Why We’re Here
We’re working towards a Tanzania where every child has equal opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
WITH A POPULATION OF 57 MILLION…
74% of children in Tanzania are affected by multidimensional poverty
Due to high birth rates, 44% of the population is under 15 years old
Children are not eligible to attend government school until six or seven
Tanzanian public schools are overcrowded and under-resourced
There is less than 30% enrollment for secondary schooling
Those without any academic or vocational options after the age of 13, often start a family early and enter the cycle of poverty
Education is EVERYTHING
In 2013, Tanzania responded to poor national literacy rates by making education free. The government did not have the funding, workforce, infrastructure, or physical resources to adequately meet the huge demand for education.
Between the total absence of an academic foundation or healthcare and the trauma and violence to which children in Uru are exposed, many children are set so far behind before they even have a chance to get started.
We respond by providing crucial educational and health resources to children within the family and community context. Providing for children’s basic needs at our high-quality, English-immersion school ensures attendance and promotes whole-child development.
We improve the child’s environment from every angle by requiring parent involvement. We respond to family stressors or emergencies by providing the social work, healthcare and advice they need; including emphasizing family planning. Children are able to use their English skills to help their family and community throughout their lifetime. We specifically invest in village development through investing in local infrastructure, human capital development, and providing jobs.
When students graduate from Uru Academy, they continue on to our sponsorship program where we continue to support them until they complete secondary school or university. Students who graduate secondary school will have less children, better health, financial stability, and children who also will graduate from secondary school.
Uru Academy is more than a school, it is a community-based poverty alleviation project that aims to break the cycle of unemployment, poor health, high fertility, and crime by providing crucial educational and health resources to children and their families.
