The News from Arusha

Note--This article is from this week's local paper, The Arusha Times. When we arrived, I heard that there's no "free press" here. I thought that meant that the newspapers (at least the main ones) were controlled by the government. That is, I think, true--but "free press" in this case actually refers to money. As in, if you want a reporter to cover something newsworthy, you have to pay them to come. On the other hand, if you want to write an article and submit it yourself, they'll gladly take your "news." I'm pretty sure there's not a lot of verification and fact-checking going on. In any event, PHF is in the news this week...

ELCT’s Peace House Academy opens next March. Construction of phase one of a 7 billion shillings secondary school for orphans is due for completion in March next year. The boarding school which will cater for form one to six students is being constructed in a 100- hectare piece of land located at Kisongo near Arusha Airport. The school is being constructed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Arusha Diocese with support of sponsors from Minnesota in the United States of America. The land was allocated to the diocese by the government. Bishop Laizer of the ELCT Arusha Diocese told the Arusha Times last week that construction of the first phase of the project started in March this year and would be complete next March. Upon completion of the first phase the school, to be known as Peace House Academy, will admit 640 students from all over the country. Construction work of structures such as classrooms, dining hall, assembly hall, teachers quarters, a rest house and a workshop is on going and the pace is impressive. Registration for the first batch of entrants will be announced in October this year and they will all be orphans. According to Bishop Laizer the project is meant to be the diocese’s contribution in the national programme for poverty reduction. Bishop Laizer further explained that the overall vision of his diocese is to have some nine secondary schools by next year. The diocese is already running six secondary schools namely Enaboishu, Ekenywa, Kimandolu, Ngateu, Moringe and Maasae Girls.

The construction of the school is a very big feather in the cap for the diocese and so it is often referred to here (especially by church officials) as "their" school. Considering that we derive considerable benefits by partnering with them, we don't mind too much, although the "support" mentioned from MN donors is more than "support". We're pretty sure we won't have student registration ready and announced in October, but we are preparing for that task, which will be tremendously difficult in its scope of identifying, screening, and confirming the eligibility of the potential students that will attend the school. Each student will have to meet certain criteria, and will have to be certified to be either an orphan or a significantly impoverished child, a task that will be very time-consuming and difficult, but absolutely necessary to ensure that the mission of PHF is carried out.

In other news, Andrea and CJ, PHF's very own video team, are here for two weeks, so look for some great pics (if they'll let me have a few to share--if not, you'll just have to look at the ones I take). They are capturing some great pics of PHF work, the construction, and some traditional music and dance from Chagga and Maasai groups. It's always great to have visitors!

We have posted positions for the headmaster, head of residential life, and a purchaser/accountant and applications are coming in. Daily we are given advice about how to discern the best and honest candidate for the job. Keep Mark in your prayers as he leads this team effort.