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Bashay Primary School is located in the village of Bashay in northeastern Tanzania, a rural village of about 17,000. Most families in Bashay live in poverty and struggle to provide food and other basic needs for their families.
Bashay Primary School was opened by the Lutheran church in 1961. The school operated under the supervision of the church until it was taken over by the government during the 1970s.
Although it is still a government school, Bashay Primary does not receive much assistance from the Tanzanian government which has directed local governments to contribute to the building and improvement of their own schools; however, it is difficult for the people of Bashay to contribute monetarily to their schools as most of them are subsistence farmers living on $1 per day or less.
When one visits the school, it is easy to see that resources are scarce. Both the facilities and the small teaching staff are inadequate for the school's 800 students although considerable progress has been made in upgrading the facility in recent years. Still, three or four children often sit at desks that were designed for two. Textbooks may be as few as one for every 10 students. There is no electricity, and the school’s water source is one spigot in the courtyard.
Yet, the students, teachers and parents of Bashay Primary are proud of their school. Everyone in Bashay works together to provide their children with the best education possible. Most students will not be able to go on to secondary school, because secondary school fees (approximately $420 per year) are far too high for most families to afford. For many of its students, Bashay Primary is the only school they will ever attend.
G4TZ has introduced many Americans to Bashay Primary School through its travel program, Discovery Safaris. As a result, thousands of dollars have been contributed to Bashay Primary School for maintenance, building projects, supplies, and student uniforms.
In order to help the staff at Bashay Primary School provide the best education possible for its students, more assistance is needed. Many students come to school in uniforms that are tattered or too small. Additional desks and teaching materials are needed. Funds for repair of existing buildings with large cracks due to earth tremors are also needed.
G4TZ hopes to provide continuing support for Bashay Primary School. We believe that education is the key to ending poverty, and we want to help provide the children of Bashay Village with hope for a better future.
Number Served: 800
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