MEETING POINT

Name: Uvi Foundation
Address: TZ

After school club
and library in Mtae

The meeting point for kids of all ages attending Mtae Primary School was opened in August 2020. It is a place equipped with comfortable desks and chairs, adequate lighting, a library, a supply of basic school supplies. In the region, many girls have difficulties to find good conditions to study, do homework, in addition, after returning from school, girls at even a noticeably young age are encouraged more into household duties, caring for younger siblings, than into studying.
The club provides them with a safe place where children can be solving math problems, reading books, gossiping, or just relaxing and being kids. Originally the meeting point was created to primarily assist girls as lack of homework conditions and a much larger number of household chores result in a lower attendance rate among girls than boys in the Usambara area. Girls who are not prepared for lessons often do not show up at school from fear of punishment from the teachers or from shame.
Attendance is also influenced by the lack of access to books, teaching aids and parents’ non-involvement in the educational process, often coming from the lack of their own education. Originally it was one building intended for about 50 girls.

However, the project turned out to be a great success and during a year, with the help of grants from Polish Aid and collections, it was possible to expand the day rooms and organize a library. Today, about 150 children attend day-care centers, including boys, who have the opportunity receive support from one of the 2 full time supervisors and multiple volunteers. Together, we try to make up for school backlogs, motivate and encourage reading. We are very proud of our library with its almost 7000 books, and there are more and more of them every month!

We’re excited to share that since December 2023, our Meeting Point has moved from Mtae to Mambo, now in our own building—thanks to a generous donation from Wema Foundation!