Project LitStart: Building Literacy From Home to School ~ Tanzania
 |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
Over the past 10 years WaterBridge Outreach (WBO) has partnered with The Foundation For Tomorrow (TFFT) in Arusha, Tanzania on multiple book + water projects to support their mission in bringing secure quality education and emotional support for orphan and vulnerable children in Tanzania.
In 2023 a grant from WBO enabled TFFT to establish an innovative Literacy Hub in their new state-of-the-art Learning Centre, a first-of-its-kind community complex in Arusha. The Literacy Hub supports young students and their families with services that create a strong foundation for literacy and numeracy development to help set young learners on a clear path to academic success.
We are now thrilled to announce the launch of a new project with TFFT, LitStart: Building Literacy from Home to School.
LitStart: Building Literacy from Home to School is designed to improve early literacy outcomes for children aged 3 to 8 by empowering parents and caregivers, strengthening teacher capacity, and activating community support to foster a culture of reading.
Literacy is a shared priority for both WBO and TFFT, and we believe that this project offers an opportunity for a meaningful and lasting impact. WBO will provide funding to support specific components of the program which includes:
· In-service training for 100 K-3 teachers targeting best practices on early literacy instructional strategies
· Parent workshops and outreach for parents and caregivers from 100 households with children aged 3-8
· Provision of Home Literacy Kits (English and Kiswahili picture books, early readers, and activity guides, etc.)
· Community volunteer training and mobilization
· Deployment of child development tips through SMS text messaging
The project will guide parents on how play, storytelling, and everyday interactions support early reading skills through seminars and workshops at TFFT’s Literacy Hub, as well as outreach activities in community centers and other places where parents normally gather, like maternity and/or health clinics.
Parents will receive Home Literacy Kits containing early reader books, picture books, and activity guides in both English and Kiswahili, which they can borrow and return through a simple lending system. Additionally, TFFT will explore using SMS to easily deploy child development tips and reminders.
Teachers will receive early reading instruction, play-based learning, and child-centered strategies. At the same time, the community will be mobilized to support reading through community reading events and volunteer-led reading sessions.
By working together, families, schools, and communities will create a strong literacy foundation for every child, ensuring better learning outcomes and a lifelong love for reading. The Literacy Hub was recently the site for a well attended Reading Party. Younger children enjoyed a story-reading session and art activities, while the older children also had a writing activity. Afterward, all of the children gathered for snacks and award prizes. A fun day was had by all!
WaterBridge Outreach is proud to be a part of this very exciting project and we are once again thrilled to partner with The Foundation For Tomorrow to support them in their mission of securing quality education and emotional support for orphan and vulnerable children so that they may reach their full potential and thrive in their communities.
.
LitStart: Building Literacy from Home to School.LitStart: Building Literacy from Home to School is designed to improve early literacy outcomes for children aged 3 to 8 by empowering parents and caregivers, strengthening teacher capacity, and activating community support to foster a culture of reading. | Learning Centre Literacy LabTANZANIA A grant from WaterBridge Outreach is enabling The Foundation for Tomorrow to establish an innovative Literacy Lab in their new state-of-the-art Learning Centre, a first-of-its-kind community hub in Arusha. Completion date scheduled for June 2023. |  Hand Washing StationsIn the midst of the COVID pandemic, hand washing stations and soap making workshops were launched in 13 schools serving over 16,000 primary students in Arusha. Under the slogan “Clean hands save lives!” students were educated in the proper way to wash their hands in order to prevent the spread of infection. They then shared their effective hand-washing techniques throughout their households and communities. |
|---|---|---|
 School WashroomsSinon Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania had only 29 pit latrines (squat toilets) for a student/staff population of 3,567! WaterBridge Outreach, working alongside The Foundation for Tomorrow, provided financing for the construction of a new toilet block containing 10 pit latrines at the school. |  Publishing Books in KiswahiliAn initiative of Writers for WaterBridge Outreach Book is publishing books in the native language of communities with limited teaching and learning resources, and where any access to books is especially difficult. The first completed project was the production of 8,000 booklets in Kiswahili in close collaboration with Melissa Queyquep of The Foundation for Tomorrow in Tanzania. |  World Toilet Day 2020Celebrating World Toilet Day 2020 at Sinon Primary School. |
 World Toilet Day 2019Celebrating World Toilet Day 2019 at Sinon Primary School. |