Providing essential supplies to a Tanzanian school in need

Hi, my name is Olivia! Over the past month, I have been volunteering at Uhuru Peak Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania. During this time, I taught Maths and English to approximately 65 children aged 5 to 7.

Uhuru Peak is a primary and boarding school that provides education, housing, and meals to children aged 3 to 15. The school has an enrollment of approximately 500 students, with around 50 residing at the school.

Many of these children come from underprivileged backgrounds, living in severe poverty, and depend on the school for education and childcare while their parents work to support them. Additionally, some are orphans who rely on donations from the school and the community for their daily needs. Despite the hardships they face, these children are the most lively and happy I have ever met, and they will always hold a special place in my heart.

The teachers at this school are truly remarkable; they serve as second mothers to these children and deserve immense praise for their dedication and support.

The cost to send one child to school for a single term is approximately 350,000 Tanzanian shillings (around $200 AUD), which covers breakfast and lunch. Given that the average annual wage in Tanzania ranges from 400,000 to 500,000 shillings ($230 to $280 AUD), many families struggle significantly to afford school fees, supplies, clothing, and food. Often, they face the difficult choice between providing food and supporting their children's education.

I observed many students arriving without essential school supplies, especially new starters. Some children had used pencils so much that they were smaller than their fingers. This situation places a considerable burden on Uhuru Peak to supply these necessary materials.

At the beginning of my time volunteering, I saw teachers sharpening pencils with a knife due to the lack of sharpeners. I managed to purchase enough supplies for my class of 60 students, but to make a more substantial impact, I need your help!

Some children have only one school uniform, and many are too young to recognise when they need to use the bathroom, leading to occasional accidents. Since families lack washing machines and the humid climate in Tanzania makes drying clothes a slow process, these children often come to school in dirty uniforms until the weekend. In addition, their uniforms and shoes are often worn out and full of holes.

Every morning and lunchtime, the Mamas prepare meals for 500 children in a cramped kitchen (about 3m x 3m). I had the chance to assist for a day, and it was an exhausting task to prepare such large quantities of food in such a small space. Despite these challenges, the Mamas do it daily without complaints!

My experience at Uhuru Peak was extremely eye-opening and I am hoping to assist the school in any way I can.

As such, I am reaching out to anyone who can help me raise funds for this incredible school. Your funds will go towards supporting the purchases of school supplies, uniforms, shoes, breakfast and lunch provisions, new cooking and school equipment, and general aid for the children, families, and the school.

Any contribution, no matter the size, can make a significant difference for these children and their school!