History and Impact of the Happiness Project

Happiness Now is a social enterprise project and a collaborative initiative between Enactus NSCC teams, NSCC Entrepreneurship, and NSCC International. Since 2018, this project has brought together Canadian and Tanzanian students and staff to explore entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and social entrepreneurship. A key focus of this project is to empower Tanzanian women through entrepreneurship and education. By doing so, we aim to help lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Additionally, we strive to create a cultural shift that recognizes the importance of gender equality and female empowerment in fostering sustainable economic growth.

Through this work, the project addresses eight of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Reduced Inequalities.

Happiness Project Achievements since 2018

2018: Invested in two women through their Village Community Banking System (Vicoba) and provided local mentorship. By 2019, these women had become legal entrepreneurs and could afford to send their children to school. By 2022, one of these women had adopted an orphan, providing a safe family environment, nutrition, and education.
86 Tanzanian college students received entrepreneurship and business planning education, gaining experience in running their own small businesses for profit.

25 Tanzanian women received investments equivalent to three months’ salary for their Vicobas, along with local business mentorship. This support has helped educate and lift over 70 children out of poverty.

Five orphans received full scholarships, including tuition and boarding fees, to educational programs at NSCC’s partner college, VHTTI. These students also participate in the Happiness Project.

Through her participation in the Happiness Project, one Tanzanian entrepreneur earned enough money from her tailoring business to pay a full year of her daughter’s medical school tuition.

November 2022: Invested TSH 500,000 ($260 CDN) topurchase 30 handmade Maasai Shukas (large scarves/blankets) and hand-beaded jewelry from the women in the “Happiness Vicoba” to sell in Canada as project fundraising.

May 2023: Reinvested fundraising profits of TSH 1,000.000 ($520 CDN) in the Happiness Vicoba, reminding the women it was their own work that generated this profit for reinvestment.

Supported 30 Maasai women, mostly widows, with a group investment in their Vicoba. This investment helped them install safe stoves in their homes, reducing burns, injuries, and lung issues.

December 2023: Provided a full day of business planning education and networking opportunities to five women, in collaboration with three partner colleges and two community-based organizations (CBOs) in Tanzania
A Nano-Filter water kiosk was purchased and installed outside the grounds of VHTTI, providing the local community with 200 liters of safe drinking water per day. This system is operated by a female entrepreneur, Philippina, who earns up to $14 CAD per day. Additionally, the safe drinking water from this system has significantly reduced waterborne illnesses like cholera and typhoid, while dramatically cutting down on single-use plastic pollution.

May 2024:Provided four refillable 20 litre water jugs to VHTTI students (one per dormitory) and 2L refillable water jugs to the 16 Tanzanian students who participated in the 2024 Happiness Project. These refillable jugs were purchased from Philippina.

Installed two large Nano-Filter water filtration systems in the communities of partner colleges and CBOs in the Mto wa Mbu and Kilwa Misoko regions. These systems provide up to 1200 litres of clean water daily and generate up to $42 CAD per day for the female entrepreneurs (college alumni) operating them. Each woman receives business and health training and support from Gongali Model Co. Ltd, a Tanzanian social enterprise committed to providing clean and affordable water across Africa.