Our Story
The Olive Branch for Children is a community-led grassroots organization in Tanzania founded by Vaughan resident, Deborah McCracken, in 2005. It started off as a children’s home for six children. From this initial six children, we have expanded organically into a grassroots organization by listening to the communities, working with the government and filling in the gaps where current government programming has been unable to reach. We have been operating in the Mbarali District since 2005, establishing long-term partnerships with community members and village leaders and focusing on community-led development programs. The main objective of TOBFC is to help remote communities in Tanzania assess their primary needs such as health and education, and establish programs designed to assist the most vulnerable in those communities.
Today, TOBFC works in over 40 communities in the Mbarali District, providing critical support that enables these communities to work together, grow and flourish. We are the only organization, aside from the government, operating in these remote villages.
The Olive Branch has recently begun expanding into social innovation and entrepreneurship to ensure financial sustainability of the organization. This is seen in the opening of our Kubuni Centre and Collaborative in September 2017.
Mission
To help the most vulnerable individuals and communities become empowered through community-specific and community-led programming.
To reduce the impact of the HIV epidemic through a multi-faceted approach; prevention, care, education and empowerment.
To support vulnerable children in their efforts to regain their health and to pursue their academic goals.
To reduce the injustice in the world by ensuring that the most vulnerable communities receive access to their basic needs and rights, including access to lifesaving medications, and to lobby on their behalf for greater equality in the future.
To develop new ideas that can be used by The Olive Branch for Children and other organizations and communities in their efforts to develop and change nations like Tanzania.
Awards
The Olive Branch for Children has been featured in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun and on CTV, CBC (television and radio) and Rogers. We have been featured in many different local newspapers and publications, as well as radio stations.
The Olive Branch for Children was awarded in 2009 and 2010 The US Ambassador to Tanzania Grant for HIV/AIDS Relief.
In 2010, Deborah McCracken was the only Canadian finalist for the prestigious Rolex Young Laureates Award.
In 2013, the Olive Branch for Children was awarded the Diplomatic Spouses Group of Dar es Salaam grant to start a scholarship fund for vulnerable children.
In 2014, The Olive Branch for Children was awarded a grant to begin the construction of the new Zion Home by the US Ambassador's Fund for HIV/AIDS Relief.
Our Programs
(click on the program for more information)
Zion and Peace Homes
The Olive Learners Montessori Academy
Montessori Program
Mobile Medical Clinics
Food Support Program
Complete Community Care Program
KICKIT Mobile Library
Financial Autonomy Programs
Kubuni Centre and Collaborative
The Olive Branch for Children is a community-led grassroots organization in Tanzania founded by Vaughan resident, Deborah McCracken, in 2005. It started off as a children’s home for six children. From this initial six children, we have expanded organically into a grassroots organization by listening to the communities, working with the government and filling in the gaps where current government programming has been unable to reach. We have been operating in the Mbarali District since 2005, establishing long-term partnerships with community members and village leaders and focusing on community-led development programs. The main objective of TOBFC is to help remote communities in Tanzania assess their primary needs such as health and education, and establish programs designed to assist the most vulnerable in those communities.
Today, TOBFC works in over 40 communities in the Mbarali District, providing critical support that enables these communities to work together, grow and flourish. We are the only organization, aside from the government, operating in these remote villages.
The Olive Branch has recently begun expanding into social innovation and entrepreneurship to ensure financial sustainability of the organization. This is seen in the opening of our Kubuni Centre and Collaborative in September 2017.
Mission
To help the most vulnerable individuals and communities become empowered through community-specific and community-led programming.
To reduce the impact of the HIV epidemic through a multi-faceted approach; prevention, care, education and empowerment.
To support vulnerable children in their efforts to regain their health and to pursue their academic goals.
To reduce the injustice in the world by ensuring that the most vulnerable communities receive access to their basic needs and rights, including access to lifesaving medications, and to lobby on their behalf for greater equality in the future.
To develop new ideas that can be used by The Olive Branch for Children and other organizations and communities in their efforts to develop and change nations like Tanzania.
Awards
The Olive Branch for Children has been featured in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun and on CTV, CBC (television and radio) and Rogers. We have been featured in many different local newspapers and publications, as well as radio stations.
The Olive Branch for Children was awarded in 2009 and 2010 The US Ambassador to Tanzania Grant for HIV/AIDS Relief.
In 2010, Deborah McCracken was the only Canadian finalist for the prestigious Rolex Young Laureates Award.
In 2013, the Olive Branch for Children was awarded the Diplomatic Spouses Group of Dar es Salaam grant to start a scholarship fund for vulnerable children.
In 2014, The Olive Branch for Children was awarded a grant to begin the construction of the new Zion Home by the US Ambassador's Fund for HIV/AIDS Relief.
Our Programs
(click on the program for more information)
Zion and Peace Homes
The Olive Learners Montessori Academy
Montessori Program
Mobile Medical Clinics
Food Support Program
Complete Community Care Program
KICKIT Mobile Library
Financial Autonomy Programs
Kubuni Centre and Collaborative
