ZARA Tanzania Adventures Blog

The Kilimanjaro English Nursery School is the brainchild of Edward Lazaro, a ZARA Kilimanjaro guide, who in the Moshi area is generally known as “Teacher”.

In 1994 “Teacher” started using his leisure time to give free education to children aged three to eight, preparing them for secondary school. Also older children whose families can not afford to send their children to the public school system can attend the classes. Even though the public school system is generally free, Tanzanian public schools expect certain contributions from the parents who additionally have to pay for their children’s consumables such as paper and pens, for transportation to the school etc. Many families are not capable to get together this amount of money associated with the public schooling system – around $ 200 per year. Costs are a big obstacle for students to attend public secondary education, even if they pass the required entrance exam. Edward’s free school therefore is a welcomed option for them.

Until today, as a “class room” Edward makes use of a simple outdoor space between two huts in the outskirts of Moshi – equipped only with 4 basic wooden long benches, a tin roof and a blackboard.

A short time after starting, Edward was faced with having more than 150 children between 2 and 14 sitting in front of him. He needed assistance and convinced his wife, his cousing and another woman to join him teaching at the school, giving them basic training in being a “teacher” first. None of the four teachers received a salary, rather Teacher provided them housing and living support – financed by his salary as a Kilimanjaro guide – in return for their work.

Today, there are approximately 240 children registered with the School, some keeping regular attendance and some making occasional appearances. Approximately 180 students are in attendance on any given school day. Subjects taught are reading and writing, English, Maths and certain vocational skills. School is in session six days a week. The children are encouraged to stay and play in the area late in the day so that they are tired when they go home and go straight to bed. This is to keep the students from bad influences in areas where they live. Even on Sundays many students show up at the school.

Teacher educating primary school children, the current situation:

In 2003, Jim Lumberg from Illinois joined a climb to Mount Kilimanjaro with “Teacher” being the guide. Asking about the reason for Edwards nickname, Jim got to know Edward’s school and visited it. Impressed by Teacher’s efforts and willing to support him, Jim registered the “Kilimanjaro English Nursery School” as a Illinois non-for-profit charitable NGO and managed to raise funds for the construction of an adequadely sized and equipped building for the school and to finance the
school’s ongoing formal operations for the two initial years.

Jim Lumberg with a deaf and mute student and on a Kilimanjaro charity climb with the “Climb for Kids Expedition Team”, 2006:

In the meantime, a plot large enough to accommodate play fields and any potential growth of the School in the foreseeable futurehad been acquired. There are existing buildings on the plot which are currently undergoing reconstruction to be used as classrooms, bathroom facilities and living quarters for teachers, a kitchen with cook/watchman quarters. The time plan is to move the school into the new facilities by the end of 2007.

State of construction of the new class rooms, September 2007:

The Kilimanjaro English Nursery School blog section will provide up-to-date information about the progress of the project.

Even though the situation for Teacher’s School – thanks to the efforts of Jim Lumberg – is just about to improve considerably – there are still funds needed to secure the sustainability of this project. As a US 501 (c)3 registered charitable non-for-profit organisation, donations are tax-deductible for US citizens. If you would like to support the project by any means, please contact Jim Lumberg at jlumberg@envestnet.com.