The Tanzanian school system is set up much like the British system - with A-level and O-level (University degree track) programs. The primary schools are mandatory and all classes are taught in Swahili (except for English classes). The reverse is true in secondary schools - all classes are taught in English, except for advanced Swahili classes.
On the first day at the school, we set up our tents, got a tour of the sprawling school grounds (which were on the site of a former German sisal plantation), and met with the headmaster (a man who looked not unlike a stereotypical African dictator) to determine the nature of our servitude.
Anthill
Our team and the headmaster decided that painting the new A-level girls' dormitory was the best project to tackle for the 5 days that we had. The headmaster figured that if we did the labor and paid for the supplies and paints, the money he had received from the government for the project could be put towards building the toilet and shower block behind the dorm. We were a wee bit concerned about the possibility of shady dealings, but construction on the toilet block started as soon as we started painting.
Here are the BEFORE pictures:
Most schools in this part of Eastern Africa use a similar design for the front facade - two colors and a black stripe on the bottom. We worked with the local contractor to finish the inside, front facade and to do a sort of spray stucco on the other three external walls. The red-brick colored spray stucco was cement mixed with dye that was sprayed onto the walls using a manual crank. Hard to explain....see photo, below.
The DURING and AFTER photos - we even had extra time to paint the basketball backboard and soccer goal posts.
Posing with the A-level girls who would soon move in. They were so thankful and happy.
The project phase is often the toughest part of the month because the students have to be self-motivating and organized. It is also very difficult because it is often provides the least comfortable, least hygienic and most rustic (authentic) accommodations of any other phase. We had a small room with a table to prepare and store food and belongings, a toilet (which didn't always work), a water tap (with undrinkable water, of course - none of the tap water in Tanzania is drinkable) and a shower that worked one day out of the week we were there. Additionally, the 5 AM wake-up call for the students, the wandering cattle (one of which gored my tent), goats and vervet monkeys, the heat, the constant curiosity of the students and the lack of sufficient food (the students do all of the shopping and cooking. 'Nuff said.) made the week challenging for everyone.
During this phase, there were other team challenges - like one student who had to be tested for malaria, a teacher who wanted to leave the expedition to go to Kenya, a slit open toe, fighting amongst the two halves of the team about who was doing all the work and how the extra project money was going to be spent and other interpersonal difficulties between me and the other teacher. I was....completely exhausted.
There were a couple of highlights, however. The English part of the team had raised so much extra money for the project that they paid for a big disco party that the students loved. (The rest of their fund-raised money was used to buy food staples for an orphanage in Moshi.) The staff and headmaster of the school invited us to a great feast, where we enjoyed local African and Indian-inspired stews, fruit and lots of soda. (I drank more orange Fanta in one month than anyone should.)
Both halves of the team had purchased gifts for the school in advanced and we were featured in a school assembly so they could present these gifts to the kids. They purchased soccer balls, frisbees, ball pumps, and soccer uniforms.
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