Transforming Tanzanian schools with Technology

As an ex-teacher in the UK I am always astounded at the work ethic of the Tanzanian students I meet.  They think nothing of carrying water for washing the classroom floors several kilometers as they walk to school.  Bhoke, 15, who I met earlier this month in Kagera, is typical.  She wants to be teacher "to help girls like me learn".  Her parents are illiterate and she is the first in her family to attend secondary school.  "The first two years were hard because I live very far from the school - it takes me almost 2 hours each way to walk, so I was very tired and hungry when I reached home. It was also difficult to study at home because I had many jobs to do and we don't have a solar lamp.  Now I am able to stay at the girls' hostel during the week I can study with my friends every night and my grades have improved".

Mercy, 14, wants to be a doctor.  She too walks for several hours to and from school each day.  But of more concern to her is the fact that her school has no maths teachers.  There is a nationwide shortage of maths and science teachers in Tanzania, and poor rural secondary schools are the most severely affected.  To help students like Mercy we have set up Raspberry Pi computers with downloaded maths and science content.  This cannot replace a good teacher, but it does mean that students have more chance of passing the all important maths and science exams without which they cannot continue with their schooling. Mercy says "The algebra videos and exercises are very helpful.  When I tried the questions in our text book I didn't understand them, but after using the computer it made sense to me. 

With your generosity in 2016 we will be able to help many more students like Bhoke and Mercy in 2017, and increase their chances of realising their full potential..

Best wishes for the New Year..

With gratitude

Janet