Dormitories for the St. Martin’s Girls Secondary School in Mbingu, Tanzania

Objective

To increase the school’s capacity to 500 students by constructing and equipping two 250-bed dormitories, ensuring financial viability and a safe learning environment for girls.

Context and Challenges

Tanzania faces a critical shortage of schools for its young population. In rural areas, girls’ education is often not a priority. This project addresses the lack of infrastructure by providing affordable boarding facilities, protecting adolescents from early marriage and pregnancy while ensuring they receive a quality education recognized by national authorities.

Why it matters

Boarding schools provide a secure, caring environment that significantly improves academic success rates. By reaching a critical mass of 500 students, the school becomes financially self-sustaining, keeping tuition fees affordable for low-income rural families.

Areas of actions

• Infrastructure Development: Construction of two dormitories (500 places), three classrooms, teacher housing, and various service buildings and utilities.
• Financial & Administrative Sustainability: Optimization of school management to maintain low tuition fees while ensuring long-term institutional viability.
• Academic Support & Protection: Creating a supervised “living-learning” environment to improve graduation rates and enable girls to pursue higher education or professional careers.

Equal Education Fund (EEF)

EEF – equal education fund is a Swiss non-profit association founded in Bern in 2002. Its core mission is to ensure equitable access to education for disadvantaged children and young people, removing barriers related to gender, origin, or economic status.