The School and Community Build Project Tanzania
Unfortunately costs of materials had increased by over 50% and so we had to
raise significantly more than before. In fact, by the time we were set to leave
for Tanzania in August 2008 we were still a few thousand short in the budget.
Nevertheless, our many generous donors came through once more, and by the time
our team of twelve reached Dodoma to begin building phase two, we received the
required amount.
As well as classrooms we knew that we needed to have space for a head teacher’s room as well as a staff room and areas where teachers could prepare lessons.
We decided that we needed to build a further eight rooms the size of the
previous eight classrooms. This would give us fourteen classrooms and two staff
areas. (The standard size for a state built primary school).
So we returned once again with our intrepid twelve and joined our marvellous
builders and volunteers to crack on with phase two. To say the work was quite
hard is a bit of a euphemism! We mixed an awful, awful, load of concrete and
shifted a huge, huge, amount of boulders (hardcore) and think I can speak for
all the team when I say we were pretty sore and tender at the end of it all.
Once again there was a wonderful spirit of cooperation and fun with all
concerned and yet another magical experience for our team, once again receiving
the blessing of a warm and happy reception from our Tanzanian partners.
The team spent a work/fun filled week in Dodoma working on one of the new
four-classroom blocks. Unfortunately, we could not stay longer. However, with
funds in the bank work would continue in our absence and the school would be
finished completely by November.
The effects of the project to date are quite apparent. The two communities have
learned a great deal about each other and have described the experience as ‘a privilege’ ‘life-changing’ and ‘unforgettable’. Correspondence and strong personal relationships have been established. Now
the school has started it will improve the prospects of a countless number of
children over the coming years and as one Tanzanian put it, ‘for sure, great teachers and presidents will come out of this school’.
There’s really not much to add to that.