Education

Without an education the orphans in rural Tanzania are destined to a life of poverty and hopelessness. The children realise this and if you ask an orphan what they most want in life, often the answer will be "to go to school". Village of Hope and Grace is supporting over one hundred orphans gain the vital education they need.

Although primary education is free for all in Tanzania, children cannot attend unless they wear school uniform and bring their own exercise books and pens. We are helping to provide school uniforms and the other needs to some 70 orphans so they can attend the school in their village. The cost of this is about 125,000 TZS (about £65) per year. The picture shows pupils (some of them orphans) at Ikuyu Primary School.

As well as needing school uniform and equipment, children can attend secondary school only if they have past their primary school exams and are able to pay the school fees. This is an imposibility without support. It costs nearly 200,000 TZS (about £100) per year for a child to attend secondary school. Hope and Grace Mission are determined that any orphan from the villages that passes the exam will go on to secondary school enabling them to gain good employment. At this point the charity is helping to sponsor 40 orphan children at secondary school, however this number will rise as more of the children pass exams. The picture on the left shows 13 of the sponsored orphan children who attend Ikuyu Secondary school together with with members of the teaching staff and Hope and Grace Mission team in 2008.