Celebrations as school cash collection helps pay for classroom at Tanzanian partner school

Members of a school community are celebrating after raising enough money to help build a new classroom at a Tanzanian school.
Staff and pupils at Ackworth Howard Church of England (VC) Junior and Infant School began fundraising last year for their partner school Mshikamano Primary School.Staff and pupils at Ackworth Howard Church of England (VC) Junior and Infant School began fundraising last year for their partner school Mshikamano Primary School.
Staff and pupils at Ackworth Howard Church of England (VC) Junior and Infant School began fundraising last year for their partner school Mshikamano Primary School.

Staff and pupils at Ackworth Howard Church of England (VC) Junior and Infant School began fundraising last year for their partner school Mshikamano Primary School.

Located close to Dar es Salaa, on the east coast of Tanzania, the school is oversubscribed and forced to teach students in two groups, so that each of their 3,500 pupils can experience half a day of education at a time.

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Speaking at a celebratory assembly on Monday morning, Michael Walker, headteacher of Ackworth Howard School, said: “Our Tanzanian link has been an important part of life in our school.

Headteacher Michael Walker visited the school last year.Headteacher Michael Walker visited the school last year.
Headteacher Michael Walker visited the school last year.

“We are very pleased to share with you that our fundraising has enabled our partner school to build a much needed classroom. The cement, sand, stone and paint were paid for through our fundraising money.

“The community were so grateful for our support that they came out to help build the classroom.

“The government, villagers, school staff and children are so grateful for what we have done.

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“It has had a huge impact in the village, not just in the school but further afield.

“Well done everyone. The community are so happy and we have genuinely transformed lives.”

Mr Walker was last year invited to visit Mshikamano Primary School, where he met pupils who walked three hours to school each morning, and faced a 2km walk for clean water.

The schools’ partnership was formed last year, as part of ongoing work between the Leeds Diocese and Tanzanian Mara Diocese.

Under the scheme, schools in Yorkshire have raised money to help fund new wells and classrooms for Tanzanian schools, as well as new resources including books and desks.