Building Classrooms and Enriching Student Life at CEF Zanzibar

Tháng 7, 2025

1. Project Rationale

Zanzibar, an island in Tanzania, is renowned for its natural beauty but also faces numerous social challenges, particularly the plight of orphans and impoverished children with limited access to education. The Children's Education Foundation (CEF) was founded in 2011 by Judy Palmer to provide quality learning opportunities to help children break the cycle of poverty and develop holistically.

However, in 2020, CEF faced the threat of closure due to deteriorating infrastructure that no longer met local government standards. To continue operating, the school needed to build three new standard-compliant classrooms.

With a mission to support communities and promote educational equity, SonTa Foundation partnered with CEF, not only by providing material assistance but also by offering educational and well-being activities aimed at improving the overall quality of life for the children there.

2. Program Activities and Implementation

Main Activities:

Infrastructure Support:

Contributed USD 5,000 for the construction of standard classrooms, ensuring CEF could remain operational and continue its educational mission.

Extracurricular Activities:

Organized sports exchange sessions, especially football matches, to encourage physical health and team spirit among the students.
Conducted a photography workshop where children learned to document their lives through their lens. Cameras were gifted to help them capture meaningful moments and tell their own stories.

Confidence and Life Skills Building:

Volunteer sessions—led by models and creatives—offered posing and confidence workshops, empowering girls to express themselves freely and build self-esteem.
Provided basic meditation training to enhance students' mental and physical well-being.

3. Project Outcomes and Evaluation

Key Results:

Financial Support: The USD 5,000 donation was successfully used to build the necessary classrooms, allowing CEF to meet licensing requirements and continue its educational services.
Extracurricular Impact:
- 73 students participated in football and skills training sessions.
- The posing workshop received enthusiastic responses from girls, who expressed greater confidence and enjoyment.
Mental Well-Being:
- Meditation activities helped improve emotional resilience and reduce stress for students living in high-pressure environments.
Long-Term Impact:
- CEF is not only able to continue its operations but is also better positioned to expand educational access in Zanzibar, especially for girls.
- Children gained skills in self-expression through art and sports, enabling them to integrate more confidently into their communities and pursue more holistic development.