St Thomas Primary School Engaruka Anglican Aid

Africa Tanzania Education

Give to this project

AFRICA:

Tanzania: St Thomas Primary School, Engaruka

Give to this project

AFRICA:

Tanzania: St Thomas Primary School, Engaruka

Together with the Diocese of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Anglican Aid is supporting a school for Maasai children.

Why a school at Engaruka?

In 2017, 6 weeks before a planned family holiday to Tanzania, the youngest son of Jonathan and Katie Morris, Marcus, died. The family went ahead with the trip to Tanzania and met with the Maasai people in remote Engaruka. They learned of a desire for a school in their community, where few children attend school. Those who do attend walk up to 15km a day to go to school – with wild animals posing danger. In the rainy seasons, the rivers are impassable, which causes lower school attendance, poor marks, and can lead to children dropping out of school.

The Morris family pledged to provide a school in memory of Marcus.

2025

In February 2025 the first pupils commenced at St Thomas Primary School Maasai Engaruka. Two Maasai teachers (Nemama and Charles) oversee two classrooms of 30 pupils each. There are equal numbers of boys and girls.

This Diocesan-run school provides quality education with Christian values, incorporating the teaching of God’s word. It is a positive witness to parents who are not believers. It allows children to complete their education and open pathways to become professionals in different fields.

Beginnings

In 2019, the local Maasai gifted 25 acres of land to the Diocese of Mt Kilimanjaro for a school. The land was fenced and a school Masterplan was developed. The School would be known as St Thomas Primary School. The Katoke Trust, a well-established charitable organisation in Australia that has previously built and supports a Secondary School in Western Tanzania, agreed to fundraise for the Engaruka school and form a Subcommittee to oversee activities.

After delays during the pandemic, the first building was completed in 2023: a guesthouse with 3 bunkrooms, a master bedroom, and communal living area. The plan is to host visiting school groups to provide maintenance, assist in the classrooms and learn about Maasai culture. Following the guest house, three double classroom blocks were completed.

The first teachers accommodation and toilet block was completed in 2024, fulfilling the requirements for Government approval of the school to open. Advertisements for teaching positions opened, with a view to commencing Kindergarten the following January. These 60 children will progress through their 8 years of schooling with a new intake each year over the next 7 years, leading to full capacity of 480 pupils. The building program will continue to accommodate the growth. Solar is being installed along with water tanks to collect water during the forthcoming short rains.

Looking ahead

Additional staff, including a cook, will be employed so that the children can have breakfast to enable them to be well nourished for the school day. Security guards and a facility manager will also be engaged.

The next phase of building will see the construction of two more teacher accommodation blocks and a further double classroom block.

Landscaping and tree planting to provide protection from the dusty winds will also commence.

Support this school

Donations to Anglican Aid for St Thomas Primary School, Maasai Engaruka are tax deductible.

Make a Donation

In the case that a fundraising appeal has received sufficient donations, any surplus funds will be used for a similar activity or an activity in the same country.