Terri & The Baobab Home

We have met some truly incredible people on this trip! Artists, community leaders, business folks, farmers, kids, craftsmen, volunteers, entrepreneurs, doctors, senior citizens, students and even chefs! We have met people of different cultures, heritages, socioeconomic groups and ethnicities. Most have introduced us to a unique facet of their culture that we would have otherwise missed out on. Terri Place and Caito Mwandu, the couple who runs the Baobab Home, in Bagamoyo, Tanzania is no exception!

We were introduced to Terri through Erin Jones, Wescott’s godmother. (See “Hanging With The Joneses: Part 1“) Terri had a vision for the Baobab Home over 10 years ago. Now, her vision has expanded to include a school, hospital breakfast program for HIV positive community members as well as a self-sustainable farm. For those of you who want to learn more, Terri has put together a dynamite video explaining her mission on her website.

The seven of us had the pleasure of hanging out with Terri, Caito and all the kids at Baobab Home for a week while Wescott completed his Eagle Project. In addition to helping with the project, we all got to play with the kids and spend time with Terri and the staff at Baobab learning more about the school and farm. The work they are doing at Baobab Home is simply inspiring!!! Every project they tackle is executed flawlessly with as much sweat, heart and soul put into the task as funds. It is so cool to see a non-profit working so effectively at a local level in Tanzania. Perhaps it is because Terri, Caito and their two kids really are imbedded in the Bagamoyo community. But, in addition, I believe it is the leadership, vision and unstoppable optimism of Terri herself that gives Baobab Home it’s winning combination of warmth and success

Thank you Terri, Caito and all the kids at Baobab Home for letting us experience the richness you have created in Bagamoyo firsthand. You are role models for us all!! Xoxo, The a Sharples Gang

P.S. If you are a teacher, a sustainable living expert or just an enthusiastic human who has always wanted to travel to Tanzania, Terri is always looking for volunteers. Feel free to email her directly. She would love to tell you about many of the opportunities at the Baobab home!

P.P.S. If you’re not ready to travel to Tanzania, but want to make a big impact on the future of some amazing kids, check out ways to get involved on the Baobab Home website!