Education in Tanzania

Project Wezesha is committed to providing access to postsecondary education to young people in remote villages surrounding the town of Kigoma in Western Tanzania. We began our scholarship program by covering secondary school fees for boys and girls who were top of their class in the final year of primary school. We supported many students through their O-level (Form 1 through Form 4).

A Shift in Policy – A Shift in Focus

In 2015, then newly elected President Magafuli eliminated all secondary school fees. We then shifted our focus and launched academic study camps for secondary students to attend during their breaks in December and June. The success of these camps resulted in higher performance on the national exams (taken after Form 4) to determine their eligibility for High School (A-levels; Form 5 and 6).

Now, Project Wezesha is supporting students in their post-secondary studies. We cover fees for High School, vocational training, diploma programs, and for those who are accepted – university! Our first cohort of university students – Dibeit, Tumsifu, and Saidi – graduate from university in May 2020. A new cohort began university studies in October 2019. Since then, several more students have graduated from university in multiple academic areas, and more continue in areas of STEM Education, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Science, Business, and Mass Media and Communication.

Your Role in their Education

Most families of our students are subsistence farmers and fishermen. They make enough money and raise enough food to sustain their families, but they do not earn incomes that afford them the opportunity to support their children in pursuit of post-secondary education. Project Wezesha is a small organization and we wish we could help more students. With your continued support, we can do more. Please spread the word about our work among your family and friends. Share updates about our students through your social media outlets and personal networks.

Fundraising is our biggest need and biggest challenge. You can contribute by hosting your own fundraiser, by encouraging others to donate, or by making your own contribution. Our overhead is minimal so the majority of donations goes directly toward covering the fees associated with our students’ educations: books, tutors, uniforms, school fees.

Make your contribution today. 

Girls Education

Access to education for girls is particularly limited for various reasons ranging from economics to culture. With this in mind, Project Wezesha has partnered with Girls Education International to ensure that we can directly support bright young women who wish to pursue post-secondary education. We currently support girls in high school, diploma programs, and vocational training courses.

We have seen some wonderful success stories come out of our work. Khadija recently opened her own store in Kigoma town. Diana is working as a clerical assistant in a law office. Rabia is wrapping up a course on tailoring and hopes to work in town soon. Lois just secured a position as a teacher at a local nursery school where she teaches English. Regardless of where these women end up after school, there are countless studies to support that educated girls become educated mothers who support their children in school, who funnel their money back into their family, who have healthier children, and who stand strong and confident with a strong voice in their communities.

 

If you are interested in our girls education campaign, you can learn more here: Girls Education International.