Local News

UK centre supports Simanjiro school

THE Royal Grammar School Worcester in association with the Rotary Club of Arusha has helped to install a solar power lighting system at Emboret Primary School in Simanjiro District, Manyara region.

Said to be  one of the oldest British independent schools, the institute also known as RGS Worcester, is an independent co-educational school founded before 1291 and which is based in Worcester, United Kingdom.

Ms Sheila Mather, a teacher from RGS Worcester, said her institution was touched by the plight of Maasai children, who are compelled to trek over 20 kilometres to attend schools and usually the journey is done on empty stomachs.

The Solar Power project for Emboret Primary School is estimated to cost over 12m/- and since it is also a boarding school, the pupils of the remote primary education Institute of Simanjiro will now be able to study at night. The District is yet to be connected to the national grid.

The executive Director of Helvetic Solar Contractors, Mr Patrick Ngowi, whose firm undertook the power project offered to install additional 20 solar lights in addition to the initial 50 lights as stipulated in the contract as own contribution towards the educational project in Simanjiro.

Mr Ngowi explained that in addition to the lighting system, his company has also installed outlets through which teachers and members of the community can charge their mobile phones for assured communication.

The Arusha Rotary Club President, Prof Justine Maeda, stated that among the club's activities was to support as well as establish beneficial community projects throughout Tanzania and these come in form of water projects, health, education and taking care of orphans and children living in difficult conditions.

Emboret Primary School was established to provide education for children from the nomadic pastoralist communities, mainly the Maasai of Simanjiro who have always suffered long distances to school through wildlife filled bushes and wilderness.