Charity Factsheet:
Village Education Project Kilimanjaro
"The Village Education Project was set up in September 1994 by Katy Allen. Katy, a lawyer in the City of London for over ten years, gave up her career to go to live and teach in Mshiri village on the north eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Katy now spends more time in England, concentrating on fundraising and developing the work of the charity. In 2001, she was awarded an MBE for services to education in Tanzania.
We work with local communities to build, renovate and assist government primary schools in the Mount Kilimanjaro region. The project aims to provide children with the education they need to become self-supporting citizens, and has recently received approval from the Tanzanian government to embark on a long-term programme of school and teacher development.
The Local Environment
Children go to primary school from age 7 for seven years. For the first two years they have half a day at school, so it is not until age 9 that they start full time education. Most schools are in a terrible condition with earth floors, breeze-block walls, no shutters or doors and decrepit desks. Over 90% of primary school leavers in rural villages never have the chance of secondary education. Their primary schooling is vital for their foundation in life.
The Importance of English
Most children are already bilingual with their tribal language and the national language, Kiswahili. At school in year 1 they start to learn English. English is essential for any individual development after primary school as all manuals, instruction books and text books are in English. The majority of villagers on the slopes of Kilimanjaro are subsistence farmers, but the land is now cultivated to the full. The tribal tradition of sons inheriting part of the father's plot in most cases can no longer carry on as there is insufficient land. So, most of today's children will not be able to stay in their village as subsistence farmers. They will need to find jobs and new homes. For this they must be equipped with an adequate basic education so that they can act to their advantage and have some hope of earning a living. Basic education is the key to any lasting development for rural communities, and that is what Village Education Project (Kilimanjaro) seeks to improve.
What we are currently doing
Renovating primary schools
Providing books & equipment
Sending UK volunteers to help [primarily to teach English as a foreign language]
Taking pupils on outings
Teacher up-grading & training
Computer training
Vocational training courses
Village Education Project Kilimanjaro are running a trek up Kilimanjaro 12-21 June 2008. For further information please e-mail us direct at events@theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk
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