Orkeeswa Secondary School

IEFT operates Orkeeswa Secondary School within the village of Lashaine. Lashaine has three government-run primary schools with over 500 students each and no secondary schools other than Orkeeswa. It is IEFT's belief that lasting improvement in Tanzanians' way of life can be accomplished through education. Currently, 97% of all children in Lashaine must halt their education after finishing primary school because their families are unable to afford boarding school fees or because the children are needed to help with household chores.

For many children living in rural Tanzania, attending secondary school is out of reach due to the long distances between remote villages and boarding schools and their families inability to pay for school fees. Students in Lashaine Village are now able to attend Orkeeswa Secondary School within their own village. Their families are able send their children to a local school with a high standard of quality teaching and at an affordable price. With this model, IEFT is able to raise the percentage of children attending secondary school in Lashaine Village, allowing the children to remain in their community and sustain their traditionals and culture.

After having been awarded 25 acres of land by the Lashaine Village Government in 2005, IEFT finalized plans to build a secondary school to accomodate students in Lashaine from Form I through Form IV educational programs.

On April 14, 2008 IEFT opened the first two classrooms of Orkeeswa Secondary School and the first 40 students began classes. IEFT began the selection process for the next class of 40 students in May 2009. Over 400 students showed up to take the entrance examination! In September 2009, the new class began English-immersion courses and started their Form I classes in January 2010.

Today, Orkeeswa's 80 students are enjoying their courses with both international and local certified teachers, providing them with a quality, affordable education that was but a dream prior to the opening of Orkeeswa.

In May 2010, more than 400 students showed up to sit for the examination for IEFT's third class of students, which will begin studies in September. IEFT plans on expanding school facilities and accepting additional classes until full buildout is reached in 2013.

Get Involved with Orkeeswa! 

It Takes a Village...
IEFT understands that a school cannot be built in a vaccuum and still create lasting social change. Which is why the organization is also dedicated to enhancing the entire community in which it operates. Through education, the development of micro-finance initiatives and promotion of health programs and education, IEFT has implemented multiple programs in partnership with the women and families in Lashaine Village and is already seeing positive results.

Micro-Finance for a Stronger Community.

Village Goat Program In 2008, IEFT donated 70 goats to needy families in Lashaine Village. A single female goat can provide a family with daily milk, food, future offspring and income if sold at market. The plan is simple: a healthy, female goat is given to a family. The goat's first offspring goes back into the program, with the original goat then being owned by the family, free-and-clear. Result: 70 more goats available to go to needy families in the community. Repeat.
Another benefit of the Goat Program is that these animals also provide Orkeeswa Secondary School students and staff with milk for daily school lunches, increasing their much needed calcium intake. This is a very important initiative in an area where local water sources have very heightened levels of flouride, increasing their chances of easy bone breakage.

Sustainable Garden Program Through Orkeeswa's unique school Agriculture curriculum, students and villagers alike are learning about sustainability, best gardening and farming planting practices, and overall maintenance and proper land usage and how it can increase their crop yields and increase their crop's nutritional value.
Likewise, on the Orkeeswa Secondary School campus, students are learning about the planting of crops, usage of natural fertlizers and the experience of trying new foods never tasted before: zucchini and squash, are new favorites! So far, over 20 different tree types have also been planted, including avocado, mango, pomegranate, lemon, orange, guava, and banana.

Chicken Coop Program Through a generous donation, IEFT has constructed a chicken coop on the Orkeeswa Secondary School campus. This entreprenuerial endeavor has multiple facets of education and community collaboration. Through the school's curriculum, students and community members are learning new strategies in better animal husbandry and maintaining healthy animal populations. Students learn construction and carpentry skills as they design proper pens for the animals. Eggs produced by the operation provide food and protein for the school's nutritious lunch program, as well as poultry when needed. Unconsumed eggs as well as chickens are sold by villagers at the local market, not only providing a personal income for community members, but also providing direct income for the school.

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