Afroplan is a community center in Usa River, Tanzania that provides vulnerable children with meals, education, and basic healthcare.
Afroplan is a day center where children of the Usa River township can come to learn basic mathematics, science, phonics, grammar, Swahili, and English skills. Additionally, it is a place for these children to stay safe and supervised while the people that they live earn an income. Children arrive at 8 am and are greeted and sent to one of two classes. The baby class for children ranging 3-7 years
old. The pre-unit class was set up for students that excelled in the baby class so they could continue their education. The first two hours of the day consist of class work. Next the children eat breakfast. This is a Tanzanian dish called Ugi. It is similar to porridge; it consists of ground maize, millet, milk, water and sugar warmed to a boil over a wood fire. The remainder of this hour period is spent socializing and playing. After breakfast the children return to class where they have 2 more hours of lessons. They are given homework and then released for lunch. Lunch is a traditional Tanzanian dish called Makande made from beans, maize, and vegetables. The school remains open util 3 pm. There is time for cleaning faces, noses, hands, arms, and legs. The children get a quick medical check for any infections, ringworm, or other illnesses, and then brush their teeth. If there is time remaining the children nap before heading back to the places they reside at night. The classroom teachers and staff are Tanzanian citizens. There are also international volunteers on site who work to improve the buildings, assist teachers with lessons, help with hygiene programs, and socialize and play with the children.
