Give 420 Girls in Tanzania Their Own School

Thanks to your support, we continue our work building the Milembe Secondary School, the first government girls’ school in Misungwi District, Tanzania. With your help we have completed a teacher’s house, student latrines, and science laboratory and classrooms (seen above), which won a prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award. The Africa Schoolhouse team is now getting ready to begin our next phase: to build all the necessary structures to invite the first 40 girls to live at the school.

Africa Schoolhouse has been hard at work researching with Milembe students and teachers and local government officials to plan the key elements to create an ideal environment for girls to live at school. As we get ready to build everything needed for the first girls to move on campus, we are carefully considering the dorm layout, bathing and latrine facilities, dining hall and kitchen structures and the best means to create a safe and beautiful environment. The architects at Scattergood Design have thoughtfully considered these elements during their research with girls and teachers on visits to Tanzanian girls schools. They have researched what works well at the schools, and what inspires new design. Some of the questions that have gone into the planning process have been: How can we optimize space for four girls in each dorm room, while assuring that the living spaces are light filled and well-ventilated?  How can we provide safety for the girls, while allowing the feeling of openness and freedom? How can we build the most beautiful, environmentally sustainable and efficient living spaces to inspire girls and provide safe space for their education?

Girls talk about how hard it is to get an education in rural Tanzania. So many of their stories sound the same—with cultural expectations that the girls will help with the daily household chores like walking to the well for water, cooking, washing dishes and caring for younger siblings, while their brothers have time to play and do their homework. Some parents value the education of their sons over their daughters. Girls also talk about the dangers they face on the long walks to school on remote rural roads. Kulwa talked about how living in a dorm would help her avoid the dangers she faces on her two hour walk to school. She told us that one day she was walking alone on a not well traveled dirt road from her house to school when she saw five men approaching from a distance. The men called out “hey girl” and when she turned away, they started following her. She ran, but one man caught up with her and almost touched her arm. She kept running until she reached more people on the road and felt safe. Kulwa’s story is typical of those of other girls. And not all girls are able to get away.  

The girls at Milembe have expressed their excitement about living on campus. Angelina said: “With a dorm, I could study instead of having to do my chores at home and it would save me the three hours I walk to and from school. I could study so much!” Sarah said: “It would be a dream to live at school and focus on my studies!”

The Milembe Girls Boarding School will provide a safe space for girls to obtain an education—a space without hours of household chores, where studies become a priority and not a luxury; and a space where they are safe from the dangers they face on long journeys to school in rural areas. Please tell your friends and family about the Milembe Secondary School, with your help, we can make education a reality for these girls!

Links:

• Visit the Africa Schoolhouse website for more information