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Copy of Laura Barrowclough’s email to Mr. Dunford Makala
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Tanzania
19th August 2011
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you concerning The Bethany Project, Children's Home, Magu, Mwanza, as I believe I have some information that may interest you.
I am currently studying at Lancaster University in England, for a BSc (Hons) Geography degree, which I will be completing in 2012. However, this summer I have visited The Bethany Project as a volunteer working in the school to provide summer school classes for all the children.
Whilst I was there, 3 girls (Mpelwa, Rehema and Debora) got their results for the 3.5 hour English speaking, listening and writing test. They have all passed and are now hoping to obtain their visas to study on the course at Accrington and Rossendale College, in England. However, they have now been refused permission to take up this opportunity by the social welfare officer in Magu. As I am sure you are aware, the social welfare officer will not sign the forms required to allow the girls this opportunity because he believes they should stay in Tanzania to continue with their education. Having been to Tanzania and visited The District Commissioner in Magu myself on 18th July 2011, I find it very difficult to understand why these girls have not been granted the permission they require. The District Commissioner seemed more than satisfied that the course in England would give these girls a far better education than could be possible for them at the secondary school which they now attend in Tanzania. She herself studied in England and has obviously seen the benefits of such an experience, as she has since sent her son to study at Birmingham University, England.
The opportunity in England would allow the girls from The Bethany Project to dramatically improve their English skills and to obtain a qualification allowing them to come back to Tanzania as teachers. I believe this would massively benefit everyone involved, including the girls and the people of Tanzania. From past experience of girls from The Bethany Project who have studied in England, it can be seen that there are major benefits, and they far outweigh any negative obstacles. As can be seen from examples such as China Joseph, who is now teaching at JBFC Primary School, using the skills she learnt in the England, to further the development of Tanzanian schools and the children who are being taught in them. The same can be said for Rehema Kasimu who has also completed the same qualification in England and now has a very successful teaching job in another local school in Tanzania. Again, she is benefiting the community in Tanzania as the Tanzanian government have not had to contribute anything towards her education and she is now helping to pass on her knowledge to other teachers from Tanzania. The same can also be said for Minza Onesmo and Fatuma Mfaume who have both just successfully returned from their course in England.
Having studied Tanzanian culture and processes of development at Lancaster University myself, I believe it would be a breach of their human rights not to allow them access to this course in England, which would not cost the Tanzanian government anything. According to "The World Declaration on Education For All ", and I quote "everyone has a right to education" (UNESCO, World Declaration on Education For All: Meeting Basic Learning Needs, 1990, page 5). The document also goes on to state that more than 960 million adults in the world are illiterate. This is a problem which Tanzania faces too. However, the skills which The Bethany Project girls are gaining by studying in England can be used to pass on vital literacy skills to teach the population of Tanzania. Therefore, it can be said that the course in England has a double advantage in that it will educate these girls to a higher standard, as well as passing on their teaching skills to illiterate children in Tanzania. Thus helping to alleviate some of the illiteracy problems which Tanzania is currently experiencing. If these girls were allowed the chance to study in England they would be able to come back and help Tanzania, as a country, to achieve some of its goals towards further developing your country.
To summarise, denying these girls the right to the education, which is being provided free of charge, in England, would be a big mistake and a breach of their human rights. They are being given the chance to become educated to a level which will allow them to return as teachers to teach the poor and illiterate people of Tanzania. Surely, anyone can see that denying them this opportunity would be denying the thousands of Tanzanian children (who they could influence) an opportunity to develop also.
I hope that you will carefully consider the position which The Bethany Project is now in and come to the right decision, allowing these girls the chance to study in England. If you require any evidence of how well this scheme has worked in the past, I am sure you could contact Daniel Bujiku who will be happy to introduce you to China, Rehema, Minza and Fatuma, who have all successfully completed the course in England and who are now positively influencing thousands of Tanzanian children in their classrooms.
Yours faithfully
Laura Barrowclough
Lancaster University
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