food water shelter incorporated (fws) is a not-for-profit organisation: an Australian, non-denominational, non-governmental organisation that builds and manages eco-friendly children's villages with education, social and health facilities for vulnerable women and children in developing countries.

Our first children’s village is Kesho Leo, which is located in the village of Sinon in the Arusha region of Tanzania, East Africa.

yes but who are we, really?

fws was established in late 2005 by five Australian women on their return from professional volunteer placements in Tanzania as social workers, sponsorship co-ordinators and teachers. The women soon found themelves five Aussie blokes to help share the load. This team of 10 are the founding members of fws.

However, today, the fws volunteer base comprises dozens of expert and dedicated volunteers working behind the scenes across Australia and the world.

fws is run entirely by volunteers.

Our team includes architects, accountants, legal advisers, secretarial support, publicity officers, fundraisers, editors, graphic designers, HR specialists, researchers, writers and sponsorship co-ordinators.

The current on-site volunteer base at Kesho Leo comprises a project manager, a teacher and education manager, a nurse and health manager, a bursar, a farm manager, an IT specialist come plumber, and an electrician.

Over the last 12 months, more than 50 volunteers have contributed their services at Kesho Leo, providing professional skills including building trades, architecture and environmental engineering.

fws employs local Tanzanians at Kesho Leo to fill the roles of farm manager, building labourers, and house mamas. House mamas are vulnerable women who are recruited by fws to live at Kesho Leo with their children and provide care for both their own children and to orphans in small family-unit structures.