BUDAP
 
Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project - Disabled Drum Makers

About BUDAP
Bukopa Disabled Assistance Project (BUDAP) is founded to empower disabled people in Bukoba, Tanzania. BUDAP currently operates a drum (ngoma) making workshop in Bukoba.

BUDAP’s first aim is to improve the lives of disabled people by creating an opportunity for economic development through creation of jobs. It is BUDAP’s mission to alleviate poverty among disabled people in Tanzania.

There is a high incidence of polio survivors in Tanzania. Polio often causes the limbs of people to whither, and those afflicted are confined to wheelchairs (if they can afford them) or left to crawl on their hands and knees. The disabled have a difficult time procuring work because employers give preference to people who are physically sound, and have a secondary school education. As a result, this population experiences a high unemployment rate. Currently they earn their incomes (less than a dollar a day) by doing casual work, such as shoe repair or by begging for money in the streets.

Mission Statement BUDAP
It is BUDAP’s mission to alleviate poverty among disabled people in Bukoba. BUDAP wants to empower disabled people in Bukoba to participate in the society, become independent and be able to generate their own income.

Vision BUDAP
BUDAP believes that with little assistance disabled people are able to be independent. BUDAP will create an environment where disabled people have their own workshop. The people will be trained in making traditonal African drums (ngoma) and the manufactured drums (and other music instruments and crafts) will be sold to people in and outside Tanzania.

Objectives BUDAP

• To reduce the high number of unemployment among disabled people in Bukoba.
• To improve livelihoods of disabled people by promoting economical development through creation of jobs for them.
• To implement staff training and recruitment that will make the organisation grow and continually upgrade skills and quality and variety of products.
• To maintain the culture of Kagera of making and playing the haya drum.
• To be an example organisation and an inspiration to disabled people in Tanzania.

Activities BUDAP
BUDAP rented a rustic building on the outskirts of Bukoba, hired a master drum maker from Kagera Region, Tanzania, and began on-the-job training for disabled people on how to make traditional Tanzanian drums and other handicrafts.

The BUDAP workshop is run by all of the employees. Business procedures and strategies are transparent, thus everyone has a say in the administration and daily operations of the workshop.

BUDAP recruits and trains the disabled people in making traditional drums and handicrafts, administration, planning, marketing, the English language and of course how to play the drums!

People & Organisational Structure
Currently BUDAP has generated jobs for 15 people. BUDAP has a chairman, one trainer, 9 disabled people making drums and 3 disabled people making bags. The people are being trained on the job how to make drums / bags and they get everyday one hour of lesson in reading, writing or English. BUDAP also has recruited a person that takes care of the logistics and she prepares lunch every day. Another person guards and takes care of the workshop in the evening.

There is a BUDAP board that consists of five people, the two founders (a Tanzanian English teacher and a Dutch VSO volunteer), the owner of the workshop and the Director and the manager of the tourist office Kiroyera Tours of Bukoba. The BUDAP board meets once every two months.

BUDAP has plans of employing more workers over the next six months when the organisation will be growing as planned. The aim of BUDAP is to be self-sufficient within three years and hopes to expand its operation with a group of disabled women that make handicrafts.

Visit BUDAP Workshop
BUDAP was founded with the support of Kiroyera Tours. It is possible to visit the BUDAP workshop as a part of one of our community tours.

If you want to come and stay a little bit longer and work as a volunteer at the BUDAP then this is also possible! There are several things you can do in the workshop, for example:
- Learn how to make a drum
- Work together with the people with disabilities
- Help reconstructing part of workshop
- Give and get music lessons

Buy a drum online
Support the disabled people in Tanzania by buying a traditional drum.

You can also visit the BUDAP workshop in Bukoba and get a free tour and see how the traditional drum is being made and played. The BUDAP drums are for sale in shops in Bukoba, Mwanza or Arusha in Tanzania.

You can also order a BUDAP drum online and receive the drum within three weeks at your home, anywhere in the world. See www.budap.org

Support BUDAP
The best way to support BUDAP is by buying a BUDAP drum. BUDAP is looking for dealers and shops that want to sell BUDAP drums and crafts anywhere in the world.

As all entrepreneurs know, the first years of operations are crucial. BUDAP is still looking for financial support for the coming three years. The aim of BUDAP is to be self-sufficient within three years.

Every donation is welcome.

Account name: Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project
Account number: 027201092625
Bank: NBC in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania
Swiftcode: NLCBTZTXXXX