CK Montessori African School

CK Montessori Shares the Love!

On a recent trip to Tanzania, Africa, Mrs. Zegers had the opportunity to visit
the Sluys-Anderson school in Sakila. The Sakila Sponsorship Program
provides schooling for children in Tanzania whose only other option would be
the tuition-based government school that most families cannot afford.
Donations provide clothing, food, medical care, and education for these
children. The organization is run completely by volunteers, so every dollar of
donations goes toward the care of the sponsored children. These children are
fed at the school and it was quite noticeable that they looked a lot healthier
than the most of the other children she saw in Africa.

While at the school, Mrs. Zegers commented to one of the teachers that these
children were fortunate to live in a land that is rich with beautiful animals. "Oh,
they've never seen them," he said. Shocked, she asked him why not. "Nobody
here has the funds (let alone a car) to drive down this mountain to go to the
national parks." As a teacher that values experiences for children, Mrs.
Zegers was impelled to find out how we could help. After speaking with
Godwin Selembo (the principal) about donating funds specifically for a ‘safari’
type field trip, we have decided to send all of the 7th graders (about 60
children) on a day long trip (lunch included) to see these treasured animals
(only about 20 miles away!). We are hoping to donate these funds each year
so that all children at the school will be able to go during their 7th grade year!
You can probably imagine the significance of a trip like this for these children.
Godwin remembers that when he was young, he had opportunity to go on a
similar trip and he slept the night before with his shoes on - in order to be sure
to be ready in the morning!

Please check www.sakilasponsorship.org for more information
about this school. For those of you that like maps, check on
Google Earth for Arusha, Tanzania. Sakila is on the foothills of
Mt. Meru, in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro.