True Grasses updates 2017
The years 2017 and 2018 are years that True Grasses is focused on having Kisarawe School built to start admitting students. And indeed 2017 was a year full of positive achievements as the following milestones were achieved. It is not easy building in rural Tanzania. The lack of roads, electricity, materials as well as transport and limited funds would lead one to think nearly impossible. But it was yet another year to say our appreciation as we saw the school take shape as we achieved a lot and we were grateful for the provisions so far.
Roofing classroom no. 1
True Grasses focused so much to have the first classroom built so as to accommodate the nursery school kids and it has happened. Together with the local builders, the classroom was built in 2016, but roofing, doors and windows were fitted at the beginning of 2017. By the end of this year students were registered and desks and materials were brought in so that community nursery kids can start the year 2018 studying, for the first time enjoying their lessons in a secure and safe classroom. They have been walking long distances to find a school which is now within their village and thus they are filled with joy and happiness.
Building classrooms No. 2 & 3
After our first classroom, we were able to build more two classrooms to roofing level and they are waiting to be roofed and installation of the windows and doors to happen..
Church building / community meeting hall.
Kisarawe school project is located in area with no nearby church and because most villagers walk to the catholic church, 4 kilometres away, a temporary church building has been built for worship, serving the school and kisarawe communities. The newly built church structure on the school premises will serve both as a worship place and also as a village meeting place for community meetings. In May the church was opened with a dedication service of the project and many joined.
Kisarawe School security house & building store
With the official transfer of True Grasses Office from Moshi to project site in Kisarawe, the house that was being used to house the project security guard and was acting as the storage for all the building materials was turned into the official office. This created a need to have another building to accommodate the guard and keep the materials. We were grateful that we were able to have another building built with a room for the guard himself and a separate space to provide storage to all project building materials.
Poultry project house
In order to develop and demonstrate practical skills. The students must have the opportunity to practice on a continuous basis. They will be working in teams to actually undertake activities where they practice what they are learning. This poultry project is a framework developed to empower them to manage projects and to also benefit from their proceeds. The poultry project is aimed at keeping chickens which will be sold to those who want to rear chickens either for eggs or meat. The proceeds will be used to offset the running costs of the school operations as well as supplement on the diet of the student.
Bee farming
Kisarawe school project site is located on a 12 acre fertile land and has the entire area covered with natural trees and cashew nut trees thus providing indigenous bees a haven for their survival and honey production due to its climate and plant diversity. The school started a beekeeping activity as a sustainable social business to help ensure our core funding is not reliant on donors in the long term. Bee keeping will be encouraging our students and staff to participate in our beekeeping activities, to learn from them, but also reap the benefit and provide honey to the students. The school started with 6 hives and hopes to produce honey of both varieties; the current focus is to scale up our honey production until we can cover the basic costs.
Sustainable water well
In 2016 the water well was finished and has since then been providing not only the project, but the community with clean water. It is our goal for the project to eventually be self-reliable and the water well is already proving to be self-sustainable. With a quarter of the price that others ask for water, the well on the project site, has been able to be cleaned and maintained. It has been one project in the whole picture, but has proven so much more, this project is needed and embraced and theirs, providing in needs more than just water and education, but in a sense of being noticed and belonging.
