Every morning at 8:30 am, the sound of giggles and the pitter-patter of little feet can be heard gathering at the library steps of the Rift Valley Children’s Village (RVCV). Danny Joseph, now three-and-a-half years old and full of personality, often comes barreling down the path with a smile that lights up the world.

As we look back on the past year, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for each and every member of our extended TCF family who helped make our work possible! We have achieved so much together and are proud of the meaningful progress we have made.

At 3 years old, Marietha Simon is bright, curious, charismatic, and always eager to tell you about her latest adventure. Before the expansion of our Education Program, Marietha’s educational future would have lacked critical resources, classrooms, teachers, and books.

From a young age, Khadija Salim knew she wanted to be a cardiovascular surgeon. Her fascination with medicine began in primary school during an anatomy lesson. Khadija would spend hours studying how the human body functions and was eager to tell everyone about the importance of a healthy heart!

In January of 2023, we opened our first dormitory at Oldeani Secondary School (OSS) and welcomed 96 female and 64 male students to live on campus.

Now, six months later, we sat down with Form 4 student Katherine Maganga to understand what the transition to boarding has been like.

TCF launched our Special Education Program at Gyetighi Primary School (GPS) to accommodate diverse learners and create a more equitable level of education for students. Teacher Susan Ngowi has been passionately leading a classroom of nine students of varying ages and disabilities.

In January of 2023, we opened our first dormitory and welcomed 96 female students and 64 male students to live on campus. It was an exciting time for the Oldeani community as families celebrated the opportunity to give their child a better chance at completing secondary school.

In Tanzania, less than 30% of students complete their secondary education. To address this issue and ensure accessible quality secondary education for the Oldeani community, TCF partnered with the government to co-manage Oldeani Secondary School (OSS) in 2013.

When we started our partnership with Oldeani Primary School in March of this year, we knew we had a long road ahead in transforming Oldeani Primary into a school that delivered the kind of education every student deserves. As we finish the academic year, we are incredibly proud of the team that has been built and the progress that has been made together.

As we approach our 20th year of operations, we have thought critically about the impact we have made and the needs that remain present in our community. We are celebrating this anniversary by growing our Rift Valley Children’s Village family, treating a record number of patients, and by DOUBLING the number of students we serve.

As we transition Oldeani Secondary School (OSS) into a residential campus, we are focused on providing students with far more than just safe housing. By creating an environment that is safe and empowering, we can ensure students will thrive both in and outside of the classroom!

The goal for all of our partner schools is to create student-centered, high-performing academic institutions. In order to give every student the best chance of success, we are dedicated to catering to all learning styles and providing students with the individualized attention they deserve.

Since the start of our partnership, students and staff at Gyetighi Primary School (GPS) have worked hard to achieve academic success. Dedicated to providing students with a holistic education, TCF introduced Art, Dance, and Music classes to inspire and motivate students at Gyetighi Primary School. 

We are now 6-months into our partnership with Oldeani Primary School (OPS)! When we began co-managing OPS, there were only 6 teachers for 700 students, limited school supplies and learning materials, crumbling infrastructure, and little student support. 

Last month, we announced that we will soon be starting construction on our first-ever dormitory at Oldeani Secondary School (OSS). Transitioning OSS to a fully residential campus is the next critical step towards improving student outcomes and we have the data and student testimonials to prove it.

It is hard to describe just how far TCF’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) program has come in the last few years. When I first volunteered at RVCV in 2016, ECCE served only 16 kids between the ages of 3 and 6 years old.

One of the biggest challenges facing students today is the walk to school. Most Oldeani Secondary students walk over two hours to school each day. In a country where 23% of all sexual assaults occur on the walk to school, this unmanageable commute puts our students at significant risk.

In 2022 we are taking huge strides in deepening our impact in education to better serve more students in our community. In addition to expanding our school partnerships, we have kicked off our Teacher Training Program.

India, who is pursuing a Clinical Medicine degree, spends her school breaks interning at our Rural Community Health Clinic. Through hands-on experience, India has gained a wide variety of practical skills.

Born and raised in TEC, a neighboring village, Anna Boay was eager to find a job as a teacher. Having heard about the potential of an opening at RVCV, she came home to submit an application and in 2020 became an integral part of our ECCE Program.