The Mwangaza Story
Tanzania's Educational Famine
A Conversation and a Light in the Darkness
When Tanzanian educators and US educator Dr. Shoonie Hartwig sat down in 1995 to consider these challenges, the Tanzanians
said their greatest needs were effective English teaching across the curriculum and better methodology. They soon found
themselves dreaming, What if we tackled this together? What if we formed a partnership, Tanzanian and US teachers working in
pairs in our church-managed schools? What if we were able to start an Educational Resource Center right here in northern
Tanzania? They named the program Mwangaza, a Swahili word meaning enlightenment, both the light within and light on the
pathway.
Hand in Hand Shoulder to Shoulder
As the planning group grew, so did the plans! With the encouragement and financial assistance of the Division for Global Mission of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), leaders in five Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) dioceses and five
ELCA synods decided to develop a teacher partnership. In 1996, ten Tanzanian teachers traveled to the United States to work on
English teaching methods with their educational counterparts in five synods. After six weeks of observing, planning, and preparing
lesson plans for teacher-training seminars in Tanzania, the US/TZ partners returned to Tanzania to team-teach faculties in
participating diocese schools. With a $30,000 gift from a small congregation in Milwaukee, an old home in Arusha, hub city in
northern Tanzania, was renovated for the educational resource center.
Ripples from a Pebble in a Pond
Mwangaza has become known throughout Tanzania. Today, ten years later, all 20 ELCT
dioceses with their 51 secondary schools are participating in the program. Additional
teacher exchanges have taken place in 1998, 2001, and 2004. Methodological seminars
for teachers are offered year-round, not only at the resource center, but in local schools
in four geographic zones. This year, science and math teaching seminars have been added
to the program. Three Focus Schools have been computerized and given additional resources
in an effort to upgrade them. Every Mwangaza program and seminar has a significant HIV/AIDS
component, a critical piece in the nation's fight against the disease.
Mothers and Daughters; Fathers and Sons
Several female leaders designed a new women's literacy program, that is, literacy regarding health issues, women's life cycles,
nutrition, violence, HIV/AIDS, and the importance of education for their daughters as well as for their sons. With funding from the
ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Mwangaza staff members piloted the Binti/Mama (mother/daughter) two-week seminar with the female
leaders of one diocese, who in turn taught women leaders in their own areas. The key was the opportunity for women to discuss
with one another issues which are normally very sensitive, and to arrive at new levels of self-understanding, self-esteem, and
leadership. Evaluation led to the designing and implementation of Binti/Mama Phase Two, with more in-depth coverage of women's
issues. Both phases have been offered in all 20 ELCT dioceses. Mwangaza staff is now planning Phase Three, Raise Your Voices,
focusing on gender mainstreaming, women and the law, and women and health. Projected Phase Four will include leadership in
management at home and in the marketplace. At the request of the men, a Mwana/Baba (father/son) course has been being
piloted featuring communication and responsibilities of power and authority. An HIV/AIDS course focusing on information, behavior
change, and peer support is an integral part of all Mwangaza programs.
Leadership and Financial Sustainability
In 1996, ELCA missionary Dr. Hartwig was the only Mwangaza staff member. By the time she retired in mid-2002, two Tanzanian
educational leaders were in place: Director Ms. Seelah Kissioki and Program Coordinators Mr. William Kivuyo.
During this period, Mwangaza facilities have expanded with the addition of a large assembly hall, kitchen, three self-contained
rooms, a small guest house (renovation of a nearby home), and a modest hostel. Mwangaza can now sleep 45 people!
The budget has grown from $16,000 per year, the original grant from the Division for Global Mission, to $135,000. The grant from
the division continues at the original level plus $13,000 from the ELCA World Hunger Appeal; synods and dioceses provide $22,000.
The remaining nearly $84,000 comes primarily through gifts of individuals scattered across the United States. With a view toward
Mwangaza's financial sustainability, interested individuals formed Friends of Mwangaza, a non-profit organization, in 2002. Mwangaza
staff and chairs of both the Tanzania Mwangaza Board and the US Friends of Mwangaza Board keep in close contact.
Mwangaza Journeying Together
Over the nearly nine years of Mwangaza's life, well over 1,500 Tanzanian teachers and 25,000 students have benefited from the use
of effective teaching methodologies. Teachers and students in the United States have expanded their world view and speak of
personal transformation. Over 25,000 women throughout Tanzania have grown in life skills and self understanding. All this has been
possible because Tanzanians and Americans have walked together to develop and implement the programs, accompanying one
another on the journey. Together we will meet the challenges of an ever-growing program and long-term financial sustainability!
- The cumulative effect of decades of economic constraints is an impoverished primary and secondary school
system in this nation of 30 million people. There is a shortage of schools, and those that exist lack adequate
facilities and materials. Many classrooms have no books. Poor teacher training and lack of continuing
education have resulted in poor student performance. The leap from Swahili-medium education in primary
school to English-medium in secondary school is formidable to students who are now studying in their third
language. Tanzania ranks lowest, worldwide, in its ability to educate its youth. Only twelve percent
complete secondary education, with a scant one percent able to attend a university. The 2.5 million
member Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania has tried to address the situation by building schools in
dioceses which were able to gather enough funds to do so. The church now manages 51 such institutions
which are open to the entire community.
A Conversation and a Light in the Darkness
When Tanzanian educators and US educator Dr. Shoonie Hartwig sat down in 1995 to consider these challenges, the Tanzanians
said their greatest needs were effective English teaching across the curriculum and better methodology. They soon found
themselves dreaming, What if we tackled this together? What if we formed a partnership, Tanzanian and US teachers working in
pairs in our church-managed schools? What if we were able to start an Educational Resource Center right here in northern
Tanzania? They named the program Mwangaza, a Swahili word meaning enlightenment, both the light within and light on the
pathway.
Hand in Hand Shoulder to Shoulder
As the planning group grew, so did the plans! With the encouragement and financial assistance of the Division for Global Mission of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), leaders in five Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) dioceses and five
ELCA synods decided to develop a teacher partnership. In 1996, ten Tanzanian teachers traveled to the United States to work on
English teaching methods with their educational counterparts in five synods. After six weeks of observing, planning, and preparing
lesson plans for teacher-training seminars in Tanzania, the US/TZ partners returned to Tanzania to team-teach faculties in
participating diocese schools. With a $30,000 gift from a small congregation in Milwaukee, an old home in Arusha, hub city in
northern Tanzania, was renovated for the educational resource center.
Ripples from a Pebble in a Pond
Mwangaza has become known throughout Tanzania. Today, ten years later, all 20 ELCT
dioceses with their 51 secondary schools are participating in the program. Additional
teacher exchanges have taken place in 1998, 2001, and 2004. Methodological seminars
for teachers are offered year-round, not only at the resource center, but in local schools
in four geographic zones. This year, science and math teaching seminars have been added
to the program. Three Focus Schools have been computerized and given additional resources
in an effort to upgrade them. Every Mwangaza program and seminar has a significant HIV/AIDS
component, a critical piece in the nation's fight against the disease.
Mothers and Daughters; Fathers and Sons
Several female leaders designed a new women's literacy program, that is, literacy regarding health issues, women's life cycles,
nutrition, violence, HIV/AIDS, and the importance of education for their daughters as well as for their sons. With funding from the
ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Mwangaza staff members piloted the Binti/Mama (mother/daughter) two-week seminar with the female
leaders of one diocese, who in turn taught women leaders in their own areas. The key was the opportunity for women to discuss
with one another issues which are normally very sensitive, and to arrive at new levels of self-understanding, self-esteem, and
leadership. Evaluation led to the designing and implementation of Binti/Mama Phase Two, with more in-depth coverage of women's
issues. Both phases have been offered in all 20 ELCT dioceses. Mwangaza staff is now planning Phase Three, Raise Your Voices,
focusing on gender mainstreaming, women and the law, and women and health. Projected Phase Four will include leadership in
management at home and in the marketplace. At the request of the men, a Mwana/Baba (father/son) course has been being
piloted featuring communication and responsibilities of power and authority. An HIV/AIDS course focusing on information, behavior
change, and peer support is an integral part of all Mwangaza programs.
Leadership and Financial Sustainability
In 1996, ELCA missionary Dr. Hartwig was the only Mwangaza staff member. By the time she retired in mid-2002, two Tanzanian
educational leaders were in place: Director Ms. Seelah Kissioki and Program Coordinators Mr. William Kivuyo.
During this period, Mwangaza facilities have expanded with the addition of a large assembly hall, kitchen, three self-contained
rooms, a small guest house (renovation of a nearby home), and a modest hostel. Mwangaza can now sleep 45 people!
The budget has grown from $16,000 per year, the original grant from the Division for Global Mission, to $135,000. The grant from
the division continues at the original level plus $13,000 from the ELCA World Hunger Appeal; synods and dioceses provide $22,000.
The remaining nearly $84,000 comes primarily through gifts of individuals scattered across the United States. With a view toward
Mwangaza's financial sustainability, interested individuals formed Friends of Mwangaza, a non-profit organization, in 2002. Mwangaza
staff and chairs of both the Tanzania Mwangaza Board and the US Friends of Mwangaza Board keep in close contact.
Mwangaza Journeying Together
Over the nearly nine years of Mwangaza's life, well over 1,500 Tanzanian teachers and 25,000 students have benefited from the use
of effective teaching methodologies. Teachers and students in the United States have expanded their world view and speak of
personal transformation. Over 25,000 women throughout Tanzania have grown in life skills and self understanding. All this has been
possible because Tanzanians and Americans have walked together to develop and implement the programs, accompanying one
another on the journey. Together we will meet the challenges of an ever-growing program and long-term financial sustainability!
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