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This relationship began near the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. An official covenant between the WIS and the SD was signed in May 2004.

Tanzania is located in East Africa. The ELCT is one of the fastest growing Lutheran bodies in the world! The Southern Diocese is the largest of the ELCT’s 20 dioceses. The SD has 80+ congregations, each with many outreach preaching points. The SD has a variety of ministries including schools, hospital/medical center dispensaries, and an emerging university.

WITHIN THIS RELATIONSHIP, VARIOUS PARTNER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS HAVE EMERGED:

Safe Water at Tanzania (SWAT)
Water Well Drilling Partner Project

This effort garners the supply of safe, clean water. All of God’s people depend upon and deserve access to this most basic life-need. The Western Iowa Synod (WIS) supplies well-drilling equipment, training and employment to a local well-drilling team, and raises funds for well-drilling. The Southern Diocese (SD) provides site determination, health and hygiene training, and well security, maintenance and repair. These are community wells that typically service as many as 20,000 area residents. Such access to clean water greatly enhances the overall health of Tanzanians as well as frees up much valuable time to engage in economic and educational activities rather than the seeking and transporting of water—particularly for women. Each drilled well costs approximately $3000 USD. Newer, much greater capacity equipment has been provided for the project, ever-increasing the need for continued funding to this vital endeavor.

Water Is Life

This video tells the story of the Well Project that is a part of the Companion Synod Relationship between the Western Iowa Synod, ELCA and the Southern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. This project has produced over 60 wells that provide fresh, clean water for villages across the Southern Diocese.

Medical Supplies
Medical Initiative Partner Project

These initiatives have provided for a variety of needs, from scholarship support for Jason Mtokoma to become a doctor in the diocese, to the provision of microscopes for area clinics and dispensaries, to the supply of medical equipment and supplies for the Ilembula Lutheran Hospital (including a CD-4 Count machine!), to the addition of palliative care, power-surge protection and planned preventative maintenance programming. As such, much is being accomplished toward the provision of enhanced and adequate health care in the Southern Diocese.

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Center for Agricultural Development Partner Project

This newly-emerging, informal center works directly with the Tanzanian smallholder farmer through hands-on experiential learning to enhance their overall productivity, profitability, and well-being. Collaborators include: Western Iowa Synod, Southern Diocese, Iowa State University Extension, Sokoine University of Agriculture, and the Uyole Agricultural Research and Training Institute. Both the WIS and the SD are highly comprised of agricultural constituents, providing much opportunity to connect as children of God in this arena. While making CAD eventually self-sustaining is a priority goal, support for this multi-cultural, multi-dimensional, multi-partnered project at this stage of the project is most certainly needed.

A brief introduction to the Center for Agricultural Development located in Tanzania.

Information on the Center for Agricultural Development farms which are located in Tanzania.