Wed, May 20 at 2:22 pm GMT
Dear TSF sponsors,
This is Tunu, the Communications and Development Manager at Orkeeswa School.
I hope you are doing well and staying safe in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
In case you didn't get our newsletter, Orkeeswa School has taken the following steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
* Closed the school on Monday, March 16 in anticipation that cases would soon be confirmed in Tanzania
* Ahead of that, we educated students and staff about the virus, social distancing, and other preventative measures they could start taking immediately
* Created and distributed Swahili informational materials to share with families and community members.
If you have any questions about Orkeeswa during this time, please let us know.
While this is a unique time globally, we are working hard to make sure we keep things on track with Orkeeswa School, and that includes keeping our Scholarship Program updated and in full operation.
Paulina has participated in some unique opportunities that we would like to share with you.
As you know, she has completed her 10th grade studies and sat for her National Exams last fall. Results from the Ministry of Education are in, and congratulations are in order as the class has 100% pass mark. We are very proud of them!
While waiting for their exam results, Paulina and her classmates participated in an introductory workshop for Orkeeswa School's Entrepreneurship Program. Students were introduced to the world of entrepreneurship through hands-on and practical lessons that taught them how to think like entrepreneurs, write a business plan, and present their ideas to investors, partners, or community leaders. Paulina and her partners’ business was making a beauty soap called Mpera Beauty Soaps made from guava leaves.
After the winter break, Paulina was back on campus to spend the next five months doing Orkeeswa Community Service, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. Paulina and her classmates will each complete at least 300 hours of community service in local primary schools, participate in an innovation workshop with our partner organization, Twende, to design prototypes that address community challenges, and build on their recent Entrepreneurship workshop by exploring entrepreneurship as a career pathway and further develop their business ideas.
As you can see, this period of time between the 10th and 11th grades is a unique opportunity for Paulina and her classmates to get hands-on, real-world experience in the community as leaders and entrepreneurs, and we are excited to share with you more about her experience later this year!
After the programs, Paulina and her classmates will continue with their final two years of secondary education at Orkeeswa School. A few may continue at other secondary schools, and some will enroll in post-secondary certificate programs for things like Elementary Education, Agriculture, Nursing, etc. We look forward to keeping you updated on Paulina’s progress and her plans moving forward.
Attached is a photo of Paulina and her business partners working on their business.
Thank you for being an integral part of her personal growth as a scholar and leader!
With Gratitude,
Tunu and Orkeeswa School
