Since early 2023, with support from private donations from teachers, parents, and friends in Canada and Germany, we have been assisting the special needs class at Mwambao School, a public school in downtown Bagamoyo, Tanzania, serving low-income families.
Our efforts included providing teaching materials, play equipment, classroom supplies, and assistance with accessibility and facility repairs.
We have also been supporting school meals when urgently needed, as the meal program is vital for many students – often their only warm, full meal of the day. With all children being taught primarily by one teacher, these meals motivate attendance and are crucial for the students’ well-being.
During periods of late government funding, we organized supplies like rice, beans, cooking oil, and charcoal. This summer we procured enough food to last the entire class for several months.
Teacher Rebecca creates a safe and supportive environment, committed to assisting her students to the best of her abilities. However, with just one teacher for over 20 students ranging from 6 to 18 years old, many with autism, Down syndrome, undiagnosed intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, partial blindness, and a variety of physical disabilities, support for individual needs is very limited.
In collaboration with Rebecca and Bagamoyo artists, we also explored new methods to serve the class. More soon 🙂