Majohe School Project

On the first day of OA’s arrival, the children at the Majohe School lined up and recited a pledge. They then sang several songs.

Madam Mary and her pupils

OA’s VP, Liza, instructing students on hygiene and health.

A teacher struggles to help the children in his care.

In a ceremony headed by a government official, orphans receive school supplies sent by OA.

Often government schools in Tanzania are inadequate for the vast numbers of children requiring an education, especially when more and more of those children are orphans, unable to pay for such basics as pencils and paper. Most orphans do not attend school because there is no place for them, or they are run off by the school officials because the schools are already overcrowded.

To alleviate this problem, and depending upon the circumstances, MOP sometimes builds their own schools. A few years ago they began to build the Majohe School, located 20km outside of Dar Es Salaam. MOP made significant progress before running out of funds. When the OA staff first visited the Majohe School, the school was only half-finished. The dormitories consisted of only walls. One classroom had no floor. Students were crammed

three to a desk. All 120 students and staff shared one toilet at the headmaster’s house because the lavatories remained unfinished. And the water had to be brought in by hand-cart because they could not afford to finish the well.

There was very little writing paper to go around, only a few chewed-on stubs of pencils, and some chalk. The teachers shared one set of dog-eared textbooks for the entire school. Their soccer ball was composed of many plastic bags laced together. Many of the students did not have uniforms; for those that did, their uniforms showed signs of significant wear and tear. Often shoes were too big or too small.

Upon OA’s return, we undertook the project of completing the school at Majohe. While we have made huge strides, the project is not yet completed.

The total teaching supplies for 120 students.

“Soccer ball”

Since returning in Oct. ‘07, OA has accomplished the following with respect to the school at Majohe, coordinated through and in cooperation with MOP:

· Shipped and delivered one pallet containing over $2500 worth of school supplies, clothing, shoes, and science equipment.

· Shipped and delivered a library of 400 books, completely catalogued and ready to loan to the children.

· Brought the lavatories to near completion, including water hook-up, plastering, painting, and tile work.

· Cemented the floor in the “sand” classroom & painted the walls.

· Provided 60 brand new student desks; two students per desk.

· Provided enough funding to complete the well.

· Installed locking steel doors on all doorways.

· Plastered, painted, and roofed the dormitories.

· Provided tea and bread to the students at lunchtime, in addition to their regular porridge.

· Bought the children a real soccer ball!

Still needed / ongoing:

· Textbooks in every subject for every child.

· Electrical hookup.

· Completion of lavatories and dormitories (will house forty orphans).

· Volunteers to teach children English, music, math, science, history, art, games, and more!

· Sponsorship for the orphans so they can afford uniforms, lodging, meals, and ongoing supplies.

BEFORE: Classroom with sand floor, and unpainted walls.

AFTER: Classroom with new cement floor and paint.

BEFORE: Dormitories with only walls.

AFTER: Dormitory roof during construction.

BEFORE: Lavatories with only cinderblock and roof.

AFTER: Lavatory plastered, painted, and tiled.

BEFORE: Toilet stalls with no plastering, and no hook-ups.

AFTER: Toilet stalls — tiled, finished, and functional.

New well in progress.

Newly repaired sidewalk and new steps.

Donate to help finish construction at the Majohe School!

Watch video clip of the Majohe children, 2007.

See video clip of the progress at the school, 2008.