Education Challenges

  • The average years of schooling in adults is 2.7 years.
  • Secondary school enrollment is only 4.8%.
  • The illiteracy rate is 22%.

Where Have We Been?

In 2012, Village Life broke ground for a new primary schoolhouse in the Burere village, with the first classes being taught there in 2013.This school building allows children to attend school in a comfortable, safe, learning environment so they can continue to reach for their educational dreams. Through discussion in the partner communities, Village Life also recognized the need for a school-based nutrition program, thus in 2008 the Uji Nutrition Project was born. This program was developed with the help of graduate students at UC’s College of Allied Health Science and feeds over 4,000 students across 7 primary schools in Tanzania. Since the implementation of this program, not only has attendance increased but more students are continuing their education and moving on to secondary school. Village Life is continuing to expand healthcare access by building the Anne M. Haire Reproductive and Child Health Center next to the Roche Health Center. This health center will be complete in February 2024 providing better access to maternal and fetal care, reproductive services, family planning, and cervical cancer screenings. Composed of students, faculty, and professionals, mobile field clinics also allow Village Life to treat immediate illness for thousands of people, helping create a healthier population in our target villages. For example, rapid diagnostic testing for malaria is utilized in the mobile clinics to improve the accuracy of treatment and focus on malaria prevention.

Where Are We Going?

While the Uji Nutrition Project has helped feed many children, due to the cost of supplies, the children are not fed at school every day. We are working to explore, and provide, a more nutrient-rich and cost effective alternative that would allow the children to be fed every day while they are at school.

What Do We Need?

Village Life is committed to seeking out new partnerships to help increase the nutritious offerings of the feeding program, fund the project, and search for sustainable solutions so the children can be fed daily to further combat malnutrition and hunger while at school. We’d like to increase offerings for US students and professionals to get involved in Village Life’s work through volunteer opportunities, course offerings, residency rotations, co-ops, fellowships and more

CHANGEMAKERS TAKE ACTION

  • Feed a Student – Feed a School. Through your generous donation we will be able to provide more frequent access to the Uji Nutrition Program to students at the 7 primary schools.
  • Supplying STEM Changemakers – This program will help purchase necessary supplies for students to be able to conduct science experiments at school, and learn computer technology

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