Mwaji Secondary School
Where dreams come true
The Beginning of Something great
2008
In the summer of 2008, in a small, remote, mountainous village in southern Tanzania on land donated by the community, village leaders built a secondary school out of bamboo and thatch for the area orphans. At first, eighty-four orphans sat in shifts, shoulder-to-shoulder upon benches hewn from logs as they listened intently to lessons taught by local volunteer teachers. A second class was held outside under a tree.
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Knowing that they needed help, village leaders approached Orphans Africa and proposed construction of a more permanent school. Impressed with their initiative and passion for helping the orphans, OA agreed to undertake the project.
Consistent Progress
2011
Since the Fall of 2008, OA has built lavatories, a water well, classrooms, dormitories, an administration hall, science laboratories, teacher housing, library, and a teacher’s office. We’ve provided furniture, textbooks, washable feminine hygiene kits, school supplies, sports equipment and uniforms, medical insurance, and a food program.
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The school also has a Pre-Form 1 class to assist students with academics who are coming from government primary schools.
Self-sustainability
2024 - cutting the ties
At Orphans Africa, we believe in a "leg-up," not a "hand-out." To this end, each of our projects operates with a goal toward self-sustainability.
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For Mwaji Secondary School, this means providing the information, tools and resources whereby the community and students can earn money that goes toward offsetting operational costs of the school.
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The school has multiple money-making projects. It operates beehives and sells the honey. It has orchards, fields, and livestock, teaching students agriculture, animal husbandry, and at the same time providing food for the table and for sale. The school also has a barber shop and a stationery store, both open to the community. All these enterprises teach, inform, and provide.
Jaqueline's Story
"I want to inspire the next
generation of orphans."
My name is Jacqueline Kolina, and this is my story. In 2015, I completed my secondary education at Orphans Africa’s Mwaji Secondary School. My educational journey failed for me when my mother fell seriously ill with cancer. Her illness was heartbreaking, and I had to leave my position at the school to be her caregiver. Read more. . . .
