Why
The Usambara region is home to entrepreneurs with ambition and potential, but limited access to capital and professional development. ULP directly invests in these local entrepreneurs, providing both financial support and hands-on guidance to help them grow sustainable businesses that create employment and strengthen the local economy.
How
THE UBUNTU LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WANTS…
• to invest in local entrepreneurs to help them build sustainable businesses
• and in doing so, expand, diversify and strengthen the Usambaraeconomy
• so that entrepreneurs and their communities are empowered
• and the quality of life for a wide variety of people is improved
• in an economically efficient way, at minimal cost
What?
THE UBUNTU LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS…
an investment fund that directly supports local entrepreneurs in the Usambara region. Currently, ULP invests in three entrepreneurs, with ambitions to grow this portfolio further. Beyond financial investment, ULP provides affiliated entrepreneurs with tailored coaching and short practical trainings to help them develop and qualify their businesses. The training-coaching dynamic is central to ULP: a continuous feedback loop between business practice and personal growth, guided by mentors and responsive to each entrepreneur’s actual needs.
THE UBUNTU BUSINESS SCHOOL IS…
… a one-year training and coaching program
The Ubuntu Leadership Program (ULP) is a one-year training and coaching program, aligned with the Tanzanian academic year (October to June). Participants will be trained on one hand and coached on the other. The learning and feedback loop between work and personal growth is essential for ULP. This process is managed by a mentor and guided by personal goals set by both the participant and the mentor. Participants will receive a certificate at the end of the program.
… in the hospitality and tourism industry at participating hotels
MamboViewPoint Ecolodge:
Lawns Hotel Lushoto:
… in cooperation with Mabughai Technical College
It is essential for ULP to partner with a local high-end college, to ensure the quality of the program and embed ULP within the local educational infrastructure. Moreover, the partnership with Mabughai ensures that the ULP certificate is recognized in the Tanzanian labor market. In return, ULP enriches the Mabughai curriculum with its program. A partnership based on mutual benefit.
Mabughai
Mabughai Technical College offers top-notch vocational and technical education, equipping students with practical skills for successful careers. With expert instructors and modern facilities, the college ensures hands-on learning for future professionals.
… school leavers aged 18 to 28 from the Usambara region
ULP is initiated for school leavers in the remote Usambara region. Participants should meet the following criteria:
- Minimum Form Four leaver
- Good level of English in both speech and writing
- Strong motivation letter in English
- Full-time availability for one year
And…
… qualifies participants as professional workforce and/or entrepreneurs
ULP is initiated for school leavers in the remote Usambara region. Due to its remoteness, poor economic development, and limited educational infrastructure, the Usambaras face challenges in creating a significant local workforce or attracting qualified labor from outside. By training local youth in collaboration with local partners, ULP serves as a bridge to overcome this gap.
… through on-the-job training in various departments of participating hotels
Participants should learn the basics of the hotel business, meaning that they should be able to work as professionals in at least the following hotel departments. Participants will be trained in the following departments for three months:
- Admin / Front desk / Operations
- Housekeeping
- Kitchen & Bar
- Tour Guiding/Crafts (Cultural, Historical, and Natural)
- Security, Landscaping, and Maintenance
… followed by six months of specialization in a specific area within the hotel industry
In addition to achieving a professional level in the basics of the hotel business, participants should specialize in a specific field within the industry, such as cooking or bartending. After completing the general part of the curriculum, participants will focus on one specific area for a period of six months.
… and coaching in personal leadership, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship
Participants will be coached by a mentor in personal leadership, both individually and as a group, by reflecting on the challenges they face in their jobs. To support this, participants will maintain a personal logbook to ensure that the coaching process is structured and progress can be monitored.
… along with practicing and improving English in class, through role plays, and on the job
For a professional in the hotel business, mastering English in both speech and writing is as important as being able to fulfill their tasks. Moreover, outside the hospitality industry, proper English is essential for running a business successfully. Therefore, practicing English is an integral part of the weekly ULP curriculum, including in-class sessions, role plays, and on-the-job practice