EDUCATION IS LIFE!
Who can forget the lovable character Dani Rojas from the Apple TV series “Ted Lasso” and his characteristic smile while he proclaims, “Football is life!” (Of course, the football of which he speaks is what we Americans call soccer). Whether it’s football, soccer, music, art, or another passion project, many of us can relate with this sentiment that sparks joy, illuminates the spirit, and provides hope.
While in Tanzania for my first trip this September (2024) with the Synod’s choir, we had opportunities to visit schools and meet children, youth, and young adults devoted to their studies. I wondered, What difference does an education make for a child in Tanzania? How does an education change a student’s life and future? In America, we may think of education as a right for all children, but it occurred to me what a true privilege it is to have the opportunity to learn to write, and read, and to receive the investment of an education.
FOR TANZANIAN STUDENTS, EDUCATION IS LIFE!
Education provides a future brimming with opportunities to live a full and vibrant life. Education provides options for the future – not only for an individual but also for the student’s family and community. While the Tanzanian government provides free primary school education for all children, the class sizes are quite large and teachers are stretched thin – often attending to more than one classroom at a time. Therefore, for students who are admitted, a scholarship to a boarding school provides the very best in the Iringa Diocese. Congregations in the Saint Paul Area Synod provided more than one thousand scholarships in the past year. This has been part of Shepherd of the Valley’s commitment in our 23-year partnership with parishes in the Iringa Diocese. The recipients of these scholarships include young secondary school students and students in postsecondary degree programs. These are just a few examples of the impact education has on students, their families, and communities:
SERGIO MLASU is originally from Idodi. He is the oldest of six siblings raised by an uncle. SOTV supported his college education at the University of Iringa where he is now the chair of a division of the Economics Department responsible for innovation.
ASIA KILELII is a young woman from Mahove who finished at the top of her high school class and now has graduated from nursing school.
FRED MAHENGE is now working in bank management.
NEEMA MGAYA from Mahuninga was the first girl from her village to graduate from Form Six. SOTV supported her college education in wildlife management. She has been employed by several national parks and is now working at Ngorongoro Crater.
CONSOLATA SANGA manages a hotel in Iringa. She has sent all of her siblings and her daughter through college.
We are grateful to God for the opportunity to play a small part in the enrichment of young Tanzanians’ lives who now, in turn, support other young people to achieve their goals.
Education is, in fact, life! Abundant life!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP
Contact any member of the SOTV Tanzania Partnership Committee.
Thank you for your generous hearts, Tom Thompson, Brenda Krueger, Judy Anderson, Christina Lehmann, Ken Loher, Rolf Schulz, Jeff Taphorn, Sharla Wagy, Dawn Della Paolera (staff liaison), Pastor Julie Wright (staff liaison)