In rural areas of Tanzania, only 29% of girls transition from primary school to secondary school.  Tanzanian students face a unique challenge as the language of instruction shifts from Kiswahili to English in secondary school.  In more affluent urban settings, families with financial means frequently hire English tutors to assist with this transition.  In Tanga’s Lushoto District, the financial resources needed to enter secondary school – including English tutoring, books, uniforms and hygiene supplies – are considerably more than many rural families can afford.  These multiple barriers make access to secondary education prohibitive for a majority of low-income rural families in Lushoto.

One Day’s Wages is partnering for a third year with Asante Africa Foundation to host an intensive 11-week preparatory camp for rising secondary students in Lushoto District. In the first and second phases of AAF’s “Bridging the Educational Gap” project, an impressive 98% of students who participated successfully enrolled in secondary school!  In this third phase, Asante shifted to a more localized model in which camps are hosted in partnership with local school districts.  To lower the financial barriers to enrolling in secondary school, students also receive “Get Started Packages” containing school uniforms, supplies and hygiene products.