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Exotic beaches
Zanzibar is known for its exotic beaches.
Zanzibar · Charity · Community
The island. The people. The work.
Zanzibar is a beautiful island located in the East of Africa. The island is well known for its mix of exotic beaches, spice plantations, history (Stone Town being the capital) and diverse culture.
Where we work
Kizimkazi Village, Zanzibar — the place where Bigger Heart’s story began.
The charity
Wales to Zanzibar
Bigger Heart Zanzibar works with children and young people in Zanzibar, Tanzania, while building links between Zanzibar and Wales.
Zanzibar
Exotic beaches, spice plantations, Stone Town, history and diverse culture.
Why it matters
There are also disparities in way of life between social groups, including lack of education, difficulty accessing good health, malnutrition due to lack of food and avoidable situations affecting life expectancy.
Explore the full story02
Spice farms
Spice farms are part of the island's identity.
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Stone Town & history
Stone Town, the capital, reflects Zanzibar's history.
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Diverse culture
The island is known for a diverse culture and strong community life.
Support us today
Choose how you help
Every route into the charity is simple: donate, volunteer, or support one of the project areas already active in Zanzibar.
What we do
Our mission
“Our mission is to empower the lives of these individuals, ensuring brighter futures for all, in spite of their backgrounds.”
Learn more
Founded
2009
A story shared from Zanzibar with a school in Wales.
Origin
At age seven, Nawal and her mother visited Kizimkazi Village in Zanzibar. They encountered children on the beach selling handcrafted items instead of attending school — because their families could not afford uniforms.
The story we tell honestly
Two Sides of Zanzibar
Our story holds both: connection, joy and cultural exchange; and the education, health and daily-life barriers that Bigger Heart works to support.
Amazing Zanzibar
A beautiful island of culture, history and community.
Zanzibar is well known for exotic beaches, spice plantations, history, Stone Town and diverse culture. Bigger Heart's story is rooted in Kizimkazi Village and the connection formed between Zanzibar and Wales.
Nature
The island is known for exotic beaches and spice plantations.
Culture
Stone Town, history and diverse culture are part of Zanzibar's identity.
Community life
The cultural exchange project helped students in Wales and Zanzibar learn about one another.
Challenges in Zanzibar
And a reality many never see from the resort.
Behind the postcards: classrooms without roofs, children selling handcrafts instead of attending school, families surviving on a single meal a day, and heart conditions that go untreated for want of equipment.
Education
Schools without doors, windows or roofs. Students in extreme heat and rain. Uniforms unaffordable for many families.
Health
Children with heart conditions and limited access to diagnostics. Our current focus: raising funds for an echo machine.
Daily life
One meal a day for many children. Shortages of sanitary products, stationery and basic clothing.
2009
Charity began
A story shared from Zanzibar
10+
Projects
Implemented in Zanzibar
2
Focus areas
Health and Education
1179065
Registered charity
England & Wales
Projects
Our causes
Voices
In their own words
“Zuleikha is going to university — a sentence we couldn't have written a few years ago. This is what sponsorship makes possible.”
Bigger Heart team
From our latest news
“You'll get experience first hand of what we do, and form a connection with the young people of Zanzibar.”
On volunteering
From our supporters page
“The connection between Zanzibar and Wales is something that is very important to us.”
Bigger Heart Zanzibar
From Forming Links
Latest news
Latest news
Updates from Zanzibar — the people, the milestones, and the projects your support makes possible.
ZanzibarAugust 2026
Progress of Well Building in Pemba
Progress on the well in Pemba has been steady and encouraging. The structure is now solid and taking shape.
Read update
WalesJuly 2026
Fundraiser Event Success – Water Well in Pemba
We collaborated with Friends of Jersey Park and managed to raise over £600 to build a water well in Pemba, Zanzibar.
Read update
WalesJune 2026
Fundraiser – Build a Water Well in Pemba
Join us for a special fundraiser hosted with support from Friends of Jersey Pavilion Park, as we come together to build a water well for a local community in Pemba.
Read update
Zanzibar18 March 2026
Feeding Families This Ramadan — Thank You for Your Generosity!
This Ramadan, with your support, we were able to help feed families in Kizimkazi and Pemba. Thank you for every donation and every act of kindness.
Read update
Zanzibar24 October 2023
Zuleikha is going to university!
Congratulations to Zuleikha for getting into university. She will be studying information technology application with management at Suza University in Zanzibar.
Read update
Zanzibar22 April 2022
Ramadhan 2022 — Thank You for Your Donations!
We would like to thank all those who donated this Ramadhan. We managed to provide a community in Gulioni, Zanzibar a memorable iftar.
Read update
GeneralPinned
Welcome to Bigger Heart Zanzibar
Welcome to the Bigger Heart Zanzibar website! We are a Wales-based charity enriching the lives of children, young people and vulnerable members of the community.
Read update
Zanzibar14 May 2021
Ramadhan Mubarak. Your Generosity Has Made a Real Difference!
Thanks to your generosity throughout Ramadhan, we provided Eid food packages — helping 68 orphans and 14 families this year.
Read update
Zanzibar6 May 2021
Giving Children the Freedom to Move: Help Us Raise Funds for Wheelchairs in Tanzania
We partnered with Suhaila Khamis, Fatima Sayid and Habiba Alli to raise funds for wheelchairs for children with disabilities in Tanzania.
Read updateZanzibar23 January 2021
Nawal Recognised with Outstanding Diaspora in Community Impact Award!
Nawal has been awarded the Outstanding Diaspora in Community Impact Award in Zanzibar — a true testament to the work of Bigger Heart Zanzibar.
Read update
Zanzibar20 August 2016
Empowering Young Women to Build Their Own Futures
In 2016, we partnered with a local village elder to introduce crocheting and craft skills to young women in Zanzibar.
Read update
Zanzibar15 August 2016
Powering Up: Kizimkazi School's New Computer Room is Open!
We are delighted to announce the completion of the computer room at Kizimkazi School — a project a long time in the making.
Read update
Zanzibar30 July 2014
A Library of Possibilities: Kizimkazi School's Brand New Reading Room is Complete!
We are thrilled to announce the completion of the library room at Kizimkazi School — one of our most exciting milestones yet.
Read update
Zanzibar2013
Our First Fundraiser
An early Bigger Heart Zanzibar fundraiser from 2013. Final wording and photos to be confirmed by the client.
Read updateBigger Heart in Wales
Our work in Wales
After-school clubs, cultural exchange, school trips and the community fundraising that makes our work in Zanzibar possible.
Visit our Wales website
Support us today
Support health, education and well-being work in Zanzibar.
We are currently collecting sanitary products and focusing on health. We are trying to raise money to get an echo machine, and we accept donations such as clothing, stationery, toys and other items in good condition.