Education
In remote rural communities, schools are often overlooked and chronically under resourced. LESCOTA’s initiatives provide access to quality education for students at the pre, primary and secondary levels through scholarships, learning resources and collaboration with organizations that advance educational opportunities.
Mango Pre and Primary English Medium School
Built in 2018 with funds raised by LESCOTA, Mango School is the only English Medium School in the 40-mile region. With 270 students enrolled in kindergarten through Grade Seven, the 12-block campus includes classrooms, new dormitories and a computer laboratory. Tuition is based on need; over 50% of Mango students do not pay any tuition.
As proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English are required for students to advance to secondary school and/or vocational programs, our curriculum emphasizes reading, writing and speaking English. Mango School is the only school or institution in the area offering English language classes and computer literacy at this level.
LESCOTA covers operating costs for Mango School through fundraising and its income-generating projects like the coffee and fish farms.
Nguzzo Secondary Public School
In 2023, LESCOTA provided 25% of the funds needed to build a secondary school in Matekela. LESCOTA also raised funds to locally build desks, tables and chairs for the 400 students ages 13-17. LESCOTA supports the curriculum through grants and major gifts. It is the only secondary school with a 40-mile region.
Watato Bomba Scholar Program
The Watato Bomba Program annually helps 35 standard seven students’ transition from Swahili to English after their final exams. Founded in 2015, the project is cosponsored by Empowering Tanzanians Through Education, Inc TETEA—an American nonprofit.
Scholarships to Secondary School
LESCOTA and nonprofit organization Empowering Tanzanians Through Education, Inc. (TETEA), annually sponsor three academically advanced students to advance to secondary school. The scholarship covers the cost of food, school supplies, textbooks, and travel to and from the school.
LESCOTA Community Library
In 2010, LESCOTA raised funds to build a free community library that serves over 21,000 people from seven villages including Macobica, Malindindo, Kitesa, Nyoni, Mapera, Mikalanga and Ulingo. Information and learning resources are available in print and digital formats—in both English and Swahili. A full-time, professional librarian is onsite daily. A computer and printer are freely available to patrons. LESCOTA covers the annual salary of the librarian and all the overhead for the library. The library has over 1,000 books written by Tanzanian and Kenyan Swahili authors. These books range from Swahili children’s literature, folklore, and vocational skills like farming techniques, carpentry, animal husbandry, and rural health issues.
Matekela Orphanage
Matekela’s orphanage is a home to 150 children. LESCOTA supplements their annual food budget and annually pays tuition for two orphan students to attend Nguzzo High School.
Water Catchment and Sanitation
Water shortages in Tanzania’s Ruvuma region affects crops and the overall quality of life in our communities. LESCOTA has provided rain catchment systems for each of the schools in the Mbinga district and for the LESCOTA Community Library.
In the early days of COVID-19, LESCOTA built handwash stations for the local schools.
Sustaining Our Programs
We take an integrated approach to poverty alleviation. We collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and residents for capital projects like the building of our community center completed in 2022. We require a long-term commitment from parents of Mango school children to help their children succeed.
CHildren, CHicken and sCHool (CH3) Program
Helping vulnerable children access quality education with school supplies, food, and uniforms is a priority for LESCOTA. In 2018 developed the CHildren and CHicken for sCHool (CH3) Program. (It is similar to the Heifer Project International model.) Here is how it works: families in need receive four chickens from LESCOTA—three chickens and one rooster. Families receive instructions on how to raise and care for a flock of chickens. After one year, families have produced 50+ chickens and are able to return four chickens to LESCOTA so they can be given to other families in need. LESCOTA has also purchased a solar power incubator to help CH3 families incubate their eggs at high efficiency.
Tilapia Fish Farm
LESCOTA owns and maintains a local tilapia fish farm that provides revenue for Mango School teacher salaries.
Duck Pond
A grant from the NEST Foundation provided funds to build a duckpond and purchase a flock of ducks that will support LESCOTA’s education initiatives. The NEST Foundation invests in revenue producing projects designed to allow for re-investment of funds back into future projects or existing projects. LESCOTA’s new duck pond will be used to teach both school children and adults about duck production and raising ducks for profit.
LESCOTA Coffee Farm
In 2023, the Scotch nonprofit, Comrades of Children Overseas—COCO partnered with LESCOTA to purchase a two-hectare coffee farm with approximately 2,000 mature Arabica coffee plants. They also granted funds to build a permanent 9×5 meter shed where we are able to store the beans while they drive. The coffee harvests support the ongoing expenses of Mango School.
