Educate 20+ Vulnerable Children in Rural Tanzania

It's rainy season in Midawe and the mornings are dark and cold. Rowdy rounds of football and tag on the lush grass during recess give way to in-door reading and board games. There are two weeks left before the end of the first semester and mid-year break. First year students have transformed from shy kids hiding behind their desks into confident, enthusiastic participants in the learning process. Watching this transformation is one of the most rewarding experiences one may have.

During my first trip to Tanzania in 2008 I had a chance to speak with young people about their hopes and dreams. Their responses were very pragmatic. Many told me that they want to become tour guides, safari drivers, shop keepers and accountants – occupations which at the time provided the highest income potential. There were no astronauts or future presidents in the group of 9 and 10yr olds. So when Gasper and myself set out to start Ikirwa School Project we set an ambitious goal - change the way our students see the world and their place in it. We want them to dream big, set ambitious goals and give them the tools to get there, because after all, a goal without a plan is just a wish.

Kelvin has been attending Ikirwa School since it opened in 2013. His father passed away when he was very young and since then he has been a man of the house. His scholarship was the first to be funded this year. For a child who had to grow up quickly, dreaming big does not come easy. Yet here he is, reaching for the sky. Kelvin has decided that he wants to become a pilot, and I can’t wait to speak with him about his plan to get there.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Maria Skuratovskaya on behalf of the board and staff of the Ikirwa School and Ikirwa School Project