Defying Odds in Tanzania: Graduating Secondary School

As 2020 rolled to an end, the Form 4 students of Oldeani Secondary School retired their red and blue uniforms, discarded their black school notebooks and snapped pictures with classmates atop the dusty Oldeani hill for the last time. 

Given the many challenges of last year, we couldn’t be more proud of the Form 4 class who recently graduated from Oldeani Secondary School (OSS). In Tanzania, 70% of children are not enrolled in secondary school, and only 3% of those enrolled complete their secondary education. Despite three months of nationwide school closures, 100% of the OSS Form 4 class made it to graduation day.

Putting in extra hours after school and on weekends to finish strong and be prepared for the National Exam, the OSS Form 4 class has proven that they can do anything they put their minds to. “This group of students has such a backbone,” RVCV’s Child Protection Officer, Betty, explains, “whatever happens post Form 4, they are a confident and capable group!” 

We are proud of RVCV’s bright group of Form 4 graduates: Neema, Rebecca, Faraja, Joshua, Yusufu, Nada, Gericki, Ema and Elia. On Graduation day, many of our kids took home special awards. Neema, who served as academic prefect for her class, was awarded “Top Discipline Girl” while Nada was awarded “Top Boy or Male Valedictorian”. Gericki, who was head prefect for two years, received the “Head Boy” leadership award while Joshua was recognized as the religious leader of his class. 

So what is next for RVCV’s impressive group of secondary school graduates and Tanzania’s next generation of leaders?

Neema, Joshua and Rebecca plan to attend medical school with the dream of becoming doctors and nurses. Gericki and Elia, natural leaders interested in community development, intend to study social work to one day help transform Tanzanian communities. Faraja, an animal lover, hopes to attend veterinary school to protect Tanzania’s wildlife. Nada and Ema plan to study engineering to contribute towards Tanzania’s development. Yusufu, a lover of nature and wildlife, hopes to attend tour guiding school to guide guests through Tanzania’s national parks.  

We thank each and every one of our supporters for empowering our children to never give up and to never stop dreaming. It is incredible to watch our kids make strides towards turning their dreams into reality.