Grace News is Anglican Aid’s quarterly newsletter, through which we share encouragement and updates from our project partners.

Back to school!

Imagine being nine years old and watching the other kids in your village running off to school while you must stay home. This was Joanitha’s story before she met staff from Karagwe Disabilities in Tanzania.

But it is also the story for an estimated 46 million* school-aged children across Eastern and Southern Africa who don’t have the opportunity to go to school. These children are especially vulnerable to child labour, child marriage, and recruitment to armed militias. I praise God for Anglican Aid’s partners in East Africa who are doing something about this!

We have just received news that Tarime Girls Secondary School in Tanzania has opened. Last year, Bishop Mwita Akiri visited Australia and shared what was needed to complete the building of the school. Praise God that Australian Christians gave $234,260. The buildings are now ready and the school has welcomed its first cohort of 14- and 15-year-old girls for the 2025 academic year. A secondary education will bring them better employment opportunities and options besides child marriage. 

“The buildings are now ready and the school has welcomed its first cohort of 14- and 15-year-old girls for the 2025 academic year.”

St Thomas’ Primary School, Engaruka has also recently opened.

Also welcoming its first kindergarten students, St Thomas’ Primary School in Engaruka is educating Maasai children in Tanzania. To date, getting to the nearest school for children in this area has involved a three-hour walk, so few children have been able to attend school. Praise God that this new school has also opened! 

These are just two of 12 Christian schools and education projects supported by Anglican Aid in East Africa that are helping to educate around 2125 children! As the new school year begins, pray that God will help these students learn, grow, and flourish as his dearly loved children. 

Tim Swan

CEO, Anglican Aid

P.S. You may like to donate to our Back to School Appeal to help our partners educate children in East Africa.