A Pair for Every Child Campaign. #PECcampaign

Best of Zanzibar in April 2018, launched its ‘Pair for Every Child’ campaign (Valisha Mtoto Viatu) in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende schools. Children as young as four from these villages, walk more than 5 kilometers to school, the roads are rough, hot and rocky making the daily trek difficult and unbearable.

Walking barefoot exposes the children to many health risks as they walk into public toilets, thorny bushes and hot gravel roads which can cause cuts and left untreated create infections.

As of 11 April 2019, through the various donations from around the world, Best of Zanzibar has managed to give a total of 1,200 pairs to the children in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende schools.

“Best of Zanzibar held a Sanitation & Hygiene Education Program for the students and community members of Kijini and Mbuyu Tende. Our health program will not be complete without providing school shoes to promote proper foot hygiene and safety in schools, this is the main reason we started the campaign” Aminata Keita Best of Zanzibar CSR Program Manager states.

“Our aim is to see these children go to school with shoes for their safety and improve their performance. Hence, we are encouraging other organizations, individuals and NGO’s to invest in education. We started with the two schools in Matemwe and provided 200 pairs at the launch of the campaign. However, the demand was still high as the total number of students in the schools is 1,690. We are very grateful to the men and women who have contributed to the Pair for Every Child campaign and made it possible for us to give over 1,200 pairs to the children. Our campaign is aimed for the whole of Zanzibar nevertheless we have started with these two schools and hope to help more schools in the future which will be made possible if more people join the campaign.” said Aminata Keita.

“We experience great joy as our school was selected for the launch of Best of Zanzibar’s Pair for Every Child Campaign. These shoes will greatly assist the children in their journey to school and also improve their love of learning. The harsh conditions they have faced will be alleviated and the students will look forward to coming to school. The parents and teachers of Kijini are very happy that their children have new shoes. The pupils look smart and their feet are protected” said Headteacher Mwalimu Ulimwengu.

The launch was commemorated by the Regional Commissioner of North Region (U) Mr. Vuai Mohamed and the Director of Pre-Primary and Primary Education Mrs. Safia Rijali, who urged more parties to join in the campaign not only for the children of Kijini and Mbuyu Tende but other rural schools in Zanzibar.

“We commend Best of Zanzibar for their great work and all their initiatives to improve education in Kijini and Mbuyu Tende. They have set a good example for other organizations to follow. Investing in education is very important for the development of our nation. ” Said, Mr. Vuai Mohamed.

During the launch, 45 students who are apart of Best of Zanzibar’s After – Hours Tutoring program were acknowledged for their outstanding performance in English and Mathematics. Also acknowledged was a Standard Six student Makame Kidawa Mwiga who received a distinction when passing the National Exam.

Best of Zanzibar is encouraging well-wishers to join the campaign and support us as we put shoes on the feet of these well deserving children. Allow us to empower these students to put their best foot forward!

For more details on how you can be part of the campaign and make a positive impact, please follow us on social media or on our website or contact aminata@best-of-zanzibar.com

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Tarehe 11 Aprili 2018, Best of Zanzibar ilizindua kampeni yake ya Valisha Mtoto Viatu (Pair for Every Child Campaign #PEC) katika shule za Mbuyu Tende na Kijini wilaya Kasikazini A Unguja. Watoto wa vijiji hivyo wana tembea muda mrefu kwenda shuleni bila viatu na wengi wao hutembea zaidi ya kilomita 5 kwenye ardhi kavu ya mawe iwe masika au kiangazi.

Kutokana na hali hiyo watoto wengi wanaweza kupata maradhi wakati wanakwenda chooni ama kukanyaga vitu vya hatari vinavyoweza kuwadhuru.

“Best of Zanzibar ilifanya elimu ya afya na usafi wa mwili na mazingira, elimu hii isingekamilika kama tusingewavisha watoto hawa viatu na ndio maana tumeanzisha kampeni hii. Lengo letu ni kuhakikisha kila mtoto anakwenda shule na viatu kwa ajili ya afya yao na kuboresha ufanisi wao katika masomo. Tuna hamashisha makampuni, watu binafsi na sekta mbali mbali kuungana nasi katika kampeni hii. Tumeanza na Kijini na Mbuyu Tende lakini shabaha yetu ni kuwavisha watoto wote wanaokwenda shule bila viatu Zanzibar nzima.” alisema meneja wa huduma za jamii Bi. Aminata Keita.

Best of Zanzibar kupitia michango ya wadau mabali mbali wameweza kugawa viatu 1,200 kwa wanafunzi wa Kijini na Mbuyu Tende.

“Tunawashukuru sana wadau wote waliotuunga mkono na kuwezesha watoto hawa kupata viatu vya shule. Bado kuna mahitaji makubwa ya viatu kwa watoto wa shule hizi, tunaendela na kampeni yetu na kuwaomba wasamaria wema wote kutuunga mkono katika kampeni yetu hii, na kuhakikisha watoto wote wanakwenda shule na viatu sio tu wa Kijini na Mbuyu Tende bali Zanzibar nzima.” aliendelea Aminata Keita.

“Tuna Furaha kubwa kuzinduliwa kwa kampeni hii katika shule yetu ya Kijini. Wazazi na walimu wa Kijini wana furahia kuvishwa watoto wao viatu na kuonekana wamependeza na kuhifadhika miguu yao” Mwalimu Mkuu wa Sekondari Kijini, Ulimwengu Mkadam

Uzinduzi huu uliadhimishwa na Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja Mhe. Vuai Mohamed akiambatana na Mkurugenzi wa Elimu Maandalizi na Msingi Zanzibar Bi Safia Rijal, alitoa wito kwa wengine kuunga mkono kampeni hii sio tu kwa watoto wa Kijini na Mbuyu Tende bali kwa Zanzibar vijijini kote.

“Tunaipongeza Best of Zanzibar kwa kazi nzuri na program zao zote kwa nia ya kuongeza ufanisi na ubora wa elimu Kijini na Mbuyu Tende. Kwa hakika wamekuwa mfano bora wa kuigwa na taasisi nyengine katika kuleta mabadiliko bora ya kielimu nchini.

Uzinduzi wa kampeni hiyo uliambatana na kupewa zawadi kwa wanafunzi takriban 45 ambao wamefanya vizuri katika Program ya masomo ya ziada ijulikanayo “After-hours Tutoring Program” pia kutambua mwanafunzi Makame Kidawa Mwiga aliyefaulu michupuo na Vuai Ali Haji aliyeweza kufaulu kuendelea A-Level.

Best of Zanzibar inawakaribisha wadau wote kuungana nao katika Kampeni hii kusaidia kuwavisha viatu watoto hawa, ili kuwafanya waweko salama kutokana na kudhurika miguu yao na matatizo mengine ya kiafya ambayo yanaweza kuwaathiri katika masomo yao.