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It was in 2010 that Dave first arrived in Iringa. He was here to set up a partnership with the Regional Hospital, based on a model he’d developed in Ghana, to give healthcare students from around the world experience shadowing local doctors and nurses.
Two principles underpinned that project: Students were here to learn from – not to judge – local health professionals; and the hospital, clinicians and local community must all benefit financially from the programme.
15 years on, we’re no longer just guests in this community, we’re an integral part of it. And now, with Origins, those same principles run through everything we do. We’re here to experience, to learn, to absorb; and everyone involved benefits from our business.
Over the years working here, we’ve built a strong network that helps us employ local people in as many roles as possible. Our Environment Manager, Mdoe, was actually the first person we ever employed here back in 2010, and chef Diana has worked with us around Tanzania since 2009.
We expect high standards from our team, treat them fairly, and pay them well. This supports families and livelihoods across Iringa, and it equips those people with the skills and training to be able to move on if they ever want to.
As well as the use of design and materials described on our sustainability page, we’ve worked with local builders, engineers, technicians and craftsmen and women on every aspect of setting up the retreat.
Our stonemasons, brothers Mwanafiale and Pat, carpenters Hamisi and Sudi (also brothers!) timber specialist Sele, roofers Eric and his team and curtain tailor Nuru are all Tanzanians born and raised who have honed their crafts through hard experience.
For more specialist elements such as our off-grid solar system and log burners, we’ve had to go further afield, but stayed within East Africa buying from locally-owned suppliers who share our values.
The fruits and vegetable market in town is one of our favourite places! The colours, smells, bustle and energy just make it a joy to visit, and it’s where we source a lot of our day-to-day ingredients (read more on our food page).
It’s not just food. Our commitment to buy locally whenever we possibly can supports the town and helps to reduce transport miles: from plumbing materials to staff uniforms, and even our own chickens!
As you can read on our local activities page, Iringa is awash with opportunities to learn from and share with local crafters. Whenever retreat guests want a painting session, basket-making class, Africa drumming and dancing session or extra hour of yoga, there’s always someone in our local network who’s happy to come up to retreat.
We don’t charge or take any kind of commission for arranging local activities, so 100% of anything that guests do pay goes straight to the local supplier.
Contact us to discuss your retreat plans, get a quote or join our mailing list.
Contact us