Saturday, April 12th – Thursday, April 17th 2025
Behind the Scenes Adventure in Tanzania
“It gives me great pleasure to have you join me in Tanzania with the Water 4 Mercy team. You will be part of an unforgettable 5-night experience to Tanzania, where you'll immerse yourself in rich cultural and religious experiences while making a lasting impact. We begin in Arusha the first night of Passover and participate in a private Seder dinner with Rabbi Yehudah Amir Kahalani, Yemenite leader of Tanzania's only Jewish congregation. We will then celebrate Palm Sunday African style, participating in vibrant processions, traditional celebrations, followed by a festive meal. Then we are off to Dodoma Region where we will spend Holy Week behind the scenes, witnessing firsthand the transformative water and agricultural projects your $2,000 donation supports in local villages. This exclusive opportunity offers a rare blend of culture, spirituality, and philanthropy, set against the stunning landscapes of East Africa. I look forward to hosting you on this meaningful journey.” Nermine Khouzam Rubin, Founder & CEO Water 4 Mercy I WELCOME Innovation: Africa and CultivAid and Don Bosco Technical Institute are delighted to welcome Water 4 Mercy to Tanzania. Throughout this visit, you will witness firsthand the incredible impact Water 4 Mercy is making in communities across the Dodoma Region, providing access to clean water and food security for thousands of people. Water 4 Mercy's innovative approach combines water access with agricultural solutions, and community engagement empowering people to thrive and transform their lives and future. Its holistic approach brings about a transformative impact on the lives of individuals, improving health, education, economic opportunities, and overall quality of life in African communities. To date, Water 4 Mercy, has improved the lives of over 67,000 persons on the African continent by bringing clean water to 19 different villages, providing world-renowned agricultural technology and training to more than 12,500 farmers and 250 students through AITeC, it's Agricultural Innovation and Technology Center. AITeC is growing a new generation of experts for the future of food and nutritional security, positively impacting generations to come. Please find included further information together with an itinerary for our visit. On behalf of all of us at Innovation: Africa, CultivAid and Don Bosco Dodoma, thank you for your support and partnership and for joining us in Tanzania. I Our Impact To date, Innovation: Africa has completed 208 solar and water installations, providing light and access to clean water to over 783,982 people across Tanzania. Water 4 Mercy is one of our greatest partners in Dodoma and has so far sponsored 19 water pumping systems in 19 villages. Water 4 Mercy partnered with CultivAid in 2020, and together, they have installed 6 drip irrigation systems in Water 4 Mercy Villages. I Where We Operate Innovation: Africa has operations across the Dodoma and Bagamoyo regions and has recently expanded to the Kondoa district. Water 4 Mercy and CultivAid projects are all located in the Dodoma region, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and other countries in the works.
I Tanzania Facts
I Trip Itinerary - Your Life Changing Adventure Begins!
Saturday, April 12th |
TBC | Arrive in Kilimanjaro International Airport |
TBC | Passover Services with Tanzania's only Jewish congregation |
TBC | Seder dinner at the home of Rabbi Yehudah Amir Kahalani |
TBC | Check in at St. Carolus Retreat Center, Arusha |
Sunday, April 13th |
Celebrate Palm Sunday Mass (9:30am-11:00am 11:00am-12:30pm 1:30pm-3:00pm) | |
3:00pm-4:30pm | Drive to Dodoma Region; Picnic lunch |
7:00pm | Check-in and dinner at Domiya Estate |
Monday, April 14th |
08:00am-09:00am | Drive to a prospective village in Babati/Kondoa |
9:00pm-10:00am | Visit prospective village in Babati/Kondoa |
10:00am-12:30pm | Drive to Dodoma- check in |
7:00pm | Dinner at Domiya Estate |
Tuesday, April 15th |
7:30am - 8:30am | Breakfast at Domiya Estate |
8:30am-9:30am | Drive to Iyoyo village- Home to 3,229 community members who have access to clean water for the first time thanks to the kind generosity of the Water 4 Mercy |
9:30am-11:00am | Iyoyo Village Tour- visit the old water source, engage with community members, hear impact testimonies, and attend a ceremony in celebration of the project with the community members |
11:00am-12:30pm | Drive to Mazengo- Handali Village - Completed Water Project, April 2022. Home to 3,754 community members who have access to clean water thanks to the kind generosity of Water 4 Mercy |
1:30pm-3:00pm | Mazengo- Handali Village Tour- visit the old water source, engage with community members, hear impact testimonies, facilitate drip irrigation and agricultural activities with the community members |
3:00pm - 4:30pm | Drive back to Domiya Estate |
Wednesday, April 16th |
8:00am- 9:00am | Breakfast at Domiya Estate |
9:00am - 10:30am | Drive to Prospective village in Chemba/Kondoa TBC |
10:30am - 11:30am | Prospective village tour – open water source - Community testimonies |
11:30am - 1:00pm | Drive to in-process project in Kondoa/Chemba |
1:00pm- 2:00pm | In-process project tour - Contractor introduction about the work – Community Testimonies (Women, Trainee, Village leader) |
2:00pm- 4:30pm | Drive back to Domiya Estate |
7:00pm | Dinner at Domiya Estate |
Thursday April 17th |
7:00am- 8:00am | Breakfast at Domiya Estate/ Check-out of Domiya Estate |
8:00am - 8:20am | Drive to Don Bosco, Dodoma Technical Vocational Educational Training School (TVET) |
9:00am-12:00pm | Visit AITeC, Agricultural Innovation and Technology Center at Don Bosco School |
12:00pm-3:30pm | Drive to Hombolo Vineyards and water scheme |
3:30pm | Wine Tasting at Domiya Estate Proprietor. Visit farm fields |
6:00pm | Departure from Dodoma Airport or Dodoma Train Station |
I Project Information and Details
Iyoyo Village Population: 3,229
Completion date: June 2023
Borehole Yield: 1.67 liters per second
Number of taps: 14
Mazengo- Handali Water Project
Population: 3,754
Date of completion: April 2021
Depth of borehole: 188 meters
Borehole Yield: 1.28 liters per second
Mazengo Handali Drip Project
Plot Manager: Felista Mushi Plot
size: 0.20 acre Number of
participants: 25
Crops+Yield: Green leafs 800kg, Okra 6kg, African eggplant 570kg, Tomato
442kg, Onion 240kg
AITeC** Farm Dodoma Project - Our Field of DREAMS!
Growing a New Generation of Experts for the future of food and nutritional security! The Agricultural Innovation and Technology Center (AITeC) in Dodoma, is a collaboration between Water 4 Mercy, CultivAid and Don Bosco Technical Institute.
It was established in 2021 and operates as a central mechanism for agricultural development. The AITeC is a medium sized farm that enables regional access to improved agricultural inputs, mechanization, supply chains, access to knowledge and has impacts on value chains.
AITeC Dodoma is equipped with drip irrigation, sprinklers, protected agriculture, and utilizes advanced agro-techniques to demonstrate technologies and knowledge. The site demonstrates different crops, inputs, techniques, and innovations as a method of introducing them to the region.
AITeC Farm Dodoma Project
Sites Components
6-acre agricultural Training Demonstration and Research center
480m2 Polyethylene covered High tunnel vegetable nursery
480m2 Polyethylene Flat type Net house for vegetable production
0.65 acres Mango demonstration plot
0.65 acres Avocado demonstration plot
0.4-acre vineyard for testing varieties and demonstration Meteorological station.
Technical Design
Water 4 Mercy, Inc. is a USA non-profit 501(c)3 organization providing Water, Food and HOPE!
Our Mission is “To Uphold Human Dignity by Eradicating Thirst, Hunger and Poverty" in Africa. We are utilizing the added-value of Israeli technologies and expertise, adapted to unique circumstances in Africa and transforming the cycle of poverty into ‘Cycles of Success’ to positively impact many people’s lives.
We provide permanent and sustainable solar powered water and agricultural solutions in Africa. Water 4 Mercy's projects are 100% successful and remotely monitored, which makes the village’s solar powered water source resistant to breakdown, vandalism, theft, and other problems typically faced by water systems installed by many aid organizations.
We work with Israeli NGOs Innovation: Africa and CultivAid and established AITeC with Don Bosco Technical Institutes of Africa for the purpose of eradicating thirst, hunger and poverty so that Africa can be water and food secure and move towards economic prosperity.
AITeC is the “Yellow Brick Road” for Africa (and beyond) to be positively impacted for generations to come.
Water 4 Mercy’s Formidable Team: Innovation: Africa Innovation: Africa is a non-profit organization with a mission to bring solar, water, and agricultural technologies to rural African villages. Since its establishment in 2008, Innovation: Africa has completed over 1,000 projects, providing solar energy and light to schools and medical centers and crucially, pumping clean water in remote villages. The organization has impacted over 5 million people across 10 African countries including Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, eSwatini, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia and Senegal. In Tanzania, Innovation: Africa has completed more than 208 solar and water installations providing light and clean water to over half a million people across the Dodoma, Bagamoyo and Kondoa district. CultivAid CultivAid is an Israeli not-for-profit organization that specializes in developing local experts through hands-on training, field work, and joint research with a focus on agriculture, water, and nutrition. CultivAid emphasizes the construction of local/regional knowledge infrastructures as an essential mechanism for empowerment and development. CultivAid’s methodology combines market oriented and social development initiatives for the empowerment of agronomists and local ownership of agriculture to ensure food security and economic development. Don Bosco Dodoma Don Bosco Technical Institute was established in 1982 in Dodoma with the aim of empowering young people with a trade of their choice. The school has a student population of about 1750 and trains young men and women with a vision of making those self-reliant citizens either by employment in the industries or self-employment. This is considered important because it lays the foundation for young people to be economically self-sufficient and improve the quality of their lives. Don Bosco Technical Institute provides quality education and holistic formation through skills, knowledge, and attitude. Behind the Scenes with Water 4 Mercy Visa Information Every visitor to the country must ensure that they obtain a valid document for traveling. There are countries where a Visa is a must for entering Tanzania, and other countries from commonwealth countries that do not require a visa for entering Tanzania. If you plan to obtain a Visa on arrival, please remember to carry the exact amount in USD to pay for your Visa ($100 per person for U.S. citizens and $50 per person for all other citizens). This currency will be accepted, and change may only sometimes be available. Passports are required by all travelers and must be valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. Please ensure sufficient blank pages for visas and entry stamps upon arrival. If you want to get your visa ahead of time to avoid having to do it on arrival in Tanzania, it can be done online at: https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/ This is the official Tanzanian site. Cost is the same as if you get one at the airport.
Vaccinations or Medication Vaccine requirements: There are no required vaccines, but that Hepatitis A is recommended. You are not required to have Yellow Fever vaccine unless you’ve recently traveled to a country where Yellow Fever is prevalent. There is no need to take Malaria pills or get other vaccines, though Hepatitis may be a good idea. CDC Guidance here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania Yellow fever certificate requirements: A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is only required for travelers one year of age and older coming from - or who are in airport transit for more than 12 hours within - a country with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission. This country imposes the vaccination requirement for protection against Yellow Fever since the principal mosquito vector.
Travel Insurance Adequate travel insurance must be taken out before departure. This should cover any medical situation, hospitalization, curtailment of arrangements, and baggage.
Behind the Scenes with Water 4 Mercy Includes emergency evacuation insurance. This guarantees emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital should you suffer severe illness or injury. This does not cover the cost of treatment once in the hospital. There are specific medical exclusions. Additional costs expected when traveling, ATM machines & credit cards. Additional costs not provided may include tips for our drivers, laundry services, bar beverages, soft drinks, phone calls, souvenirs, and Visa fees. Each person has a different habit when it comes to spending; therefore, there is no specific amount, but it can depend on the duration of the itinerary. Today, several ATMs are around, and banks are widely expanding the service. Note that when drawing the money from ATMs, you will get the money in Tanzania shilling and not otherwise, and per day/per card, you can only remove 400,000tsh ($170). Credit cards can be used in the hotels though extra charges range from 3.5% to 5%. Mobile Phones
Most mobile phone companies have an option where you can pay a daily fee that will allow you to roam internationally and use your same data and voice allowance as on your regular plan: Verizon:https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/travel-pass/ AT&T: https://www.att.com/international/day-pass/ T Mobile: https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/international-passes
Power Supply in Tanzania The power supply here in Tanzania is at the U.K./European standard voltage of 220/240, and most power sockets are the U.K. square pin type. If you want to use U.S. appliances, you will need a voltage and plug converter. A power supply is also subjected to cuts and voltage fluctuation. On Safari, most lodges/camps' power supplies are from generators, and these are often turned off during parts of the day and at night to reduce noise and fuel consumption. On Safari, you can charge your batteries/cameras/cellphones in our vehicles equipped with inverters.
Shopping
Tanzania offers a lot of locally handmade crafts. During your visit, you will have time to shop in various curio shops located along the major roads heading to the national parks. You will see different carvings, masks, antiques, beadwork, painting, etc. If you are fond of jewelry, Tanzanite, a unique precious gemstone only found in Tanzania, is waiting for you. It's a beautiful dark blue stone that travelers must have before returning home. Most larger curio shops accept major credit cards, and you can negotiate the price for most items.
PS: If you purchase any handmade wooden craft, you must pay taxes at the airport before departure. Food Options
Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free food are available. Any special dietary requirements can be adjusted with a request in advance. Drones
The use of drones in Tanzania, particularly in the national parks, is strictly prohibited due to security concerns unless you have a special permit from the Government.
List of the items you should bring along to the Village visits You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. Your baggage should be clearly labeled.
It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings and a warm jacket for early morning game drives. Light, quick-drying, practical clothes are advisable.
Checklist
For your village visits, you will be provided with one Water 4 Mercy baseball cap, one long sleeve quick-dry shirt, one short sleeve quick-dry shirt and one Innovation: Africa t-shirt.
Long-sleeve shirt or sweater o Warm layers for the evening o Sandals/flip-flops o Sun hat/bandana
Long trousers (required for village and project visits) o Closed and comfortable shoes (for village and project visits)
Documents
Flight Tickets (printouts of e-tickets may be required at check-in)
Insurance information (required) o Passport (required with photocopies)
Visas & Vaccination certificates (required photocopies)
Essentials
Flight Tickets (printouts of e-tickets may be required at check-in) o Binoculars (optional)
Camera (with extra memory cards and batteries)
Cash, credit, and debit cards o Portable Chargers o Ear Plugs
First aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sun cream, ibuprofen, aspirin, band aids/plasters, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, insect repellent, Imodium, or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, sewing kit, extra prescriptions drugs you may be taking.
Fleece top/sweater . Footwear . Hat . Locks for bags . Long pants/jeans . Money Belt .Outlet adapter
Personal entertainment (music player, reading and writing materials, cards, etc.)
. Reusable water bottle . Shirts/t-shirts
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