A New Girls Hostel, 100+ Students at KIWOCE Center, 30 Sponsored Students in higher education, 5 set to graduate from colleges and universities.

Now in our 9th year, we're seeing the results of our funding, our on-the-ground management, and our steadfast nurturing of students. In our sponsorship program, students, who began as adolescents, are now young adults in advanced high school, college and university programs. At KIWOCE Open School, quality facilities, systems and instruction are now in place to advance all types of learners. And Connects Autism Tanzania (CAT) is moving government schools to consciously address those with cognitive disabilities.

This, then, is today's challenge:

to strengthen, secure and sustain all that we have achieved.

KIWOCE's New Hostel will enable 60 - 80 girls and young women to live at the Center, taking advantage of a range of courses that will secure independent futures. The Hostel has also allowed the school's original two-room structure, previously used by girls as a makeshift dorm, to accommodate 20 young men.

AT KIWOCE (Kilimahewa) OPEN SCHOOL

Thanks to teachers and volunteers who contribute hands-on materials and equipment from their U.S. classrooms, KIWOCE is able to bring active learning strategies, seldom found in the Tanzanian classroom, to ignite curiosity and improve student understanding.

Students take formal assessments to ensure they absorb information that will be tested on National Exams - the key to advancement in Tanzania. KIWOCE provides personalized attention to give each student - whatever his/her background - the best chance to succeed in an otherwise rigid system.

STUDENTS FROM KIWOCE'S COMPUTER CLASS CELEBRATE THEIR CERTIFICATES, AWARDED AFTER COMPLETION OF THEIR COURSE THIS WEEK. FRANK (SECOND FROM LEFT) IN THE GROUP PHOTO, TOOK THEM TO MATERUNI FALLS TO CELEBRATE!
ANOTHER 28 ADULTS NOW HAVE SKILLS TO TAKE INTO THE WORKPLACE.

KIWOCE BECOMES AN OFFICIAL TESTING CENTER & EDUCATES LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ON TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES

KIWOCE just took a major step forward, gaining official status as a local test center. This will bring more income and greater visibility to the Center. Since no one would expect an Open School with "Women's and Orphans" in its name (Kilimahewa Women and Orphans Center for Education) to have quality teaching, facilities, and online capability, it's critical for growth that other NGOs, village officials and educators actually see the Center - a by-product of its new testing-center status.

This March, KIWOCE invited students from neighboring Kindi Kati Secondary School to a seminar on how to prepare for and take the all-important National Form Four Exams. KIWOCE's reach extends far beyond its boundaries.

OUR SPONSORED STUDENTS OVERCOME OBSTACLES, FORGE AHEAD

Here are Mary and Amina, two of our first-year University students home on break. They have learned how to navigate some tough challenges - seminar classes of over 400 with students standing outside (GET THERE EARLY), allergic reactions to poorly cooked food, housing scarcity and simply transitioning from a village to an urban environment. They are resilient and determined as they start the second semester of their BA in Accountancy.

Looking serious, Zawadi was very proud to send us photos in her official mock trial suit. She is now a second year student of law at SAUT, St. Augustine University of Tanzania with a GPA above 3.5. We are lucky that she is acting as a big sister to two of our first year University students also posted to St. Augustine!

Just last week, Zawadi called to tell us that some strong winds had partially destroyed her parents' home. (see left). While we evaluate how we can help, this is another reminder of the difficulties that our students never leave far behind.

Cocoa, one of our Directors, spends time in March with our three students attending college agricultural and animal health courses of study.

AND... JUST IN. JACKSON, ONE OF THIS YEAR'S 8 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IS RECOGNIZED AS THE TOP STUDENT IN HIS CLASS, AND #1 IN BIOLOGY.

FOUR YEARS AGO, JACKSON WAS NO LONGER IN SCHOOL. KILIMAHEWA & OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM GAVE HIM ONE MORE CHANCE TO PROVE HIS TALENT. NEXT STOP, A DEGREE IS MEDICINE. HE WILL MAKE IT.

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE, POSSIBLE

CONNECTS AUTISM TANZANIA LEADS UNPRECEDENTED WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY EVENTS IN NORTHERN TANZANIA.

IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, OVER 1000 YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS IN ARUSHA AND HUNDREDS MORE IN NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS OF SIHA & MERU JOINED MARCHES AND SPECIAL EVENTS, DEMONSTRATING A NEW LEVEL OF SOCIAL AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES.

NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS WIDELY COVERED THE EVENTS, FEATURING MAMA GRACE BROADCASTING HER CALL TO ACTION.

HER LEADERSHIP HAS NOW TRANSLATED INTO TANGIBLE ACTION ON THE PART OF EDUCATIONAL UNITS TO BEGIN REAL INCLUSION OF THESE YOUTH IN SCHOOLS. AT THE SAME TIME, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE PUBLICLY DEMANDING THAT PARENTS STOP PRACTICES THAT STILL TAKE PLACE TODAY - SUCH AS SHUTTING AWAY OR EVEN RUNNING AWAY FROM CHILDREN BORN WITH DISABILITIES.

LIFE IS CHANGING FOR THE AUSTISTIC AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED BECAUSE OF CAT's RELENTLESS ADVOCACY.

We leave you with several images of KIWOCE students and its Boys and Girls Club members participating in a recent Environmental Day - cleaning up the grounds and learning to take pride in their surroundings. Tea and snacks rewarded their efforts!

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