“The key to a successful future is not only about preserving the past. It is about finding the intersection between the past and present.”
The Hadza are one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer societies in the world, living around Lake Eyasi in the central Rift Valley of Tanzania, Africa. Genetically, the Hadza have one of the oldest lineages of contemporary humans. There are a little over a thousand Hadza living today.
The Hadza have endured tremendous change over the past 50 years. Their traditional way of life depends heavily on access to vast areas of land, plentiful wildlife, and pristine natural resources. However, in recent years, the Hadza have been left with very little—they’ve lost over 90% of their ancestral land, resources have been polluted and depleted, and business and agricultural development threaten their very existence. With new challenges such as addiction, malnutrition, and modern disease on the rise, Hadza life has become increasingly difficult.
In an idyllic scenario, the Hadza would be left undisturbed in the bush to live as their ancestors did for tens of thousands of years. However, in today’s world, that is not a reality. The goal of Meleka is to help improve the current livelihoods of the Hadza given today’s circumstances and empower them for future success.
“Me-le-ka” in the Hadza language is an old, hollowed out baobab tree that serves as a home or shelter.
The baobab tree is often referred to as the “Tree of Life”, providing bountiful fruits, fresh water, and shelter—vital necessities for surviving in the bush.
Meleka is a sanctuary. It represents safety, a sense of home. It is a place where life begins, with some Hadza women still giving birth inside these magnificent trees. Meleka represents the Hadza’s unique way of life and their oneness with the natural environment.
The Meleka Foundation (formerly the DYC Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2014. The organization was originally founded to benefit society through the creation, distribution and free sharing of various forms of arts and education. In 2018, team members traveled to Africa as part of a charitable project with the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania. After noticing the lack of resources and support available to the tribe, the organization partnered with the Hadza community to understand where it could be the most impactful. Meleka has since refined its mission to align with its passion and exists as a close partnership with members of the Hadza community. Today, Meleka’s initiatives impact the lives of hundreds of Hadza through health, education, and community support.
