Why we send books written in English

A fraction of the books we have shipped to the Teacher
Resource Centre in Kahama. 

Although there are around 125 languages spoken in Tanzania, the country officially operates under a bilingual system. While Kiswahili is the language of instruction in primary school, students are required to read and write in English to complete their secondary school education. English is the dominant global language of communication, business, diplomacy, entertainment and the internet, and understandably, the Tanzanian Government wants to level the playing field.

There are problems with this bilingual system – the difficulties that children face switching from Kiswahili to English at Secondary school for example, especially in rural areas like Kahama where the teachers and children do not hear English spoken or have access to English books. We are taking steps to ease the transition. Just by visiting the area each year and conversing with officials and families in English we are making a difference.  In 2012 we ran a week-long English workshop for teachers and will do so again in 2015 or 2016.

We will be sending our current shipping container this year and one more in 2016; the Teacher Resource Centres will then have a wide selection of library and text books.

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

               Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community.