HISTORY

Money School Tanzania began with 48 students on the first day of September, 2008. Many viewed this opportunity as a “miracle.” Some viewed this opportunity as a second chance at life, and others recognized this opportunity as once in a lifetime. As an Educator from the United States of American, I had long since forgotten what it felt like to teach people who were hungry for knowledge." Ebony Kirkland, Founder.

The core standards consist of a combination of 21st century and Knowledge Worker Skill standards. The main courses include Entrepreneurship, Computer Technologies, English as a non-primary language, and Technical Business Plan Writing.

The school is an evening program offered for free to all.

The concept for School of Dreams came about during the first year of Money School Tanzania. I quickly recognized that the women students carried their oppressions into class with them. They would enter class with their heads bowed; eyes filled with sadness, and voices suppressed, all were good indicators of their current state. It took half the year to get them to project their voices in a way that could be heard (and felt) by the rest of the class. Even to sit beside the male students, was a feat. The males on the other hand, did not allow their oppression to inhibit their voices from being heard. Even with all their burdens, Tanzania’s cultural makeup afforded them the opportunity to be heard over women. Their societal woes did not hinder them from speaking up in class, and expressing their opinions freely.

While Money School Tanzania is preparing for its second year in January of 2010, I will be refocusing my efforts towards starting School of Dreams for young women.

Only 16% of all secondary age children are able to attend secondary school. The president has publicly declared the country to be in a secondary education state of emergency. 93% of all students are in primary grades. The fear is that there will be no schools for the future graduates of primary school to attend. Many members of Tanzanian society have only to look forward to a lifetime of poverty; however, women experience more severely the effects. Though women play a big part in Tanzania‘s economic growth, they remain among the most oppressed people in the country. Women have the highest new cases of HIV/AIDS. Only a small percentage of girls attend secondary school and even fewer continue on to post - secondary institutions. The result is many girls are forced to wed at a young age, work as indentured servants, or become prostitutes.