Zanzibar

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Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous state of Tanzania with its own government, parliament and president. The Zanzibar archipelago is located about 40 km off the mainland of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. It consists of the islands Unguja (colloquially Zanzibar) and Pemba as well as other smaller side islands. Zanzibar is very fertile thanks to many rivers and streams, and long, palm-fringed sandy beaches dominate the landscape.

The population consists of Africans, Indians, Persians and Arabs as well as numerous people of different origin from these groups. At the last census before independence, 97 percent of the population adhered to Islam. The remaining 3 percent were Hindus, Christians or adherents of African religions. Since independence, religious affiliation is no longer recorded in population censuses for political reasons.

The average annual income is $250. More than half of the population lives below the poverty line. The infant mortality rate in Zanzibar is 54 per 1000 live births. It is estimated that about 12 % of the children suffer from acute malnutrition.

Zanzibar's economy thrives primarily on the production of spices, especially cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper, as well as, the cultivation of coconut palms and tourism. Women grow seaweed around the island in the shallow waters, which is taken from traders at rock-bottom prices and exported for cosmetic and medicinal production. This work is highly harmful to health. The aggressive salt water, which also strongly reflects sunlight, causes many women to lose their vision and suffer from arthritis. The species of seaweed grown is not part of the native fauna of Zanzibar. The algae was imported from Asia and is destroying the island's fragile coral reefs.

Herrnhuter Missionshilfe has also been active in Zanzibar since 2015 through its commitment in Tanzania.

A deeper insight into Zanzibar and the Moravian projects can be found in the (german) booklet Weltweit verbunden - Sansibar.

News from the projects

Volunteering at the "Herrnhut Academy School"

Felix has been in Zanzibar since mid-September 2023 and is completing his voluntary service at the Herrnhuter Academy School in Mwera. In addition to numerous smaller activities, Felix teaches the subject "Computer Applications" for various grades of the secondary school and the vocational training centre for hotel management. He also takes care of the letters from and for the sponsored children, enabling them to get in touch with their sponsor parents from Germany. He really enjoys his work in Zanzibar. He told the Herrnhuter Missionshilfe team: "I am looking forward to being here in the future and continuing to experience life and the people." Herrnhuter Missionshilfe would like to take this opportunity to thank Felix for his commitment and cooperation!

Start of school at the "Herrnhut Academy School" Zanzibar

The new school year at the Herrnhut Academy School (kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and vocational training centre) in Mwera/Zanzibar began on 8 January 2024. More than 620 pupils, including 120 newcomers, are attending the school this year. Classrooms are slowly running out and the search for further funding for a new class block is underway. It is wonderful to see how the children and teachers play, work and learn together in harmony, regardless of their religion and origin. The second round of hotel management courses at the vocational training centre will start in February this year. Although Zanzibar is 99% Muslim, the Herrnhut Academy School is held in high regard by the local government and population.

Kindergarten

In 2015, the Moravian Church launched the Herrnhuter Academy School project in Tanzania. The aim of the project is to support families living in poor conditions in the education of their children. It helps children from Christian and Muslim families alike and teaches them tolerance in dealing with each other from an early age. In a first step, a kindergarten was opened. A short time later, an elementary school was built. In the meantime, a secondary school has also been financed. The project is to be completed in the near future with the construction of a vocational training center. This will give the children the opportunity to complete their entire education in the same place within the same institution.

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Project

In 2015, Herrnhuter Missionshilfe started its school project in Mwera, Zanzibar, together with the Moravian Church Zanzibar. Initially, 36 children were cared for and taught by 2 educators in the kindergarten. Four years later, in 2019 a new elementary school (252 children - as of 2022) and a new kindergarten (139 children - as of 2022) could be opened. Then in 2022, the secondary school was completed (13 children - as of 2022). Moravian Church has a very good reputation in the area and the school is well recognized and in demand by families in the area. Some of the teaching staff are Muslims, others are Christians. The children and young people also belong to different denominations, but they play and learn together in peace and harmony.

People are open and happy to talk about their faith. Since 2017, there has been a children's Sunday school on the premises of the school. More than 100 children and young people, including Muslims, come regularly to this day to sing, dance, play and hear Bible stories. A multi-purpose hall is available next to the school, which can be used by the school during the week and for church services on Sunday.

Target groups

The project's target groups are children between the ages of 3 and 6. The facility has a sponsorship and scholarship program to support poor and destitute families. Many children are picked up by their own school bus so that they can make the sometimes very strenuous and long journey to school safely.

Project goals

The Herrnhut Academy School provides access to education and self-determination of one's own future in one place.

Promotion of intercultural-interreligious sensitive education and coexistence of Christians and Muslims.

Children from poor backgrounds also receive basic medical care and support with school fees and school equipment.

Acivities

Playground
Introduction of the Montessori pedagogy
Provision of a school bus
Sponsorship and Scholarship program

Project progress

In 2019, a new kindergarten and a new school building could be opened. The buildings in which the children were previously cared for were badly dilapidated and could no longer ensure a safe environment for the children. Demolition took place at the beginning of 2019, and now there are ten classrooms with sufficient space in the new, spacious buildings. The rooms are sufficiently supplied with light through the large windows and good ventilation is ensured.

The materials used are based on an environmentally sustainable construction process. The children can now be prepared for the future ahead in a safe environment and without fear of health hazards. The associated change is made much easier for the children since the kindergarten and the elementary school are located on the same site.

In 2020, a multi-purpose hall was built on the premises. This will be used for celebrations, meetings, church services or even as a teachers' room.

In 2022, the construction of the secondary school was started. The next step will be to finance the vocational training center in the field of tourism. This is to be inaugurated at the beginning of 2023.

Project Managers and Project Partners

Bettina Nasgowitz	Markus Kuhn
Tel. +49 (0)7164 9421-22 bettina.nasgowitz@ebu.de	Tel. +49 (0)7164 9421-23 markus.kuhn@ebu.de

in cooperation with

Moravian Church Zanzibar

Moravian Church Tanzania

Donations for Zanzibar Kindergarten

Wir freuen uns über eine Spende für:

Kindergarten Sansibar

Donation Account
Herrnhuter Missionshilfe e.V.
IBAN: DE25 5206 0410 0000 4151 03
BIC: GENODEF1EK1, Evangelische Bank
Projekt 1171 Zanzibar Kindergarten

Primary and Secondary School

In 2015, the Moravian Church launched the Herrnhuter Academy School project in Tanzania. The aim of the project is to support families living in poor conditions in the education of their children. It helps children from Christian and Muslim families alike and teaches them tolerance in dealing with each other from an early age. In a first step, a kindergarten was opened. A short time later, an Primary School was built. In the meantime, a Secondary School has also been financed. The project is to be completed in the near future with the construction of a vocational training center. This will give the children the opportunity to complete their entire education in the same place within the same institution.

Project Pictures

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The Project

In 2015, Herrnhuter Missionshilfe started its school project in Mwera, Zanzibar, together with the Moravian Church. Initially, 36 children were cared for and taught by 2 educators in the Kindergarten. Four years later, in 2019 a new Primary School (252 children - as of 2022) and a new Kindergarten (139 children - as of 2022) could be opened. Then in 2022, the Secondary School was completed (13 children - as of 2022). Moravian Church has a very good reputation in the area and the school is well recognized and in demand by families in the area. Some of the teaching staff are Muslims, others are Christians. The children and young people also belong to different denominations, but they play and learn together in peace and harmony.

People are open and happy to talk about their faith. Since 2017, there has been a children's Sunday school on the premises of the School. More than 100 children and young people, including Muslims, come regularly to this day to sing, dance, play and hear Bible stories. A multi-purpose hall is available next to the school, which can be used by the school during the week and for church services on Sunday.