Our Founder

Founder

Ms. Zainab Ansell

Zainab Ansell founded ZARA Tanzania Charity in 2009 while working in Tanzania’s tourism industry. Working directly with local communities, she saw both the opportunities and the challenges facing children, women and families, and set up the charity as a way of giving back through community-focused projects.

She is also the founder and director of ZARA Tanzania Adventures, the tourism company that inspired the charity, and is associated with Volunteers Tanzania.

“Every journey has the power to change a life. By sharing opportunities, investing in communities, and working together, we can create a future where every child and every family has the chance to thrive.”
— Zainab Ansell

What guides the work

Leadership philosophy

Compassion

Serving with empathy and dignity.

Sustainability

Creating long-term benefits for communities.

Partnership

Achieving change through collaborative effort.

Empowerment

Investing in people’s skills and opportunities.

What she has built

• ZARA Tanzania Charity, founded in 2009, a trusted nonprofit uniting international donors, volunteers and travellers with Tanzanian communities.
• Projects across education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, community development and environmental conservation.
• A model that links tourism with lasting charitable impact.

See our projects Support our work