Shule Direct is thrilled to announce a two-year funding commitment from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for our women-focused initiative, Ndoto Hub. Established in 2018, Ndoto Hub stands as Tanzania’s only business incubator entirely dedicated to empowering young women. Its mission? To nurture and support the next generation of Tanzanian women entrepreneurs, helping them transform their dreams into sustainable businesses. After all, as the name suggests—Ndoto means “dream” in Kiswahili—innovation begins with a dream.

In a statement made in Dar es Salaam, Global Affairs Canada reiterated its commitment to supporting Tanzania’s inclusive growth by investing in opportunities that allow Tanzanian women to thrive and contribute to building a more equal society. As part of this commitment, GAC announced three new projects. One of these initiatives is our very own Ndoto Hub, designed to offer hands-on business coaching, mentoring, and peer learning to 2,440 young women across Tanzania over the next two years. The other two projects will focus on empowering Women’s Rights Organizations to advocate for gender equality in Tanzania.

Speaking at the launch event, Ndoto Hub Programs Manager Tully Mwampanga emphasized that the Hub’s strength lies in personal transformation. Through contextual coaching, storytelling, and shared best practices, Ndoto Hub provides a platform where women can explore who they are and what they are capable of achieving. Sessions are conducted in Kiswahili, creating an inclusive environment where women, regardless of educational or socio-economic background, can engage and learn from one another.

Since its first cohort in 2018, Ndoto Hub has already seen remarkable results. A total of 38 women have graduated from the program, with 20 women developing viable businesses and 12 successfully completing business registration and obtaining licenses. These milestones represent the sustainability that comes from compliance and planning, ensuring these young entrepreneurs can navigate the business landscape effectively.

But for Ndoto Hub Founder and Executive Director Faraja Nyalandu, the journey is about more than just business planning. “Transforming a young woman to know who she is and what she is capable of takes different journeys,” she said during the launch. “Ours begins with instilling values like ethics, communication skills, personal branding, and self-awareness long before diving into business plans and financial forecasts.” For many women, this holistic approach leads to unexpected outcomes, with some choosing partnerships, not-for-profit work, or careers working for others. The key, Nyalandu notes, is helping women define their own success and empowering them to achieve it.

The importance of breaking personal and societal barriers is critical, not just for individual women but for Tanzania’s broader industrialization and economic growth. “We’re not just tackling personal limitations—like attitudes and perceptions of what a woman should be—but also addressing societal norms and generating data that highlights women’s contributions to the economy,” Nyalandu added.

As part of this broader mission, Canada’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Pamela O’Donnell, spoke about Canada’s role in empowering women and girls worldwide. “Canada is proud of its contribution to Tanzania’s Women’s Voices in Leadership initiatives and Ndoto Hub,” she said. “We believe that promoting gender equality is the most effective approach to eradicating poverty and building a more inclusive, prosperous world.”

This new funding from Global Affairs Canada will enable Ndoto Hub to reach over 2,400 young women across Tanzania, not just through its physical hub but through a digital community. Tully Mwampanga expressed her excitement about Shule Direct’s plan to leverage its digital expertise to expand the reach of Ndoto Hub’s programs. By building a digital platform for women entrepreneurs, Ndoto Hub aims to create a space where young women can access markets inside and outside Tanzania, fostering growth far beyond the physical hub.

This milestone for Ndoto Hub was celebrated as part of a broader conversation around gender roles in Tanzania’s industrialization, hosted by the Canadian High Commission as a pre-event for the Women Deliver Conference, a leading global advocate for gender equality. This year’s theme—“Power. Progress. Change.”—could not be more fitting for the next generation of young women entrepreneurs in Tanzania, whose dreams are being turned into reality through the support of Ndoto Hub and its partners.

At Ndoto Hub, we’re not just dreaming of a prosperous future for Tanzanian women entrepreneurs—we’re building it, one business at a time.