Residents begin building school to help their children

People in Mbalizi village, Utengule Usongwe ward, Mbeya District, Tanzania volunteered to begin construction on the Shigamba Pipeline Secondary School.

Residents took the initiative to dig the foundation, aiming to ease the burden on students who previously had to walk 15 kilometers to attend class. The government of Tanzania provided over 583 million shillings to support the project, which will address a long-standing need for closer access to education.

Currently, some students attend schools in neighboring wards, leaving them with little time to study and lowering their academic performance. Christina Christopher, a resident of Nsalala ward, explained that the community started the work because of the school’s importance, particularly for protecting girls from challenges during their long commutes. Joel Amos, a local onion vendor, encouraged continued cooperation between residents and the government on development projects that improve community services.

Paul Mwampamba, the village chairperson, stated that people responded to the call to participate because their children had been forced to study at distant schools like Juhudi and Usongwe. Fatma Issa, a special seat councilor for Usongwe, said the residents’ participation demonstrates unity and a willingness to work with the government to bring about development. Aidda Haule, the chairperson of the Mbeya District Council, noted that the school's construction had been a long-awaited solution for local people.