Blog: Why We Play

Melanie Baskind is pictured with members of the girls’ football team. From left to right, Agnes, Anna, Flora and Helena.

Why We Play

On only my second weekend as a volunteer at Orkeeswa, I was fortunate enough to go with almost forty of our students and six other teachers to ISM’s Sports Weekend in Moshi. I watched our teams compete against international schools in basketball, football (soccer), volleyball and rugby, and I watched as these kids who rarely leave the village piled mysterious foods like yogurt and parmesan cheese on their plates at the cafeteria buffet. Watching not just how they competed, but how they responded to pressure, dealt with winning and losing, battled through injuries and fatigue, and supported one another throughout it all – I got a good sense of the type of student I would meet in the classroom on Monday morning. Beyond that, I immediately saw the value of the athletics program at Orkeeswa.

As we drove home from our weekend in Moshi, I decided after spending less than a week at Orkeeswa that I would double the amount of time that I had planned to stay.

Before arriving at Orkeeswa, I spent time in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Rwanda and all around Tanzania, traveling and volunteering for a few different organizations. As a former Division I soccer player, I played pickup football pretty much everywhere I went. Getting girls to play football in communities where they have never been given the opportunity to do so, and serving as a role model for these girls was an unbelievable experience. The joy of seeing girls participate in sports for the first time, giving them permission to have fun when their lives so often revolve around school and work – tilling the fields, fetching water or firewood and selling vegetables – is something that never gets old.

Unlike the majority of girls in rural parts of Africa, the girls at Orkeeswa do not just play sports every once in a while, they are athletes in every sense of the word. They have weekly practices and have to be in good shape. They have to work to make the cut for the team that travels to games and tournaments. They run plays and compete for trophies. They deal with injuries, lopsided playing time and bad (bad!) referees. Teamwork and communication are crucial to their success. They travel to new places and form strong relationships with one another.

The life skills that can be taught through sport, and many of the things that I really valued about being an athlete, are not easy to produce in a place like Monduli, TZ, where resources are few and time is precious. They cannot be learned from a pickup game here, or a week of training there. It takes time and dedicated commitment from numerous people for sports to be something from which you learn and not just something you do. The fact that girls have equal access to these opportunities at Orkeeswa is really special, and carries over into mutual support and respect from their male classmates (or is it admiration mixed with a little bit of jealousy? Those girls bring home a lot of trophies!!).

In Orkeeswa’s mission to develop well-rounded students, students that will be well prepared as leaders, athletics plays a huge role. Watching and coaching sports is one of my favorite things to do with the students. Having been involved in sports my entire life, there was never a question I would enjoy being involved in athletics in Africa and at Orkeeswa, but the extent of its impact on me has caught me by surprise. In Monduli, we are far from pristine fields, pressed uniforms and stadium seating but it is obvious that the opportunity to play and to train, to be a part of a team, that experience has an incredible impact on the growth and confidence of girls anywhere.

In the mere five months that I’ve been an Orkeeswa Lion, I have a renewed appreciation for the importance of athletics and value my time on the field as much as I value my time in the classroom.

-Melanie Baskind

Melanie Baskind is a 2012 graduate of Harvard University with a BA in Neuro Biology and a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Melanie was a four year letter winner in soccer and lacrosse and captained both teams in her senior year. As the recipient of the Trustman Fellowship for year long post-graduate purposeful travel, Melanie was working with Coaches Across Continents which is a football (soccer) program for social development before coming to Orkeeswa. In addition to coaching soccer, Melanie serves as the Chemistry teacher at Orkeeswa Secondary School. She hails from Framingham, MA.

Blog Posting: A Sample of Our Gratitude

Ester Yohana poses with Grace Matthews during Grace’s visit with her family to Orkeeswa.

A Sample of our Gratitude

Dear Matthews Family,
I thank you my dearest sponsors. My gratitude I extend. To you I indeed owe my education. All your support I shall never forget. For all you have done for me, I most sincerely thank you. A thousand words can not really say the gratitude that I wish to convey.
The way you are taking care of my education as though I am your child who needs care, may you all be blessed. I really mean these words “THANK YOU VERY MUCH.”
Your understanding and kindness has brought me much happiness. You are a wonderful family. For you sacrifice, for all your concern and care and all your advice, for your love beyond compare, for all your effort I sincerely like to say thank you.
May you be blessed. May lots of joy come to visit your family. May you have millions of cups, plates and spoons of peace and love. Let me truly say these words from the inside of my heart, God bless you.

Thank you very much for all of your effort to support my education.

From, loving Ester

Let the Rain Fall

Naeku and Anna are zipped up and ready for their walk home.

Let the Rain Fall

A few weeks ago, the first big rains of this year’s rainy season began. It is the spring season when it rains, from March to June. I am very happy about this rain because we can now use this rain water instead of fetching and buying water from far away. Normally, I have to walk over 3 kilometers and pay 100 shillings to get one bucket of water.

The day the rain started, at lunch, I guessed that it was going to come. My prediction became true when we were on our way to Kisa class at Moringe Secondary School that afternoon. I was very happy because I love the rain. Our community depends on the rain to help grow our food, drinking water, cleaning and for livestock. Every person and organism in Monduli is dependent on rain for their daily needs.

By Naeke Logolye

Naeku Logolye is a Form Four student and the Vice President of the Student Body. Like many students at Orkeeswa, her parents are farmers and their livelihoods depend on a good rainy season.

Rural Entrepreneurship Program (RED): Creating Sustainable Futures

The first class of entrepreneurs are presented their loan contracts. Pictured from left to right are Peter Luis, Founder & Director; Mary Tumaini, Margaret Melkiori, Thomas Laizer, 2nd Headmaster; Mzee Lesnet, Head of Security; Samwel Kuresoi, Seth Heinert, School Operations Coordinator; Mbayaba Sainguran and Brady Grimes, Agriculture teacher.

Rural Entrepreneurship Program (RED): Creating Sustainable Futures

Mbayana is a businessman. In an era where few American University students work to afford college, Mbayana put himself through primary school and his first four years of Orkeeswa School. At age nine he left home to enroll in school against his parents permission, learning early that one of the only ways to escape his current situation was to take a risk for the chance at something better. Learning of his enrollment in school, his parents condoned his decision but could not offer financial support, leaving him with the option to quit or determine a way to make money. Graduating from Form Four (10th grade), Mbayana has successfully paid his way through eleven years of school by buying and selling livestock in the local market. Mbayana’s story is not unique. Well over 90% or Tanzanians fall into the informal economy, having to create their own path to financial self reliance. With a loan of $250.00 (375,000 TZ shillings) through our entrepreneurship program, Mbayana can now formally expand his livestock business, significantly improving his chances of generating a substantial profit.

My favorite definition of entrepreneurship records it as the pursuit of opportunity without regard for what you have. Hearing stories like Mbayana’s it is plain to see that the students at Okeeswa have unmatched desire for success and a deep well of motivation to create better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. The step that we have been able to offer them has been the creation of an opportunity.

In the second half of 2012 we began the draft of what has become the IEFT Rural Entrepreneurship Development (RED) program. The mission of RED is to give every student the tools for business creation and vision to see beyond the limits of their current financial situations. In the program we are planning to put every Form One (7th grade) and Form Two (8th grade) student through a formal entrepreneurship course, culminating in an original business plan to be proposed by the middle of their Form Three (9th grade) year. Real plans are then offered real money; the students will compete for loans for business start-ups. Though a natural goal is project sustainability through loan repayment, we are equally concerned with having the students funnel profits into a personal savings account to be used for education fees so that they can realize their goal of becoming first generation University graduates.

Where we differ from similar programs is in our confidence. We know that our students are not only well prepared academically but are determined and creative enough to take on an ambitious business project. They are trustworthy enough to stay within the guidelines of the program and to seek our support and guidance when they need it. We also know that one of the only sustainable ways to ready our students for a post Orkeeswa world is to have them create the next steps for themselves.

As a contributing member of the Entrepreneurship development team, I have come to see this program not only as a catalyst for personal transformation for our students, but a device with which we deliver innovative products and solutions to the community through those with the energy and ability to do it best, its young people. The years of formal business education in Forms One (7th grade) and Two (8th grade) will go far beyond graphs and numbers, and focus on real issues and potential solutions in the local context.

This is the first year that the program is in full operation, the first year that we have had students old enough to enroll in it, and I am very pleased with the outlook. Through a grant provided by USAID, we have been able to purchase three classroom sets of education materials for our entrepreneurship course, and the prospect of an investment has been a popular conversation for our students. The first group of entrepreneurs, Mbayana and Margaret (whom you will read about below) included, have been incredible successes, and we are looking forward to twenty more business start-ups by June.

-Brady Grimes

Brady Grimes is a 2012 graduate of Texas A & M University, College Station, TX. He received a BS in Ecosystem Management and Horticulture, graduating as the top student in both majors. He began volunteering at Orkeeswa Secondary School in August of 2012. At Orkeeswa, Brady teaches Agriculture and Entrepreneurship and oversees the campus small farm enterprises, including the garden and school livestock. Brady hails from Houston, TX, USA.

The following is a student, Margaret’s perspective on RED.

A Student Looks to her Business Future

I’m Margaret Melkiori. I graduated from Form Four (10th grade) in November of 2012. I am a member of the class of 2014, the first class of students of Orkeeswa School and now I am in the first class of Orkeeswa entrepreneurs. I was motivated to join the Rural Entrepreneurship Development (RED) program so that I can save money for University. My family will not be able to pay for my University fees or to buy my learning materials so I am trying to save money so that I can do that for myself.

I was so excited when I heard that an entrepreneurship program would be at Orkeeswa. I was so glad that I had this chance and that I AM NOW A BUSINESS WOMAN.

My business plan is to buy and sell sugar. I am happy that my business is going well, although there are a few challenges. One challenge has been price fluctuation. I get alot of support from the Orkeeswa family. Teachers and everyone are helping me to overcome any challenges that I face. I would like to give very special thanks to Brady who helped to established the Entrepreneurship program at Orkeeswa. This program is good because it will help students like me to achieve our goal of going to University.

This program has changed my life completely because I have big dreams of not only buying and selling sugar but of owning big companies.

-Margaret Melkiori

Margaret Melkiori is a Form Four (10th grade) graduate, we are anticipating her return to Form Five (11th grade) in early March. Margaret was the 2012 Student Body Vice President and she has been a member of the Kisa Girls’ Leadership program. Throughout November and December she spent her 100 community service hours teaching younger students English at Orkeeswa and she is currently in a nearby city, Moshi doing her Kisa leadership emersion work, teaching younger girls a life skills class.

More than we Hoped

Seth Heinert poses outside of his office with two students, Jonaice, a Form One student and Eliapenda, a Form Four student.

Dolly and Reba have been wandering around Orkeeswa for nearly three months now. When we got them it was obvious Dolly was pregnant. Her size, however, kept us wondering. We all knew the day was drawing near when she was going to give us a new baby. Then, as if by design, the first week of school not only brought us our old students, but also twin goats. It was more than we could have hoped for.

In so many ways, Orkeeswa is a place where you get more than you could have possibly hoped. Here are highlights of a few things that have surpassed my expectations since we started the school year last week:

Our leadership continues to be talented. We have three new volunteers, returning volunteers and several volunteers that have stayed on from the 2012 academic year. We now have 13 teachers in total from three different continents. The students are as motivated as ever. It was so fun this past Friday to walk around and watch them laughing and competing with one another in anything from volleyball to musical chairs to word games. We received excellent marks on our Form Two National Exams; we are in the top 10% in the entire region of over 350 competing schools. The classrooms which are being built for the new Forms Five and Six are nearly finished and look terrific. The Entrepreneurship program which was launched before the winter holiday is going well. We have been in touch with all of our participating students, heard the progress and challenges of their business endeavors and we have begun depositing their earnings in their individual future education funds. IT IS GREEN! With the help of quality groundskeepers and rain the campus looks great! Agriculture projects have already produced amazing results. After the baby goats were born we learned to make goat cheese, we discovered that one of our two bee hives has a swarm inside, and the grass we planted for making hay grew to over two meters tall. And…I got to drive our in the mud to get to school a few days last week! For me personally, my time at Orkeeswa is drawing to a close. My wife Lisa and I have been volunteering here for over two years and we will return to our home in Wyoming, USA in April. As we plan for our departure, I believe even more now in the work we are doing. I believe in our kids, our teachers and our IEFT staff to finish what we set out to do which is, of course, to change these communities surrounding Orkeeswa in a positive way.

I believe Orkeeswa can and will continue to be a place where everyone gets much more than they could have possibly hoped.

Seth has been volunteering at Orkeeswa Secondary School since August 2010. He teaches Agriculture and is the School Operations Coordinator. Seth grew up in Heulett, Wyoming, USA. He has a BS in Animal Science from the University of Wyoming and an MS in Agriculture Education from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Reflections on BoldLeaders Conference

Audi Mambai speaks to his colleagues in the Opening School Meetings about his experience with BoldLeaders.

BoldLeaders is a youth leadership program that believes “so goes Africa, so goes the world,” meaning that Africa and other less developed parts of the world should not be left behind. BoldLeaders funds opportunities for students to participate in four week cultural exchange programs with a focus on conflict resolution, leadership, civic engagement and education. From Tanzania, only nine students and two chaperones were selected; I was one of the chaperones. We spent our time in Denver, Colorado and Washington, DC, visiting schools, youth organizations and agriculture organizations. While in DC we visited museums and the monuments, the US Department of State and also the Peace Corps office.

There are several things which I learned through BoldLeaders that I want to implement at Orkeeswa. First is the importance of time management. I saw in America that you can accomplish more and complete many tasks when you keep to your schedule, something that we are not always good at doing in Tanzania. We lose valuable time each day; I think that at Orkeeswa we can set a standard to be more efficient. Another thing that I liked about America is how the society and specifically the adults mentor the younger people. They were good mentors because in their culture mistakes are allowed to be made and students are given a second chance. I plan to bring that attitude into my classroom more; I want to be a good mentor and let the students know that if they fail at something, they can try again.

BoldLeaders encouraged us to be comfortable in an uncomfortable environment. In African culture it is very uncomfortable for men to be emotional. At Orkeeswa we see our volunteers being very friendly and emotional; they sympathize quickly with the students. This is comfortable for them because it is part of their culture. For a male teacher it is very uncomfortable to show emotion, like crying, even hugging. I now have a better understanding of the volunteers and their culture. This understanding will help us to do our best work together at Orkeeswa.

I am very loyal to Orkeeswa; I believe in the philosophy and the mission. I know that we are doing a good job but I would like to see ideas from BoldLeaders incorporated as well. I think these ideas will help to take Orkeeswa to an even higher level.

-Audi Mambai

Audi Mambai is a History, Civics and Life Skills teacher at Orkeeswa Secondary School. He has been involved with the school since its inception and has been a full time teacher since August of 2011. Audi was graduated by Dodoma University in Dodoma, Tanzania with a BA in Education.

Scrabble- An Orkeeswa Pastime

Suzanne and Naiku

Dickson and Lais L

For this Scrabble competition, Nickson and Lais used good strategy to make high-scoring words, but it was the female duo of Suzanne and Naeku that eventually won the game with the word “zags.”

An Orkeeswa Pastime

Scrabble is a game in which a player uses letters to make a complete meaningful word. This game can be played by two or more people, either individually or in groups. In Orkeeswa Secondary School there are four students who choose Scrabble as their favourite game to play in the library. These students are Naeku, Nickson, Suzanne, and myself. We’re all in Form Three.

We all have different reasons for liking Scrabble. Naeku does not play sports so playing Scrabble gives her something to do. When I was in Form Two, I used to play Scrabble three times a week. Suzanne got a Scrabble certificate in Form Two.

Between the four of us, everybody gets to win at a different time; there is no one champion within us. For just one word, we’ve been able to get over 36 points. Whenever one of us makes a word with “q” or “z” or “x”, we feel very proud.

We like to play scrabble because it helps us learn new words. It is also fun. One time, Naeku wanted to spell the word, “giraffe,” but she spelled it as g-i-r-a-f. Allison said it was wrong and we all thought it was so funny. Besides spelling, playing Scrabble has also taught me something else – practice a lot and you will do very well.

Lais Lazaro, Form Three

The Importance of Sports

Flora Kipapurwa (most left) stands with netball team mates Neema Saitabau, Christina Seth, Nengai Mesareiki, Anna Tataya, Maria Payani, and Diana Lekiton. The team recently played against St. Jude’s School at a sports day hosted by Orkeeswa. The final score was Orkeeswa-19 and St. Jude’s-12.

Playing Sports at Orkeeswa Opens Many Doors

My name is Flora Kipapurwa. I am a Form Three student and I am an athlete. At Orkeeswa School, we have different sports like basketball, netball, football, volleyball and many others. I like to play sports a lot because sports make my body to become healthy, active, and strong. Sports are really important because they help me to release stress sometimes.

Sports also create opportunities, like you may get a chance to travel. For example, I have been to different places, like Moshi and Arusha, just because of sports. I had never been to these places before. Orkeeswa students also participate in sporting events that are outside of the school, like UMISETA. This is an event where they choose the best players from schools all over the Arusha region and the aim is to take those players to go to play against the players from all over Tanzania. Some Orkeeswa students have participated in UMISETA whereby they got a chance to travel to Dar es Salaam.

Sports also create friendships. The students from Orkeeswa have created friendships with students from other schools, like the International School of Moshi (ISM), St. Jude’s School and some public schools around the area. I would like to encourage my fellow students to participate in sports because sports can also help you in your future.

Flora Kipapurwa, Form Three

Caring for the Rabbits

Dickson is an involved Form One student who cares for Orkeeswa’s rabbits as a part of his Agriculture class, and he is also one of the class leaders who takes special interest in this project and ensures that all students are attending to and caring for the rabbits.

Caring for the Rabbits

In our Form One class, we break up into five different groups because there are five days in a week that we come to school. Each group has to take care of the rabbit on one day of a week. In my group, we take care of them on Wednesday, but I go there every day.

We give the rabbits food several times a day. The rabbits eat cabbage, bread and a type of vegetable called mchicha. One day, we did an experiment to find the rabbits’ favorite food. We took cabbage and mchicha and then we gave to them. They ate cabbage very fast, which means their favorite food is cabbage. We are still experimenting to find new and healthy food for the rabbits.

I enjoy the job of taking care of rabbits because it is another part of agriculture. Before we got rabbits at Orkeeswa, I didn’t know how to care for them, but now I know. I found out that rabbits are much easier to keep at school than home, and I also now know that is not easy for them to get diseases.

We’ve only had the rabbits for a few months, so that’s why we are still doing a lot of experiments. Keeping the rabbits sounds like a lot of work in this story, but when you are actually keeping them, it’s very easy.

Dickson Sampson, Form One

Computer Time at Orkeeswa!

Tajiri Lemta, Stephano Saning’o, and Lazaro Mesarieki are just three of many students learning vital computer skills that will help them at Orkeeswa and beyond.

Computer Time Has Come to Orkeeswa

Orkeeswa Secondary School is one of the most wonderful schools in Tanzania and it is growing every day. Orkeeswa has such fantastic students who like reading, learning, and enjoy having significant things like computers. There are about thirty computers in Orkeeswa, which are used by the students to type, play computer games and learn from educational programmes that are found on our computers.

My name is Nickson Obedi. I’m a student of Orkeeswa Secondary School and I am one of the students who likes using computers. The day I heard that we were going to use computers I felt good because I knew the time had come for me to learn how to use computers. It was incredible because I never thought something like that would ever happen in our school. I appreciate the work our teachers and the IEFT organisation did and now is the time for us students to use the computers in an appropriate way and gain a lot of knowledge from them.

Nickson Obedi, Form Three