Festo plays a critical role in the work of Empowering the Future by contributing his knowledge of the reality of the situation on the ground in Tanzania. His extensive knowledge of people, places and where to find things we need, as well as the limitations and opportunities the local culture provides ensures that our projects are as successful as possible.

Jemma is usually having ideas about how Friends of Empowering the Future can help Empowering the Future to bring positive change to the lives of farmers and families in rural Tanzania. Through repeat visits, she is growing trusting relationships with people, particularly the children and young adults for whom a deeper understanding of sustainability in farming and food production will be essential.

Ordained in the Anglican Church, Rev David is a holder of a degree in Child development and children's ministry, volunteers as general secretary of Empowering the Future TZ and a founding member.

Volunteering as a Finance manager at Empowering the future Tanzania, Bhoke holds a Bachelor degree in business administration specialized in Accounting and finance.

Trained as a Teacher and served as Head Teacher of St John's Seminary for 11 years before relocating with his family to the UK and founding Empowering the Future alongside Rev David and Bhoke back in Tanzania. Festo's first love is farming and providing local farmers with knowledge and farming techniques, particularly in the face of climate change.

An enthusiastic resident of Lamaiti village, Job has become a significant member of Empowering the Future through his eager adoption of new technologies and his enthusiasm for encouraging the young to be involved. His practical contributions to our work on the ground are evidence of his commitment to improving the lives and prospects of the next generation of Tanzanians.

John is Festo’s brother and has lived in Lamaiti all his life. He is married with children and is one of the first to try new farming ideas. John is also a fantastic communicator, sharing with his community his first hand experience of trialling the climate smart agricultural suggestions we are introducing.

Volunteering as an Environmental Officer at Empowering the Future, holding a Bachelor degree in Environmental Planning and Management

Volunteers with Empowering the Future Tanzania in the fruit and vegetable garden in Dodoma. Has completed form four education (GCSE level)

Volunteers with Empowering the Future TZ and has a diploma in Forestry

Volunteers with Empowering the Future TZ in the fruit and vegetable garden in Dodoma, finished education after primary school

Kisiu worked with Festo when Festo was headteacher of a school in the village of Kilimatinde. As the vision of establishing an English speaking preschool developeed, Kisiu was invited to run it. Kisiu lives on the Empowering the Future plot and looks forward to a time when the multi-purpose building is completed and his classroom will be next door!

Since being a teenager, Jemma has had a passion for the planet and its people. During the process of studying Agroforestry and Global Food Security she learned how climate smart agriculture, including tree planting on farmed land, can improve food security as well as planetary sustainability. A happy Godincidence brought her and Festo to having conversations which led to a visit to Tanzania where she was encouraged to share the knowledge she had gained. That was the start of Friends of Empowering the Future… She lives and works in Cornwall (encouraging farmers to plant more trees in their farms), swims in the sea and enjoys growing things like tomatoes.

Grace has worked in Children's and Youth ministry within the churches in the UK. She is married to Festo and spent 10 years in Tanzania under The Church Mission Society. She is currently ordained in the church of England and serving a curacy. Together Festo and Grace have 3 children who have a love for both their homes in Tz and the UK.

Mike Lives in St Austell Cornwall. He is retired, married to Janet and they have 3 adult children, 6 grandchildren and 2 dogs. He is also a Trustee of The Kilimatinde Trust which supports a school and hospital in Kilimatinde a village in sub-Sahara Tanzania. He is on Truro Diocesan Synod and is lay chair of St Austell Deanery.

Alison is a priest in the Church of England and now lives in Cornwall. Her interest in climate smart agriculture began over forty years ago in Sierra Leone where she was a volunteer teacher with VSO. Over the years she got to know Tanzanian people and the Kanungha family. She loves books, cooking, swimming and walking in  beautiful Cornwall.

Sarah works as an ecological consultant and is at her happiest when walking up a mountain or exploring the coast. She lives in Devon with her husband and son, where they attend Christ Church Woodbury. Deeply concerned about climate change, she is keen to support those facing the greatest challenges.

Richard is married to Helen and they have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. After a long career in Defra, Richard has, for the past 10 years has worked as a gardener; when not helping somebody else he can usually be found in his own sub tropical garden. He enjoys all aspects of the natural world with a particular interest in birds, butterflies and plants where he already recognises a major impact on the UK’s flora and fauna due to climate change. Richard is particularly keen to help those who have contributed the least towards climate change as they adapt to the changing world we now live in.

Stephen grew up in Cornwall where he played in brass bands, before moving to Tanzania as a mission partner for a decade, as a teacher and school chaplain. Stephen is a Debt Centre Manager working with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to help people become debt free. Stephen was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church of Tanzania and is working through the process of becoming recognised by the Methodist Church.