Missionary Society of St. Francis De Sales

Project Goal: $13,500

Current Progress: $1,109.53 (8.00%)

Fransalian School, an English-medium pre-primary and primary institution located in Bombambili village, Ilala District of Dar es Salaam, is now in its third year and continues to grow steadily with a current enrollment of 297 students and a vision to reach 1,100. Supported by a dedicated team of 14 teachers and 8 non-teaching staff, the school is making remarkable progress in serving the educational needs of the community. With the first phase of infrastructure—classrooms, a library, computer lab, and kitchen—nearing completion, the school is laying a strong foundation for holistic learning. While further investment is needed to complete the second phase, including the dining hall and furnishings, the school remains committed to providing quality education and continues to receive encouraging support from donors and well-wishers as it moves toward full self-sufficiency.

Bombambili, located on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, is a fast-developing settlement area experiencing significant migration from other parts of Tanzania, as people move in search of better economic opportunities. The population primarily consists of small-scale farmers, informal traders, and low-income earners employed in both the public and private sectors. Fransalian School serves this emerging community by offering quality education to children from lower- and middle-income families. The school also provides scholarships to students who are unable to afford tuition, thereby promoting educational access and equity.

Purpose:

The primary purpose of the books is to strengthen the school's academic resources by establishing a well-stocked library and supplementing the existing classroom curriculum across various grade levels. These books will be used by both students and teachers to support reading, research, and learning across subjects.

Currently, the school lacks a functional library and has limited access to quality reading materials. This shortfall restricts students’ opportunities for literacy development, language enrichment, and general academic advancement. The books will serve as essential reference materials to support classroom instruction, language acquisition, and to foster a culture of independent reading and lifelong learning.

In addition to benefiting Fransalian School, a portion of the books will be shared with nearby schools in the Kivule Ward. The Fransalian Congregation, which manages the school, also oversees several other educational institutions in different regions of Tanzania, and some of the donated books will be distributed to support those schools as well.

Impact:

The availability of quality books is expected to have a transformative impact on the entire school community and beyond. For students, these resources will help improve literacy, enhance critical thinking, nurture curiosity, and broaden their understanding of the world. A well-equipped library will also help instill a lasting love of reading and support students in achieving academic excellence.

For teachers, access to diverse educational materials will enhance lesson planning, improve instructional delivery, and promote innovative and engaging classroom practices. This, in turn, will raise the overall quality of education offered at the school.

Beyond the school, the broader community will also benefit. Once the Fransalian School library is fully established, it will be opened to students from local government schools—especially those who are proficient in English—providing a valuable educational resource for the wider Bombambili area. As the school continues to grow and evolve into a model institution, these books will play a pivotal role in uplifting educational standards, fostering community development, and offering hope and opportunity to countless families in the region.