Hey! My name is Lauren Pluchino and I have a challenge for you. It is my unwavering belief that in 2009 poverty should not limit a child’s right to a quality education. In 2009 low expectations should not be the standard for students living in poverty. I have spent the past year working as a teacher in Mwanza, Tanzania and have witnessed all too well how poverty influences achievement. Witnessing some of my students die from malaria, as well as seeing young girls drop out because of sexual abuse, instilled in me a desire to change the face of who gets an ‘international education’ in East Africa. The discrepancies between those who can afford to pay for a quality education and those who are shoved into small rooms with no books are appalling. I have started an NGO in Tanzania entitled Tupo Pamoja Foundation, translated in English Tupo Pamoja means ‘We are Together.’ We are currently working with gifted but underprivileged youth in Mwanza and seek to build an international girls school in Tanzania—a school that opens its doors to girls who would otherwise never have this opportunity. We currently have a team working with us in Mwanza to assist in this process. This will not be an orphanage or a children's home but a school that hope to mix the different social classes in Tanzania--to provide education for all girls.
We are in the preliminary stages of this and want to keep you updated on the development of the school, challenges we face, and successes along the way! [There will be many] ! Keep updated on more to come and my thoughts on it all as I continue! Enjoy the photos and join us on facebook and twitter! Also check out the youtube video and our website (both of which are in the making) and email me with any questions! Enjoy the pictures!
Cheers,
Lauren
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
