Britain Tanzania Society

The Britain Tanzania Society was founded in 1975 to improve communications and understanding between the UK and Tanzania. It is a non-political, non-governmental organisation. Bishop Trevor Huddleston in England and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Amon Nsekela in Tanzania were involved at the start.

It very quickly created a charity, the Tanzania Development Trust (TDT), to support small local projects in Tanzania, especially in parts of the country that other NGOs were less likely to reach. This has grown and developed, and become more professional, with local representatives employed in the parts of Tanzania where we support projects. There is a “chapter” of the BTS in Tanzania, which operates independently.

BTS is the publisher of the journal Tanzanian Affairs and regular Newsletters.

BTS does not employ staff – all its activities are carried out by volunteers.

Its President is Hon Hassan Mwinyi, former President of Tanzania, Its Vice Presidents are Trevor Jaggar who has been linked with Tanzania (and before that Tanganyika) since 1950, Ronald Fennell MBE, Elizabeth Fennell MBE, Professor Esther Mwaikambo and Derek Ingram OBE.

Objectives

The Britain-Tanzania Society aims to increase mutual knowledge, understanding and respect between the peoples of Britain and Tanzania through the following activities :

• the promotion, preservation and protection of the health and well-being of the people of Tanzania and the relief or reduction of poverty through (but not limited to) the development of education, health and other social services, the improvement of water supplies and other communal facilities and the promotion of self- help activities.
• advancing the education of the public in arts, and culture, including the publication, by electronic means or otherwise, of papers, briefings, newsletters, journals, or other materials relating to the development of Tanzania and its arts and culture.
• Providing speakers and writers and running seminars in the UK on subjects relating to Tanzania
• Providing networks and activities which support Tanzanians living in the UK.
• the promotion of equality and diversity in particular by encouraging cultural awareness and racial harmony.
• Publishing Tanzanian Affairs three times a year, providing an overview of news from Tanzania
• Running receptions, exhibitions, conferences or other meetings or events relating to these activities.
• Welcoming visitors to the host country
• Offering support and friendship to students