Mary and her two siblings were abandoned by their parents, leaving them to fend for themselves with no relatives or caretakers to step in. Mary*, who was only in the fifth grade at the time, took a dangerous job at a local bar in a desperate attempt to provide for her siblings. She never dreamed she could attend school or have a childhood.

Monica grew up in extreme poverty, with no access to medical care, school, or life’s necessities. Due to the lack of access to medical care, Monica* watched as her father and three of her four siblings died from preventable diseases. With no money to feed her children, much less send them to school, Monica’s mother asked City of Hope for help.

Sadly, Mary and Monica’s stories are all too common in the regions of rural Tanzania where we work. Children are orphaned, abused, and forced into dangerous situations. Many of them never get the chance to step inside a classroom. Countless children are forced to grow up too quickly due to unimaginable pain and poverty.

But, there is hope and healing for these children and so many others. Mary and her two siblings are now safe and taken care of, and Mary has the chance to be a child again. Monica is thriving at school and even earned the title “Miss City of Hope,” a representative who speaks at events to influential community leaders. She is an incredible leader with dreams of becoming a judge!

We know that quality education is the most effective path out of poverty. Over the years, we have seen education transform children’s lives and fill them with joy, dreams, and hope for the future.

We value our teachers, child sponsors, and supporters who invest in a child by providing them with an education that equips them for life! At HopeCo, we are committed to pursuing excellence in education, so each precious child can effect positive change in the world and live a life full of opportunity and joy!

understand the Tanzanian Education system

Education in Tanzania differs significantly from the education system in the United States. There are different school calendars, grade level names, and more. We want to help you understand Tanzanian education to grasp better what is happening at Destiny Primary School and Dr. John Chacha Secondary School!

The Tanzanian school year runs on the calendar year from January to December, with month-long breaks in June and December. Education is separated into three main levels in Tanzania - primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary school best equates to the US elementary and middle schools. Their secondary school relates closely to US high school, and tertiary school refers to extended studies before college.

Tanzanian School Levels and United States Equivalent Grades

Tanzanian Primary School

• Nursery 1 and Nursery 2 ~ Preschool and Kindergarten

• Classes 1-7 ~ Grades 1-7

Tanzanian Secondary School

• Forms 1-4 (also known as O-Level) ~ Grades 8-11

• Forms 5-6 (also known as A-Level) ~ Grade 12

National exams are a significant component of the Tanzanian school system. A few important national exams are:

• In class 7, all students must take a national exam to determine if they can continue to secondary school. Each student must score at least a 100/250 to move on in their education.

• In Form 4, all students must pass a national exam to continue to Forms 5 and 6, also known as A-Level or Senior Secondary classes.

Your support gives children hope and joy…

Mary, Monica, and many other children are all too familiar with loss, hunger, fear, and loneliness. Because of your partnership, they have a second chance at a future filled with hope and opportunity. Our students dream of becoming judges, nurses, writers, teachers, accountants, pilots, lawyers, and engineers. They are on the path to becoming leaders in their villages, communities, and nations. Thank you for investing in their futures!

*Names changed for privacy reasons