FAQ

Wakaya is a word from the Umbundu language of the central highlands (the plan alto) region of Angola, which means “the healed”.

“Being healed means being whole again, everything working in harmony once more. Wakaya as an organisation is setting out to heal many things – the land, nature, people, the future. It is a very organic, earth-based word, bringing a very African sensibility to our work and what we are setting out to do.” Said Executive Director Tania Paschen.

Wakaya is just starting out on its development and conservation journey, though as projects are shown to work and the formula we have established starts bringing impacts, we are open to expansion to other provinces in Angola. We are also open to partnering or collaborating with other organisations working in other places, sharing skills and resources to create impact.

Through a combination of speaking with the Malanje Provincial government and understanding their Needs Assessment and priorities, and months of research and consultations with our communities, we landed on our priority areas of intervention – Preventative Health, Digital, Agriculture and Education. Women’s empowerment has also been identified as an area which we will strive to grow across all our projects.

Our project areas are just the start and we are already working on other small projects (like our Art Project) which complement our work and which tie in nicely with our vision. In the future microenterprises will also be included in our list of projects, hearing from the community the areas on which they would like to focus and work.

Situated just outside Malanje (behind the eucalyptus trees), our Camp HQ will be open for visitors in 2026. We welcome anyone who wants to come and see the art, gardens, library and facilities and interact with the team and projects.

We will also have a coffee shop open for visitors to come and sit and experience nature and break up the journey to Malanje. Contact us for more information.