations, sponsored mobile HIV testing, and helped young people with drugs and alcohol addictions.
The Baobab Home Board Of Directors Role Description
The Baobab Home Board of Directors comprises leaders from across nonprofit and for-profit sectors who are dedicated to the organization’s mission. Serving on The Baobab Home Board of Directors is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about strengthening leadership and governance in the nonprofit sector.
The essential functions for the Board of Directors are as follows:
Strategic Oversight: adopt and uphold The Baobab Home vision and mission through understanding the ecosystem in which the organization operates and participating in annual strategic planning
Operational Oversight: oversee the operations of the organization through supporting the Executive Director and staff in Bagamoyo as a trusted advisor; and actively participate in ongoing programs that support the mission
Financial Oversight: ensure the organization remains financially viable by overseeing the organization’s financial condition and approving the annual budget, audit reports, and material decisions
Fundraising: play an active role in securing the financial resources necessary for The Baobab Home to achieve its mission through leveraging personal relationships and connections to identify and solicit funders
Advocacy: Responsibly represent The Baobab Home to their respective communities and to advocate for The Baobab Home’s mission, programs, and services as appropriate
Board Members Are Also Expected To
Attend monthly board meetings
Serve on at least one committee of the board and actively participate in committee work
Maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of the organization
Directly invest in The Baobab Home’s work by making a personal contribution each year (through fundraising, sponsoring, or direct contribution)
Visit The Baobab Home in Bagamoyo, Tanzania at least once during their term
Board terms last for three years and board members can serve for up to three consecutive terms.
Desired Skills And Expertise
We are currently recruiting for diverse leaders with expertise in the following areas.
Profile #1: Development / Fundraising / Advocacy Expert
The Baobab Home seeks a well-connected leader who is passionate about our mission and can leverage their networks and resources in support of efforts to positively impact the environment in which The Baobab Home does its work. The ideal candidate has a track record of supporting similar missions and has connections to decision makers who are in a position to positively impact The Baobab Home’s mission.
Profile #2: Financial Expert
The Baobab Home seeks an experienced financial professional who has extensive knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and nonprofit financial statements. We seek a board leader to help develop the board’s financial statements and reports (prefer experience preparing, auditing, analyzing, or evaluating financial statements). Additionally, we seek an expert with an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and a general understanding of nonprofit financial issues specific to education.
Profile #3: Education Expert
The Baobab Home seeks an experienced teaching professional who has a degree in education and proven expertise leading and building educational programs. We seek a board leader to help guide Steven Tito Academy’s mission.
Profile #4: Tanzanian Culture / Policy
The Baobab Home seeks an experienced professional who has experience working in and with the Tanzanian community. We seek board leaders that can help serve as a liaison between our organization in Tanzania and the rest of our community. Ideally, the candidate would have experience working with the Tanzanian government and an understanding of local regulations and policies.
Profile #5: Environmental / Sustainability Expert
The Baobab Home seeks an experienced professional who has expertise in sustainability including improving conservation and modeling how to reduce impact on the environment in Tanzania. The ideal candidate will be familiar with developing sustainability goals and objectives, assessing or proposing sustainability initiatives, monitoring sustainability indicators, writing grants and proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects, and creating plans and documents for delivering sustainability projects.
Additional Skills And Qualifications
Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:
Extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in business, government, education, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector
Nonprofit board member experience or have received formal board training
A commitment to and understanding of The Baobab Home’s beneficiaries, preferably based on experience
Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals
Ability to adapt based on the evolving needs of our small but growing organization
Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of The Baobab Home’s beneficiaries
Service on The Baobab Home’s Board of Directors is voluntary and without remuneration.
