Cheka School

ree volunteers in mid December 2010. At Cheka house the classes were split in two - with the much younger children taught in the morning and the older children from the local Government school coming there in the afternoon for extra lessons to supplement their Government school primary education. In mid January 2011, the school relocated to the grounds of a local house as the local demand for enrollment grew rapidly. As more children and volunteers arrived, two new classes were created - Simba class which was placed initially in a cleared out garage and Tembo class which remains in its same classroom. At this point, apart from volunteers, the school had one local teacher,Catherine, who volunteered her time to assist. Margaret was also on hand to help with preparing porridge for the children at the end of the school day. Soon after Jeff from the UK arrived (through Futuresense Foundation) to offer his building skills and experience voluntarily to the school, and oversaw the building of the new classroom which was the new home of Simba class. Through various generous donations worldwide, Simba class was painted, stationery and supplies were bought and teachers were employed on a full time basis at the school. In March 2012, the school was relocated down the road to new premises. Cheka School's lessons now take place within a rented Western style house. Next door to the school, and within the same compound, is another house that has been furnished on order to accommodate volunteers on a self catering basis. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer - let us know!! Currently the school employs (through donations) two full time local Swahili and English speaking teachers -Happy and Thabea, one cook Mama Rizzi that prepares 2 nutritious meals each day for the children and two security guards providing 24 hour security for the premises. Co-managers Sonia & Deo handle the in-country management of the school. Cheka school continues to work with various organisations to welcome volunteers from all over the world to come and offer their assistance and/or experience of teaching or any other skills they might have that can help our lovely school. It is hoped that all volunteers that come to Cheka will have an excellent and thoroughly rewarding time and will leave with some incredible memories of their time with the children, the school and Tanzania.