By Ngaire McCubben | Comms, Ext. Relations and Fundraising, Tanzania
Undoubtedly, there are many primary schools in Tanzania that would benefit from some extra assistance. While AfricAid aren’t able to provide support too EVERY school that needs it, we are making a huge difference at Losinoni Primary School, thanks to the support of people like you! Losinoni is a school on the outskirts of Arusha, the region in which AfricAid have been working for almost 15 years.
The children that attend the school are all drawn from the local Maasai villages. The Maasai are undoubtedly one of the most marginalized and disadvantaged groups in Tanzania. Because of the poverty many experience, and with the changing times, it is essential that these children get at least a basic education. This increases their life chances across a whole range of measures including physical health, life expectancy, earning potential and general well-being. For girls, education will mean that they are less likely to marry and bear children at a young age, be a victim of domestic violence, and suffer the extreme poverty that disproportionately affects women.
Losinoni Primary School started in 1975 with just 80 students. It now has close to 600. The youngest are the 4-5 year olds in ‘nursery school’ and the oldest are those in their final year of primary school, Standard 7. Many students walk over 3 miles in each direction to attend school each day, frequently doing so on an empty stomach. Making things even more difficult for the children, many suffer skeletal fluorosis because of the very high fluoride levels in the local water supply. The school currently has 12 teachers and class sizes are large.
AfricAid has been involved in a number of projects at Losinoni including classroom construction and renovation, provision of desks, building toilets, providing a computer and printer for staff use, and the highly successful school lunch program.
The school lunch program is critical to the success of Losinoni students and we are extremely grateful for your donation through Global Giving.
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