Our Story
Children everywhere deserve an education. Africa Schoolhouse was formed to help children in remote parts of Africa gain access to life-changing education. Our first project is in Ntulya, Tanzania, where we are building a school for over 600 local children.
The strong, lasting bonds between good friends are at the root of the Africa Schoolhouse project. We founded Africa Schoolhouse in memory of a close friend lost to cancer in 1992. Josh was only 28 years old, but he included a small stipend for us in his will. His wish was that we continue our tradition of gathering for dinner on the night before Thanksgiving. What began 30 years ago as an annual get-together has become a multi-generational celebration of our friendship, as important as any holiday.
At the time of the “Josh Dinner” in 2006, our founder Dr. Aimee Bessire had just returned from a research trip to Tanzania. Aimee, a professor of African Studies at Bates College, described her experience revisiting the village of Ntulya after a ten-year absence. She was heartbroken that life in this special place had deteriorated since she had lived and studied there with her husband Mark in the early 1990s. The villagers were suffering due to lack of food, water, education, and medical care. The Elders of Ntulya desperately wanted a better future for their children and asked for her assistance in building a school. We immediately began to discuss ways to join Aimee in helping the village of Ntulya. From this passionate dialogue, Africa Schoolhouse was born.
Why Tanzania?
The need is great.
Our Co-Chairman, Dr. Aimee Bessire has had a longstanding relationship with the people of Ntulya, and has spent years working and studying in the region. Her familiarity with the people, their language and customs has enabled us to build a strong and successful partnership with them.
The government is supportive of country-wide education for all the children of Tanzania. Despite this, they have neither the resources nor the infrastructure to provide for all of them. Locations like Ntulya, have been identified as desperately in need of a school, but the funds are not available to make this a reality.
Your impact is great. Dollar donations have can make a huge difference in this developing country.
Tanzania is a peaceful country with a long history of stability. Stability increases the possibility of maintaining student enrollment and truly educating a population.
