Katoke and indeed Tanzania as a whole, is a safe and peaceful place with relatively little conflict and has a Christian and Muslim mix. Most villagers are caught in the poverty trap, and without assistance, have no way out.
Population/ Language: Tanzania has a population of 56 million people that speak Kiswahili, a little bit of English and various tribal languages. Secondary school is taught in English.
Employment: 80% of the population are active in rain-fed, low technology agriculture.
Temperature and climate: Katoke has a wet (March to May and October to December) and dry season and is normally quite green and scenic. Katoke has a comfortable average temperature of between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius all year round.
Poverty: The poverty headcount ratio in Tanzania is 28.2% (National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty lines). The United Nations Human Development Index has listed Tanzania as 151st of 188 nations for poverty, and of the 23 regions of Tanzania, the Kagera region (where Katoke is) is one of the poorest.
Health: Life expectancy in Tanzania is around 65 years, compared to Australia’s 82. The rate of HIV is thought to be around 5% in Tanzania and in Katoke this is around 1%.