Biography

Simon William Mwakalinga uses his expertise to teach locals about the vocation of fish farming and to encourage and support community members as they venture to establish their own fish farms. As a fisheries extension worker with experience supporting aqua farming projects in Tanzania’s Ulanga District, Simon has turned his efforts to the Kilimanjaro region.

In 2007, he founded the Africana Community Rehabilitation Organization (ACRO) with the mission of empowering local residents in Moshi, Tanzania to improve their quality of life. While ACRO’s projects benefit the community as a whole, Simon chooses to focus on assisting vulnerable children as a priority as he feels these individuals receive the least attention and least support, though they desperately need the most help. ACRO focuses on ecological training and awareness-raising, nutritional support through integrated fish farming practice, and the empowerment of rural women through developing knowledge and skills in fish farming. ACRO is currently working to provide adults, orphans and vulnerable children living in Moshi with a sustainable way to feed themselves and support their families through fish farming.