Barefoot College Regional Center in Zanzibar is a hub of activity, with continued expansion and growth of programs. Any given day you tour the bright yellow buildings surrounded by lush forest you see evidence of woman-led entrepreneurship and economic impact. You might think you’re in a remote getaway but the center is just off the main highway running north and south along the island.
At the end of 2025, the BCI Zanzibar staff took some time to chronicle these activities and accomplishments which started with the launch of the 7th Cohort of Solar Mamas from Pemba, an island off the East Coast of Tanzania,and the Central African Republic who then graduated in late February.
“In November, we welcomed our newest group of Solar Mamas to the training center for our three month Solar Engineering Training Program. These eight brave women left their homes in Pemba and the Central African Republic to embark on a journey of self-discovery, empowerment and leadership that will have tremendous ripple effects across their communities,” BCI’s quarterly newsletter states.
Other critical activities from 2025 included:
- Launching Partner Innovation Fund (PIF) project and focusing on GBV Awareness Campaign in Zanzibar Island
- Building institutional capacity with workshops on GBV Awareness training
- ENRICH Life Skills and Solar Training
- Sparking Social Innovation Training (SSI) training in December.
Building strong partnerships is key to the work we do here at Barefoot College Zanzibar and in Q4 of 2025, we harnessed the power of collaboration to strengthen our partnerships and amplify our impact.
- In October, we:
- Launched our Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Awareness Campaign with support from the Youth Challenge International (YCI) Partner Innovation Fund (PIF). As part of this project, our staff participated in a capacity-building session led by our partners, Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA).
- Participated in the Zanzibar Organic Festival organized by the Practical Permaculture Institute of Zanzibar (PPIZ).
- In November, our collaborations with our partners included:
- Conducting PIF training on GBV Awareness for rural women.
- Welcoming Bi. Safia, our new government focal person at the centre
- Attending “Kongamano la Kuunganisha Wanawake na Masoko ya Utalii Zanzibar”, a conference focused on linking women to Zanzibar’s tourist markets organized by the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce.
- We wrapped up an eventful quarter with SPARK entrepreneurship training for young women in partnership with YCI.
- BCI Zanzibar continues to receive significant attention from international media including a CNN report and other articles. This recent article captures the vision of Country Director Brenda Geofrey with her answers to three questions. It’s a wonderful way to understand the work we do.
As we look toward not only a new quarter but a new year, we can’t help but feel energized and excited for what’s to come! With our Solar Mamas graduating, beekeeping training starting again (with a revamped curriculum) and seaweed soapmaking in the works, the year is set to be a busy one but as always we welcome the challenge.