Daraja Music Initiative

What Daraja Music Initiative does

Daraja Music Initiative (DMI), legally organized as Clarinets for Conservation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2010 by clarinetist Michele Von Haugg and headquartered in Moshi, Tanzania, with incorporation in the United States. The organization runs an interdisciplinary program that links music education (clarinet, strings, general music) with conservation of the mpingo tree (African Blackwood, Dalbergia melanoxylon) — the species used to manufacture clarinets and other woodwinds — through student instruction at partner schools, mpingo planting and care, and community performances in the Kilimanjaro region. DMI also operates a summer volunteer program that brings music educators, conservationists, and instrument-repair technicians from around the world to teach at Majengo Primary School, Korongoni Secondary School, and Jamuhuri Primary School, with field trips to local cultural and conservation sites.

The integrated offering combines Music Education (clarinet, strings, and general music), Conservation Education (mpingo tree planting, pruning, and outreach via Kiviwama Indigenous Tree Nursery), Community Musical Performances (outreach concerts, open mic nights at Union Coffee in Moshi), and a Volunteer Program that includes a 2–4 week teaching residency plus a safari component operated in partnership with Materuni Tours. Program technology is limited to a Squarespace-hosted website CMS and a culturally responsive clarinet curriculum authored by Assistant Director Alexys Bush; the organization has no proprietary software platform, no disclosed app, and no API surface.

DMI's revenue mechanics rest on two streams: volunteer program fees ranging from $3,000 (2-week session) to $3,500 (4-week session), covering housing, meals, in-country transport, field trips, and a 2–3 night safari; and tax-deductible donations plus grants from institutional funders including the D'Addario Foundation and Guitar Center Foundation. The beneficiary base spans students in the Kilimanjaro region and a global pool of paying volunteer teachers, with cumulative reported impact of 300+ students, 14,000+ community members reached, and 3,212 mpingo trees planted since 2010. Operations are run by a small team of approximately 5 employees plus seasonal volunteers, and the organization is governed by a U.S. Board of Directors with a parallel Tanzanian Advisory Board.

Name

Daraja Music Initiative

Legal name

Clarinets for Conservation

Website

https://darajamusicinitiative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Daraja Music Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that bridges music education (clarinet, strings) and mpingo tree conservation in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, serving local students through partner schools and funding operations via summer volunteer program fees and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education and Conservation Services (Non-profit)

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Music education programs
• Conservation education
• Volunteer teaching programs
• Environmental conservation
• African Blackwood reforestation

Headquarters

HQ city

Moshi

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Program Fees: Volunteers pay program fees ranging from $3,000 to $3,500 for 2-4 week sessions. Fees cover housing, food, in-country transportation, field trips, and safari experiences. This is the primary revenue stream supporting DMI activities.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations support DMI's music education and environmental conservation activities. DMI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Daraja Music Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates an interdisciplinary program combining music education in clarinet, strings (violin, viola, cello), and general music with environmental conservation education centered on the mpingo (African Blackwood) tree. The program is delivered through an 8-10 week summer residency in Moshi, Tanzania, where volunteer teachers from around the world instruct students at local schools (Majengo Primary School, Korongoni Secondary School, Jamuhuri Primary School) and engage in tree planting and conservation activities with partner organizations. Supporting offerings include weekly field trips to cultural and environmental sites, open mic performances, and safari experiences for volunteer participants.

Product overview

Daraja Music Initiative (DMI) is a non-profit organization offering a single integrated program that bridges music education and African Blackwood (mpingo) conservation in Tanzania. The program combines three core components: music education (clarinet, strings, general music instruction), conservation education (mpingo tree planting and care), and community musical performances. Originally founded as Clarinets for Conservation in 2010, the organization expanded in 2015 to include Daraja Strings (violin, viola, cello instruction). The summer residency program runs 8-10 weeks in Moshi, Tanzania, with volunteer teachers delivering instruction at local schools. Supporting offerings include field trips to cultural and environmental sites, open mic performances, and an annual safari experience for volunteers. DMI operates as a unified interdisciplinary program rather than a modular platform product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Education Program Interdisciplinary educational program providing instruction in clarinet, strings (violin, viola, cello), and general music to students in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, with lessons conducted at Majengo Primary School and Korongoni Secondary School during summer residency programs.
• Conservation Education Environmental conservation education focused on the mpingo tree (African Blackwood/Dalbergia melanoxylon), including tree planting, pruning, weeding, monitoring, and community conservation outreach initiatives conducted in partnership with Kiviwama Indigenous Tree Nursery.
• Volunteer Program Summer volunteer opportunities in Tanzania for music educators (clarinet/woodwinds, strings, general music), conservationists, instrument repair technicians, and passionate individuals, with 2-4 week sessions including teaching, conservation work, and safari experiences. Program fees range from $3,000 to $3,500.
• Community Musical Performances Student and volunteer performances including outreach concerts, musical tree plantings, open mic nights at Union Coffee in Moshi, and community engagement events reaching approximately 1,800 community members annually.
• Field Trip Experiences Weekly educational field trips to local environmental and cultural destinations including Rao Forest, Cultural Arts Center at Tumaini University Makumira, Materuni Waterfalls, and Arusha National Park.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,212 African Blackwood trees planted since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kiviwama Indigenous Tree NurserycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservationist Samweli Mochiwa directs Kiviwama Indigenous Tree Nursery in Moshi. DMI partners with Kiviwama for tree plantings and conservation outreach events. Volunteers participate in tree pruning, weeding, and care of DMI's mpingo inventory.
• Cultural Arts Center at Tumaini University MakumiracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMI conducts yearly field trips to the Cultural Arts Center where students participate in drumming, dance, and instrument workshops. The center houses the largest collection of traditional Tanzanian instruments in the country.
• Materuni TourscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpert guides from Materuni Tours lead the safari portion of the volunteer program, including visits to Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara.
• Union Coffee (Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly open mic nights are hosted at Union Coffee in Moshi, providing students with performance experience and community engagement opportunities.
• Courage Cafe TZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support to DMI volunteers and programs.
• The Strings Music GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - partner volunteer organization where some DMI volunteers work.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• African Wildlife Foundation: Large conservation NGO operating across Africa with community-based programs. Comparable as an Africa-based conservation organization that also uses community partnerships for environmental outcomes — overlaps on the mpingo/conservation side but not on music.

Broad incumbents

• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National arts education non-profit network delivering music and arts instruction to K-12 students across the U.S. Comparable as a large arts-education non-profit delivering school-based programs at scale.
• Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute: Major music institution running national and international music education programs for schools and communities. Comparable as a large-scale music education organization with broader geographic scope and a more institutional structure.

Direct peers

• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Non-profit that donates musical instruments to underfunded music programs and schools. Comparable as a music education charity supporting school programs, with similar donor-grant funding mechanisms.
• Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock): U.S. non-profit providing free music education and instruments to underserved schools. Comparable as a music education non-profit that builds sustained school-based programs and trains educators, though focused domestically.
• Playing For Change Foundation: Global non-profit that creates music schools and educational programs around the world. Comparable as a music education non-profit that delivers instruction internationally with a similar mission-driven, donor- and volunteer-supported model.
• Music Heals International: Non-profit providing music therapy and music education programs in underserved international communities. Comparable as a small mission-driven music education non-profit operating in developing-country contexts with a donor-supported model.
• Aga Khan Music Programme: Foundation initiative supporting music education and preservation of musical heritage across diverse cultures. Comparable as an internationally-funded music education program combining cultural preservation with training in under-resourced regions.
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: Non-profit dedicated to restoring music education in American schools. Comparable as an institutional music education funder with corporate and foundation backing that delivers school-based programs.
• Musicians Without Borders: Non-profit that uses music education for social impact in post-conflict and developing regions. Comparable as a music-for-social-change organization that delivers instruction in low-resource international settings through trained facilitators.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/darajamusicinitiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/darajamusicinitiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/daraja-music-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Daraja Music Initiative