In January 2008, Jonathan Klate and his daughter Anah Klate visited the Mwalimu Anna Academy, a school in the township of Mto-wa-mbu, 110 kilometers from Arusha, one of the major urban centers in the country of Tanzania.  Mto-wa-mbu is situated near several of the most magnificent wild animal preserves in the world and a number of national parks.  There are growing opportunities for the employment of local residents who have proficiency in English and a solid general education in the fields of eco-tourism and agriculture. 

Established in 2006, the Academy provides training in pre and primary school education, particularly for HIV/AIDS orphans, and holds the vision of being the leading center in the provision of high-quality education in the Mto-wo-mbu area and inspiring and influencing educational excellence all over the country in the coming years.  It was established and is staffed by a group of well-trained and dedicated teachers lead by Headmistress Anna Moshi and Head Teacher Donatus Boniface Shayo.  The Academy has admitted 12 orphans who get education free of charge.  The orphans originated from families affected by HIV/AIDS.  The center is the only institution in the area able to provide quality education to HIV/AIDS orphans. 

Both Jonathan and Anah were impressed by the compassion of the staff and the success already achieved with extraordinarily modest resources.  They met with the Headmistress and other staff and discussed the financial needs for securing continuation of the Academy's current programs and expanding services according to the vision of the school founders.  They recognized that the financial means potentially available to even just their own networks in the US could be of immense assistance to the Mwalimu Academy.  The School administrators were enthusiastically responsive to the interest of the Klates and resolved to cooperate with fund-raising efforts in the US.

Upon their return to the US, Jonathan and Anah worked with family and friends to establish the Tanzanian School Aid Project to fund not only the Mwalimu Anna Academy Centre but eventually similar residential and academic organizations in the region as they are established. 

 

Spring 2009 Update -

TSAP has established a partnership with Pat Deangelis' 2nd grade class at the Shutesbury (Massachusetts) Elementary School.  With their most recent donation they bought the first computer for the school in Tanzania (first one anywhere nearby!). and funded IT support for wireless internet..  TSAP had previously funded bringing electricity to the school.  Soon the Mwalimu Anna kids and the Shutesbury kids will be able to write and send photos to each other.   

Below is the two classroom addition that TSAP funded 50% of the construction to complete.