Kujali International

Welcome to our projects page!  Here we’ll keep you up-to-date on our most current projects and needs.  We invite you to be a part of the vision through investing in the lives and work our local partners and the brave, talented, and inspiring young people with whom we work.

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FEATURED PROJECTS

as of July, 2010

EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

HOCET Secondary School Capital Campaign, “Buy A Brick”

Our capital campaign to raise $120,000 to finish school construction become a registered secondary boarding school in Tanzania. Learn more…

Project 90

Project 90 is a partnership program through which individuals and families pledge monthly or annual support to HOCET Secondary School (formerly “Hananasif Academy”) and also become personally connected to one of HOCET Secondary School’s students. Join Project 90.

Learning Circle Program

Kujali’s local partner organization, HOCET, is a Tanzanian NGO that not only operates a boarding school; it also provides a home for over 20 children in Dar-es-Salaam at its City Center.  The children are under the age of 12 and, because primary school is free in Tanzania, the children attend local primary schools in the city.  However, to ensure that the foundations for academic achievement are laid early on, Kujali staff member Iris Zeilske will be collaborating with HOCET staff member Mama Mwalugaja and US partners to develop the Learning Circle Program, which will provide extended learning opportunities for HOCET’s youngest bunch.  Target learning areas will include English and Kiswahili, Math, and Computer Literacy.  Extracurricular activities in the arts and other areas of interest for the children will also be a part of Learning Circle Program.  The Program Budget includes costs for a library at HOCET City Center with primary-level educational resources, a small technology center, and the salary for a Tanzanian Program Director who will work with Iris and Mama to lead the program over the long-term.

New Paths Program

In December of 2010, we will celebrate HOCET Secondary School’s first graduating class.   Through our New Paths Program, we plan to offer ongoing support to our first post-secondary students as they explore college and career options.  New Paths Program will have two primary features: a) a post-secondary scholarship program for students interested in exploring higher education opportunities; b) a full-time New Paths Program Director to serve as an advocate, guidance counselor, and mentor to our graduates as they engage in decision-making for the next phase of their life.  New Paths will begin January 2011.

MICRO-BUSINESS INVESTMENTS

HOCET Pizza House

Learn more about our plans to launch an urban pizzeria in Dar-es-Salaam that will direct 100% of profits to fund HOCET Secondary School’s operating costs.  Now seeking social impact investors to donate start-up funds needed: $40,082. HOCET Pizza House Business Plan.

Poultry Production Farm

In May-June of 2010, a team of volunteers will arrive at HSS to construct a large-scale chicken coop, and help us kick off our poultry production farm that will serve as a sustainable source of income for the school.  Stay tuned!

HSS Horticulture Program

HOCET Secondary School (formerly “Hananasif Academy”) is located on 300 acres of land in Mkuranga, Tanzania.  Over the last several years, we have piloted a small-scale horticulture program and have grown tomatoes, watermelon, ocra, spinach, cucumber, and papaya.  This program has an enormous impact on the school community: it has improved student nutrition, cut food costs, and provided a platform for entrepreneurship and business skills training.  Through moderate investments in this program we hope to scale cultivation and allow this program to generate a sustainable income for the school, while also continuing to provide learning opportunities and a fresh source of fruits and vegetables for our students and school staff.

MANAGEMENT TRAINING & SUPPORT

Teacher Education Program (TEP)

Emily Vogelsong, M.Ed., is working at HOCET Secondary School (HSS) in Mkuranga, Tanzania from August 2009 - May 2010 as our Educational Program Director.  Her goals include developing and facilitating a Teacher Education Program (TEP) for our local teaching staff; designing academic course frameworks for each subject in collaboration with local staff; developing school systems, policies, and administrative processes to improve school functionality; and working with HSS students in English literacy and Health Education.

HOCET Management Support

Kujali field staff Alex Manchon, MBA, and Alberto Vega are working closely with HOCET staff and leadership to strengthen operations and management systems.  Additionally, Alberto is involved in partnership outreach, communications, and local fundraising.  Alex is involved in research, business planning, financial management training, and executive coaching.

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Kujali projects fall into three strategic areas:

1. Boarding School Development: Infrastructure & Programming
2. Management Training & Assistance
3. Micro-business investments to establish financial sustainability for local partners

Each of our projects support our long‐term goal of creating lasting, measurable change in the lives and futures of vulnerable youth.  Our projects are planned, implemented, and evaluated in collaboration with our local partners; we believe that no one is more in tune with the needs, risks, and value of a program than the members of the communities in which we work.

KUJALI CORE PROJECT AREAS

Boarding School Development: We work to ensure that our partners have the appropriate infrastructure to support their programming and to achieve the long‐term goal of sustainability. While investments in physical and technological infrastructure can be costly, these investments provide the foundation for a community’s long‐term growth and economic development, and in turn enable communities to provide more comprehensive support and services to children in need.  Our four programming areas lie at the heart of our direct impact on children. Our success in these areas is heavily dependent upon a close working partnership between dedicated local staff and a core group of skilled international volunteers who lead strategic projects on‐site and bring their skill‐sets, passion, and expertise to their work.

Management Training & Assistance: As part of our effort to help build local capacity for a sustainable outreach to children, Kujali seeks to offer resources, training, and strategic support to local staff in our partner orphanages.  Kujali recruits and sends individuals with specialized skills to work collaboratively with our local partners in the areas of organizational development, strategic planning, and program development and evaluation.

Micro-Business Investments: Kujali’s impact extends beyond the reach of our direct programming efforts because our focus is on serving communities and supporting our partners’ efforts toward sustainability. Our greatest impact will be in our partners’ ability to sustain their outreach children, and continue to provide comprehensive resources, support, and training to young people in the years following the partnership term.  This will only be possible through strategic investments in innovative, profit‐generating initiatives that offset operational costs for our local partners.