Mugango Primary School - our link school in Tanzania
Windmill C of E Primary is proudly linked with Mugango Primary School.
February 2017
Mrs Thompson visited Tanzania in February 2017 – she visited Mugango Primary School to set up a link between our school here and theirs in Tanzania.
To see more from her trip you can watch the video below or or read her journey from this blog by clicking here.
The visit enabled pupils to learn all about life in Tanzania from the homes they live in to the food they eat, what subjects the children do, what their school is like and what the country is like. The ‘Teach like Tanzania Day’ gave pupils the experience what school life is like for children in Tanzania. The teachers were not allowed to use their computers and had to teach 60 children at once! We created art work inspired by fabrics brought back from Tanzania and by the animals that live in the Serengeti.
July 2017
In July 2017, Arthur and Melina (people who looked after Mrs Thompson in Tanzania and help with the link schools) visited England and came to see our school. Arthur and Melina were so impressed with our councils and Head Boy & Girls that they wanted to introduce them to the schools in Tanzania. Every class showcased some learning to Arthur and Melina; have a look at this work below:
Year 2 performed African dancing and drumming and questioned Arthur and Melina about life in Tanzania to support their topic of ‘Where would you rather live? England or Tanzania?’
They also brought news with them from Tanzania. Here are the photos and letters which the Tanzania council are working on responding at the moment.
September 2017
In September 2017, a Tanzania school council was been created to work with Mrs Thompson to consider how we can support our link school in Tanzania. They engaged in fundraising ideas to help our link school in building a new classroom. As well as this, they helped communicate what is happening in our school with Mugango and to share information about our link school when it was received from Arthur and Melina.
October 2017
In October 2017, Gill Johnson from the Diocese of Leeds and West Yorkshire came to visit us in school to give us an update on how Mugango Primary is getting on. She read out an email from Melina, who said they had a new headteacher. Her name is Rustika Kiraka and she is very excited about her school’s link with Windmill. Melina explained that the community local to the school have been helping to build a classroom and a library for the pupils, and that these just need a roof and plastering for them to be ready for the children.
We are going to email them over the next couple of weeks, and eagerly await their reply.
1st May 2018
On the 1st of May there was another Teach like Tanzania Day to remember our link with Mugango Primary School. School had no electricity, 60+ pupils in one class, Swahili lessons, ugali tasting, African dance classes and much more happened across school.
The day with a whole school collective worship led by the Tanzania Council and were visited by Reverend Lesley and Laurie, a member of the congregation who had been to Mara, the same area of Tanzania that Mrs Thompson visited.
The assembly was opened and closed by Y5 singing the 'Jambo' song which they then teamed up with their year group partners in Y3 to teach them the actions to the song. They ventured outside to do a group performance of the song in the sunshine.
After being taught maths and Swahili as a whole year group, Y4 joined their year group partners in Y2 to create African masks and bunting using handmade stamps.
Each year group was asked to create a new logo to represent our links using our school motto - Inspire, Believe, Achieve and Mugango's motto - Education is Light. Y6 and Y1 teamed up to create their logos. They also headed outside to try carry water just like the children in Tanzania have to do everyday.
Y4 and Y2 were lucky enough to be taught an African dance routine by Mrs Hartley, our dance club teacher. It was very energetic and great fun.
The children in Reception explored the Tanzanian flag and found Tanzania on maps. They also compared the schools using photographs from Mrs Thompson's visit.
Mrs Thompson made some 'ugali' which is the staple food for many in Tanzania. It is made from maize flour and water, it looks like mashed potato but a lot thicker. The children would eat this with beans or stew. Many children were brave enough to try it; it had very mixed reviews. Some children hated the taste of it and others were asking for more! Mrs Thompson reminded the children that this is all that is available to many people in Tanzania and we should be very grateful for our packed lunches and school dinners.
The children were invited to wear non uniform in the colours of Tanzania flag and bring a £1 donation, the money raised will be going towards Mugango's new library and classrooms.
The Tanzania Council will be choosing a winner of the school motto logo competition next week.
The Tanzania Logo
On Teach Like Tanzania Day 2018, each year group was asked to create a new logo to represent our school links using our motto - Inspire, Believe, Achieve and Mugango's motto - Education is Light.
The Tanzania Council selected the winning design. It was really hard because they were all so good. We finally made the decision and picked a brilliant design by Isabelle in 6N and Milena in 1B.
By Chloe, 6N - Head of Tanzania Council
February 2019 - Mrs Wilson’s Visit to Mugango
Mrs Wilson’s Visit to Mugango
Mrs Wilson, our Y4 teacher, took an exciting trip to our link school, Mugango Primary, in the diocese of Mara in Tanzania over the half-term holiday. This is an important piece of work for our school; we use the link to help our children develop their understanding of the world and to encourage them to think of how they can be advocates for people less well off than themselves. Prior to the visit, our children raised money so that Mrs Wilson could take PE equipment with her. Children in Y4 also wrote instructions for some games that the children could play with the equipment. Mrs Wilson led a collective worship for children in Y1-Y6 this week and has written about her visit below.
“It seems an impossible task to sum up my thoughts about our trip. It was unforgettable, inspirational and has without a doubt changed me as a person. My lasting memory is smiling faces. Children who were beaming and full of excitement just to see us will be etched in my memory forever. When thinking about Mara, I can hear joyful music and see lively, spirited dancing. Arthur said it best when explaining, "Asking a Tanzanian child to sing without dancing is impossible. They would be dancing in their hearts."
Although it was clear that the schools were facing immense challenges, I was overcome by the dedication of staff and students alike. What moved us to tears had only made the staff work harder and the children become more ambitious. The visit to our link school will stay with me forever. I experienced a range of emotions; watching the reaction on the children's faces when gifts were exchanged, being dragged into a crowd of children and staff dancing and singing and taking part in sack races. This experience has renewed my enthusiasm to strengthen the link even further and has made me determined to convey the importance of the link to the rest of our team.
I feel incredibly privileged to have been given the opportunity to visit the Diocese of Mara and must also thank the rest of the group for their support, care and encouragement on the trip. I know I have made friends for life and could not have asked for a better group of people to share my journey with. I have every confidence that our combined enthusiasm will raise the profile of our link with Mara and maintain the superb relationship we are developing with our Tanzanian friends.”
November 2022
Covid 19 paused our links with Mugango . As the world went into lockdown our focus and that of our partner school became focussed on the pandemic and responding to it's aftermath. It was therefore lovely to hear from Mugango in November 2022:
Greetings from MUGANGO primary school,
MUGANGO have increased the number of students from 36%-81% especially after doing well in their national examinations for class 7 twice in a row 2020 and 2021 now the kids are 663.
The government gave them a certificate gift along with a small gas stove so that teachers could get tea and food while at school.
They have added new classrooms which are in the process of setting doors and windows as you can see on picture below,
They have painted all old classrooms and now their school looks new and more attractive unlike before.
They are very grateful for the gift of chairs and tables you left for them, So teachers are now sitting comfortably in the office and in classrooms as well.
In addition, they were also lucky enough to get the school band for the kids to match, as they enter to the classrooms and when singing the national song during parade, The children are so happy.
They grew cotton and planted maize, Now harvested corns which helps with school meals. Cotton increase the school income by selling to meet other needs of children especially those from poor families, as you can see girls holding plates enjoying their meal during lunch time.
However, they have installed modern toilets that use water in the tanks (rainwater) not only in toilets but the whole school depends on rainwater through the school tank.
Moreover, they have a big playground and two pairs of men's jerseys for soccer now kids are playing and having fun during break time and sports day.
apart from all that they bought photocopy machine for the school , they do not have the challenge of issuing exam copies anymore.
Dear friends we thank god for the steps they have taken so far and we thank God for giving them good friends like you and we keep praying for you and your friendship every day, may God fight for you in your studies and your daily life and bless you always.
Please always remember them in your prayers so that they can;-
· Find desks,doors and windows for their new classrooms.
· Install a plumbing system at school as it is now the dry season, their tanks are completely dehydrated so children have to walk long distances to fetch water from the lake.
· Get sports equipment and jerseys for girls as well.
· Get a computer and printer to facilitate communication and printing of exams.
AMEN.
Spring/Summer 23
Children drafted their response and sent pictures of the school year:
Dear children and staff of Mugango Primary School,
We were delighted to receive your email and we are really pleased to see all of the positive things that are happening in your school. We have attached a PowerPoint showing our last school year in pictures. We hope that you enjoy looking at them.
You are always in our thoughts; our children have written some messages for you.
Year 5
We hope and pray for you that the dry season doesn’t last too long and you can have fresh rainwater to fill your tanks.
We pray for you to be able to have soap to keep clean, windows and doors to keep you safe and warm, food to help you be healthy, new equipment to work and enjoy school life and toilets to keep you comfortable.
We pray that you receive all of the things you need and want.
God bless you all
Thank you for your singing when Mrs Wilson last visited– it was beautiful and entertaining.
Year 6
Dear the children of Mugango,
Thank you for your email; it is lovely to hear that you have more students in your school and you now have chairs to make your studies more comfortable. We pray that you continue to receive more equipment for your school and pray for your daily health and happiness.
Year 4
Thank you for the message. It’s so good to hear from you and it’s great to see your school is growing! We’ve really enjoyed seeing your updates and your school looks like such a wonderful place! We will keep you in our prayers and your school always be blessed in our hearts.
God be with you all!
Year 3
We hope you are enjoying the new equipment. Your new classrooms look amazing! If you want any new friends we are always here to accept your friendship. We wish you good health.
We are interested to hear more about your school. Our children would like to ask:
- - What is your favourite subject at school?
- - What is your favourite sport to take part in at school?
- - Do you get tired working such long hours at school?
- - What instruments do the school band play?
You remain in our prayers and we value your friendship.
We pray for all our friends
May their lives be happy, healthy and full of joy
Lord hear us
Amen
September 2023
We want to wish the pupils graduating from Mugango a happy and successful future as they move on. You are always in our thoughts and prayers:
Spring 2024
Meet our new Tanzania Action councillors. Their role will involve meeting to discuss ways in which we might raise funds for our link school Mugango Primary School as well as helping our schools maintain a bond of friendship.
April 2024
The Tanzania Action Council wrote and sent photos to Mugango Primary School to let them know about our 10th birthday celebrations and about our upcoming Colour Run. We were delighted to hear back from them and are looking forward to some African dance tips!
Dear friends of Windmill C. E Primary school!.
We have delighted to receive your intire greetings. We are very
greatiful to you on how you work hard to strength our link.
Congratulations for your programs you held last Friday celebrating your
10th birthday.
We have seen the pictures of your celebration infact it was a great day.
Now you are looking forward to celebrate the link between our school on
24th may 2024. I hope it will be incredible day. As you wish to have an
African dance on that day we will send to you soon Africa dance tip and
yoo will practice it. Hope it will be fun and enjoyable to you.
Thanks for contact with us.
Sir Frank,
Academic Teacher
MUGANGO PRIMARY SCHOOL
May 2024
In Collective Worship, the Tanzania Council talked about life at Mugango Primary and how we can support the pupils there. They explained that we will host a Sponsored Colour Run on the 24th May to raise funds for both Mugango and Windmill. We are all very excited!
May 2024
The Tanzania Action Council visited Year 2 to see the amazing work they have produced. The children have upcycled coffee tins to make the most amazing African Djembe drums / shakers. In small groups they have written their own raps about African wild animals which they proudly performed for the Tanzania Action council today.
"It was very upbeat with a different combination of drumming and rattling." - E, Year 6
/i/video/MovieY2drumming.mp4
On the back of this Art lesson, L and her family have donated an actual piece of material all the way from Tanzania. Before it arrived in the UK our donor climbed Mount Kilimanjaro!
Kindly receive greetings from MUGANGO!
Hellow everyone at windmill primary school!
We have kindly received your message.
we have impressed with the work done by your 2 years children
especially Djembe drums and other African tins, all these are wonderful
work done by you.
Thanks for the beautiful video and Photo.
Best wishes
Frank &everyone at Mugango primary school.
June 2024
We are so pleased to announce we have raised a spectacular £3762.50 at our Sponsored Colour Run for school and Mugango! We cannot thank everyone enough for their generous contributions. What an amazing afternoon!
The total is in.....
— Windmill CE Primary (@Windmill_CE_Sch) June 7, 2024
We are so pleased to announce we have raised a spectacular £3762.50 at our Sponsored Colour Run!
We cannot thank everyone enough for their generous contributions.
What an amazing afternoon! 🥰🇹🇿🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/NyhEw1sL3G
July 2024
The Tanzania Council ran a face painting stall at the school gala, painting animal faces of the Serengeti!
