In the past, Derby Grammar School has always been involved in overseas projects, and have undertaken numerous trips with organisations like ‘World Challenge’. We have taken groups of students all over the world, and been involved in some fantastic projects, but our input was always just a one-off. Last year, we decided that we’d do things a little bit differently…
Our vision was to set up a regular link with a community – somewhere that needed our help, which we could visit on an annual basis. Not only would this enable us to build a relationship and have more impact, but our students would be able to see the fruits of our labour over the years, and how the community were benefitting from our work. They would be involved in what was happening throughout their school years, and could look forward to their chance to participate in year 12.
So that’s what we’ve done! Over the past year we have been working with a ‘Kids Aid Tanzania’ – a charity run by a couple from Etwall – to develop links with a community in Mwanza, Tanzania. Last summer our Year 6 teacher April Sly and Chaplain Rev. Paul Taylor went out to Mwanza to visit the school there, Gedeli School, and begin to build what we hope will be a lasting relationship with this community.
Gedeli School could not be more different from Derby Grammar. There are over 1300 students in only 5 classrooms. There is no electricity or running water, and only 5 drop toilets. They have no textbooks, no computers, and no sports equipment and yet the students are all enthusiastic and desperate for an education.
Our first group of students will be travelling to Mwanza this summer, and our intention this year is to refurbish one of the classrooms and supply some textbooks and sports equipment. There is a great deal that we can do to help make school life better for the students at Gedeli School, so there will be plenty of work to keep us going for many years to come!
This blog will tell the story of our Tanzania journey – this year and for years to come. There is so much to organise, and we want to share with you the whole experience – the planning, the fundraising (both for the project itself and for the individual students), the highs, the lows, and of course… the project itself and how it benefits the community.
We welcome your thoughts and comments – we’re going to need all the help we can get!
Derby Grammar School's Tanzania Project 