Despite poor conditions and a lack of resources in the schools,Tanzanian children are enthusiastic about attending school, learning and completing their education.
A highlight of the visit to the Mto Wa Mbu school was having the 5th grade students sing Kumbaya. They were so excited to perform for tourists!
Although the Tanzanian government understands that quality education is the basis for national development, an allotment of nearly 23% of their government spending, compared to 15% in the USA, doesn't provide basic classroom necessities or proper training for teachers.
Students pick up sticks on their walk to school each morning. The sticks are used to build a fire for cooking lunch at school. For many, this will be the only meal of the day.
Our visit to a primary school in Mto Wa Mbu, Tanzania......Classrooms were dilapidated, void of supplies or educational materials, had dirt floors and housed as many as 75 children each. One teacher supervised multiple classrooms at the same time.
This school building, along with 3 others like it, house up to 300 students in grades kindergarten through 7th grade. With crumbling walls, dirt floors, missing doors, dirty walls and no restrooms, it is still a refuge for many as it offers them an opportunity to be a part of changing the educational system and achieving personal success.
There is a severe lack of resources in Tanzanian schools. The Tanzanian government's tuition requirement was eliminated in 2002, resulting in a massive increase in school registrations, jumping from 4.8 million to 8.4 million in 4 years. However, this increase has not been accompanied by a proportionate increase in teachers, classrooms or books.
In spite of school conditions, Tanzanian children consider attending school a privilege. Because many homes have no electricity, those who have long walks home and arrive after dark, receive lanterns from Project Zawadi for late night studying.
Charlotte Elizabeth Fortran Classroom
Rhonda and Melissa Barona traveled to Tanzania, Africa in May 2013. While there, they had an opportunity to visit a school and were shocked at the conditions. Click on each picture above for further information. After completing additional research, they found education throughout the country is in dire need of help. Many children have either no school building or rundown, dilapidated buildings, little or no supplies, teacher/student ratios are extremely high and there is little support available from within.
Rhonda and Melissa returned home with a mission: to help build a classroom to be named after Rhonda's mother, Charlotte Elizabeth Fortran, a long time educator, member of the National PTA and missions advocate. Additionally, 5 children will be sponsored to attend school for a period of 6 years each.
This goal was met in March 2018. Additional goals will be set as needs are identified...see OUR MISSION and DONATE for further details.
All fundraising efforts are entitled EXPANDING HORIZONS and will be handled under the auspices of the 501(c)3 non-profit PROJECT ZAWADI.
OUR MISSION
Expanding Horizon's fundraising proceeds benefit Project Zawadi, whose mission is to partner with schools, communities and teachers to support quality education for Tanzanian children and youth. Concentration is placed on serving orphaned and at risk children in some of the most remote rural villages in Tanzania.
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Expanding Horizons' initial goal of construction of one classroom and sponsorship of 5 children for 6 years of school has been met and
surpassed. With continued fundraising, we've supported additional
projects at the schools. Please see the "Accomplishments" page to see the successes we've had thus far.
GET INVOLVED
Various fundraising events and efforts will take place in the coming months. If you are interested in becoming involved or have special talents to offer, please contact us.​
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Assistance in securing both individual and business donations is encouraged. Maybe your hairdresser, grocer, neighbors, co-workers, civic group etc. would be interested in making a donation. Donations of any denomination are welcomed. If interested, we can provide you with printed materials to present to prospective sponsors.
DONATE
Won't you help with $10, $25, $100 or other amount? Or maybe you'd prefer to sponsor a student for $240 annually. You will receive a photo, hand-written letter from the student and a school report. The student will receive shoes, school uniforms, textbooks, 10 pens, notebooks, 10 pencils, a book bag and all school and exam fees will be paid. Older students will receive a solar powered lantern to use to study at homes with no electricity.