Project Zawadi Incorporated

I became aware of Project Zawadi several years ago through my friend Ian Keith. Ian has been volunteering through PZ in the Tenda Teacher program for several years. His enthusiasm for PZ, Director Brian Singer, the board, coordinator Adrian Maganga and the Tanzanian teachers was contagious! I was thinking about retiring from my position as school administrator and committed to volunteer as well. Fall of 2018 Ian called me and said we need you to go be the first volunteers for the English Bridge Program. The program is 7 week intensive English instruction to prepare secondary students for the upcoming school year in the Mara region of northern Tanzania. The experience was life changing for me. I had not taught for 15 years and the children were so loving and eager to learn, amazing! The teachers and staff especially Coordinator Adrian were welcoming and made me feel like I was at home. The co-teaching model really benefited the students; as they went from shy learners to active participants in their learning.
I asked my family and friends to sponsor students through PZ and am thrilled they took me up on it.
I will definitely return to volunteer as I have left a piece of my heart in Tanzania!
I can not say enough positive things about Project Zawadi, phenomenal organization with all funds directly benefiting children and their communities!

We learned of the amazing work Project Zawadi is doing in Tanzania on a safari trip in 2012. We became sponsors and in 2014 we visited the Mara region to see the work in person. We met the students we sponsor and their famiiies and learned first hand how much PZ's work affects the lives of young students. It affected us profoundly. Since then we have worked with PZ as volunteers and I am currently a board member.

In addition to the sponsorship program, PZ has moved into working with teachers, educational institutions, and the government to improve teacher training. Through their Model Schools program and Teacher Education modules, PZ is having a profound effect on the future of education in Tanzania. The rewards from this effort will reach many more students. It reminds us of the old "Give a man a fish... teach a man to fish..." maxim. Helping teachers improve their skills enhances their lives and teaching experiences, and it keeps paying rewards to students for years.