Girls’ Dormitory – Soit Sambu Secondary School

You may have seen this photo before: this is a small section of the current girls’ dormitory at Soit Sambu Secondary School. Twelve girls sleep in the space pictured to the left. The dormitory is built to accommodate 48 girls, but 160 girls are currently living in it. This living arrangement is not just uncomfortable; disease spreads easily and quickly in these close quarters. Additionally, when girls are day students, they have to spend much of their time at home doing housework instead of studying, which negatively impacts their educations. The girls prefer to live at the school, and FoTZC is committed to building a second dormitory for them to do so more comfortably.

The new school year in Tanzania begins in January, and we would love to have the new dormitory open for the start of their school year. We are two-thirds of the way there, but to complete and furnish the building, we still need to raise $40,000 (see graphic below) and begin construction as soon as possible! Please help the girls at Soit Sambu Secondary School by donating today!


Teachers’ Housing at Nainokanoka

Sitting high up on a hill, overlooking a beautiful valley in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Nainokanoka is one of the schools we have been most proud of since we began working with them in 2001. Nainokanoka asked FoTZC for a 2-in-1 teachers’ house to enable them to request additional teachers from the government. Additionally, the school worked with a Tanzanian NGO to build a large dining hall – they are well on their way to having all of the facilities they need!

Last week, our contractor began construction of the teachers’ housing; we hope to complete the build within a month. The setting of the house is phenomenal, and has a view of the entire valley.

These are some images of the construction of the teachers’ housing, the view from Nainokanoka, and some students at the school.

Beading Seminars in Maasailand

FoTZC recently sent Cecilia (pictured left) to work with four Maasai women’s groups, including the Enyuata Women’s Collaborative, on their beading skills. Cecilia is originally from this area of Maasailand, and she loved meeting and working with the women from the area. “It was a very moving experience, and I am dedicated to working with these women to improve their businesses,” she said.

One of the challenges during the first FoTZC-sponsored training seminar in early 2011 was teaching the women about patterns. Even though their work had been intricate, we discovered that they had been creating their work by feel; now that they have grasped the concept of patterns and counting (using five white beads and then one black bead, for example), the improvement has been remarkable.

Building on prior successes, Cecilia is furthering their skills and has recently taught them how to make new types of beaded crafts that are not in their traditional repertoire, including beaded cotton skirts, placemats, coasters, and beaded leather bracelets. Cecilia is looking forward to her next seminar with these four women’s groups, and we can’t wait to see the results!

These are some images of Cecilia’s beading seminars in Maasailand, as well as an up-close look at the women’s beaded work.

Ayalabe Classrooms are Complete

We are pleased to announce that the two new classrooms at Ayalabe Primary School are complete, and the desks for the classrooms have been delivered to the school! This success is the result of the combined efforts of the headmaster of Ayalabe Primary School, the community of Karatu, the FoTZC board and staff, and Jane Moore. Jane deserves special thanks, as she tirelessly raised the funds for this project. Jane is heading to Tanzania soon to take part in a dedication ceremony for these classrooms. Safari njema, Jane!

Check back soon for updates on two of our other projects, a 2-in-1 teachers’ house at Nainokanoka Primary School, and a Beading Seminar for the Enyuata Women’s Collaborative!

Ayalabe Construction Update

The classrooms at Ayalabe are nearly complete! The construction crew is finishing the floors right now, and they will paint the classrooms and install the blackboards over the next few weeks. The Ayalabe headmaster is excited to begin using the new classrooms (pictured below) in early September.

Please donate now to support our upcoming projects, including a girls’ dormitory and a health clinic! For more information on how to donate to specific projects, please email info@fotzc.org.

These are some images of the two new classrooms at Ayalabe, scheduled to be finished at the end of July.

ABOUT

FOTZC is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization registered in Watertown, MA. FOTZC also accepts donation of securities. Please contact info@fotzc.org for guidance on making this type of donation.