History

The HISTORY of Kids Helping Kids –Teewashea began in 2004.

“If kids in Tanzania are lucky enough to go to school, it doesn’t mean they are lucky enough to have school supplies.”

This knowledge was the inspiration for creating Tools for Schools. Several elementary schools in the Seattle area participated. They learned that kids in poor areas of the world may go to school without school supplies. More than 2000 Seattle area children participated. They donated over 2000 pounds of school supplies! It cost several hundred dollars to transport these supplies to Africa; but it was accomplished by the end of 2005.

When the school supplies were delivered to Tanzania, several things became apparent:

Some areas benefit by their convenient location, and lots of volunteers, researchers, and tourists go there.
It costs a fortune to transport material goods.
School supplies are readily available for purchase in Tanzania.
Many kids do not have shoes.
Many go to school without a proper uniform – usually the orphan children.
Primary school, up to grade 7, is provided by the government.
Many are unable to attend school every year due to disease, mama needs help with a new baby, or papa needs help in the field.
It costs only $400 a year for a child to attend high school.

Work with the Seattle area children continued during 2005. They received feedback about the lives of the kids to which they sent school supplies. Each student got a photo in appreciation. This truly made the kids feel personally connected – one of the main goals of Kids Helping Kids. The classroom discussions focused on realizing how much we have and how little they have.

It became clear in the fall of 2005 that several changes were needed.

First of all, the only practical way to continue was to collect money in America for distribution in Tanzania. It was also decided that we would help schools in a remote area where other volunteer organizations almost never reached.

Baruti suggested 2 schools: Mhelo and Baghai. We visited them, and were welcomed in the warmest manner imaginable. Every class either sang or danced; some played instruments, and some recited poetry they had written. These kids had never seen a white person before!

At Mhelo, they had no electricity and presented that as their priority. At Baghai, they had no water and had to walk down the mountain to the water source and carry the full 40 pound bucket back up the mountain!

When we returned to Seattle in late 2005 we were deeply touched, and word travelled fast. By word of mouth, adult friends began making donations so that we could fix these schools. The kids, too, were excited and eager to help their sister schools in Tanzania.

We were nearly out of breath – things were happening so fast. In early 2006 it was clear that we needed to form an official 501 (c)3. Several friends wanted to make significant contributions but requested that the status allow them a tax-free donation. That official non-profit status was granted in February 2006.

After the rainy season in 2006 we hired a local contractor to repair our schools. At Mhelo, he installed electricity and built 3 private toilets that the adolescent girls promised to maintain. Previously, when the girls reached puberty, the lack of privacy and cleanliness required them to either miss school each month or drop out all together. This problem is now solved!

At Baghai, our contractor installed a 3000-liter water tank and ran pipes about a mile to a water spring. We were advised to also install water in the nearest village so the school wouldn’t be their water source.

When they attempted to deliver the 3000 - liter water tank to the village the rains had been so bad that the mountain “road” had been washed out. The villagers were so determined that they organized themselves to accomplish this task.

They built a platform on wheels and transported the huge tank 3 miles to their village! They were so excited about their success that they began planning another joint project.

The village water project gave them confidence to take some control of their fate. They planted bushes on the down side of the village road so that next time it rained the road was not washed out.

In addition to these 2 schools, we began our high school sponsorship program in 2005. Sponsors were found, and 3 kids started high school with our blessing and support.

Meanwhile, about 600 American children worked earnestly to raise money to help the orphan kids in their sister schools. By word of mouth, many adults were inspired to help. Today we have 56 adult sponsors who have become our continuing support base.

At the beginning of 2007 we visited again. This time 5 of our sponsors joined us. As a result of increased enthusiasm, we were able to take on 3 more primary schools and 4 more high school kids!

During 2007 our local Tanzanian contractor mounted a MAJOR repair job at our most remote school - Kwembago. He hired 95 villagers and recruited most of the 660 school kids.

They dug a trench 2 feet deep through the mountains, to reach the water source which was nearly 3 miles away. They now have running water (in the school and village), clean functioning toilets, and repaired classrooms that had been built without a proper foundation. The cost was $12,600. A little money goes a long way.

> Donate