Best of Zanzibar is celebrating another year of its
progressive ‘Pair for Every Child’ campaign (PEC also known as Valisha Mtoto
Viatu) in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende schools. The campaign
has managed to raise funds for more than 700 children in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende
schools in 2018. In just a few months of 2019, Best of Zanzibar has managed to
raise additional funds for more school shoes which will be given to the nursery
and standard (one) 1 students.
Through the PEC campaign, Best of Zanzibar has successful
reduced the number of children walking barefoot from the two villages. Children
as young as the age of 4 years were subject to long treks of more than 5
kilometres to and from school daily, on hot, rough and rocky roads making the
walk to school difficult and unbearable.
At the second handover ceremony of the PEC Campaign which
was held at Kijini School in Matemwe -Unjuga North A district where Best of
Zanzibar presented 400 pairs of school shoes to Kijini and Mbuyu Tende schools.
The PEC campaign owes its success to the individual donors
from within Zanzibar and other parts of the world who have contributed
generously towards bringing change to the young ones in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende
villages.
“Our aim is to see these children go to school with proper shoes
for their safety and improve their performance (attendance) at school. The most
affected are the younger children who are in nursery and in first year of
primary school, for this reason in 2019, we have focused more on children
ranging from 4 years to 8 years old.” Said the Best of Zanzibar program manager
Aminata Keita. “we are very grateful to all our partners and well wishers from
Zanzibar, South Africa and as far as the middle East who have made it possible
for these children to own a pair of school shoes. There is still a great need
not only in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende but in many rural schools on the island, I
urge other NGO’s and other organizations to come forward and join us in making
it possible for other children in Zanzibar.” Continued Aminata Keita.
The handover ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Minister
of Education Hon. Simai Said and other delegates from the Government of
Zanzibar. In addition to giving school shoes, Best of Zanzibar awarded 50 best
performing students from both schools who are in their After-Hours Tutoring Program.
The awards were for the students that did exceptionally well in the English and
Mathematics subjects.
“Best of Zanzibar started the After-Hours Tutoring Program
for Math and English Subjects almost two years ago and we are proud to see significant
changes in the student’s performance from the National Exam 2018, Today we
recognise 50 students did very well in theses 2 subjects by awarding them with
school bags and various school supplies. This year, the After-Hours Tutoring
Program has added 6 Science subject teachers who will be working closely with
the Head teachers to improve the students’ performance in Physics, Chemistry
and Biology. We encourage all students to work hard so they can pursue their
dreams and bring changes to their own community in future through education and
hope that in the coming years Kijini school will be recognised as one of the
best performing schools in the country” said the Best of Zanzibar Education
& Empowerment Coordinator Ally Suleiman.
“Our Director Mr. Brian Thomson has promised to sponsor qualified
students for an Engineering scholarship; however, it is a challenge to find
students for the scholarship because of their educational back ground and
performance in Science subjects, this is another reason we added the Science
teachers.” Stated Ally Suleiman
“Today we experience great joy as our students receive
awards as well as shoes from the Best of Zanzibar’s Pair for Every Child
Campaign. These shoes have greatly assisted the children in their journey to
school and also improve their desire for learning. The consideration to award
those student who didn’t perform well academically but they have best
attendance and well-disciplined will also alleviate the performance and the
students will look forward to coming to school now! The parents and teachers of Kijini are very
happy that their children have new shoes and school resources to more than 600
students who benefit from the program which will help the teachers to provide
the quality education. The pupils look smart and their feet are protected and excited
to celebrate another year of the fruitful Campaign” said Head teacher Mwalimu
Ulimwengu.
The handing over ceremony was commemorated by the Deputy
Minister of Education Hon. Simai Said, the Regional Commissioner of North A, Mr
Vuai Mwinyi Mohamed, the Director of Pre-Primary and Primary Education Mrs.
Safia Rijal, who urged more parties to join in the campaign not only for the
children of Kijini and Mbuyu Tende but other rural schools in Zanzibar.
"We commend Best of Zanzibar for their continuous great
work and all their initiatives to improve education in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende.
They have set a good example for other organizations to follow. Investing in
education is very important for the development of our nation. I also urge the
young men and women to work hard and attend their classes in order to succeed,
Best of Zanzibar and the teachers have done their part and the students should also
do their part to make the programs effective" mentioned Mr. Simai Said.
Best of Zanzibar is encouraging well-wishers to join the
campaign and support us as we put shoes on the feet of these well deserving
children. Allow us to empower these students to put their best foot forward!
For more details on how you can be part of the campaign and
make a positive impact, please follow us on social media or on our website or
contact aminata@best-of-zanzibar.com
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