Since 2004, Scottsdale Bible Church has had a relationship with two communities in Tanzania, Mairowa and Kondoa. We have built a school in each community where we provide primary, Christian education. We have also facilitated improved medical and dental health, participated in community development, provided leadership training for pastors and lay leaders, and demonstrated the love of Christ through these activities.
SBC supports the operational costs of the Mairowa and Kondoa primary schools through a Sponsorship Program . We also encourage sponsors and others to go on short-term mission trips to Tanzania to learn about the project and meet their sponsored children.
Sponsoring a child in Tanzania can be a life-changing experience. You can provide an education, nutritious food, health care and a hopeful future. Here are some ways to get involved:
Nearly 900 students are taught English, math and science in our two schools, and they also learn about the Bible and Jesus’ love for them. Both schools produce some of the highest performing students in the district. The children receive two meals each school day, which is often the only food they receive for the week. We also sponsor
Each child needs a sponsor, and taking on this responsibility offers an opportunity to impact not only the life of a child, but their family and entire community. Your support helps meet your sponsored child’s basic nutrition and health care needs, and provides a quality biblical education that will prepare him or her for a transformed future.
As a sponsor of one of our primary school students, you agree to give $40/month per child, pray for your child, and send a card or letter biannually with one of our teams. Once a child graduates from our primary school, the cost for secondary school is $75/month for private schools and $45/month for government schools. Once secondary school is completed, the cost for advanced schooling or vocational training varies based on the school and the course of study but is typically $600-$1500 annually. If a sponsor is not able to fully support a student but would like to continue sponsorship, we can find another sponsor to make up the difference. We encourage you to consider joining one of these short-term mission teams to visit your child and help serve the teachers and families. Download a letter template you may use.
New children are always being added to the program. To learn more or to be added to our waitlist for sponsoring a child, contact Bonnie at 480.824.7230.
If you already sponsor a child, click the donate button to set up or make a regular payment.
donateStudents who graduate from seventh grade in our two primary schools will go on to Secondary School for four years (Forms 1-4.) SBC doesn’t operate our own secondary school, but we have vetted several private schools that provide an excellent education. Students who score high enough on their National Exam will attend a private secondary school; those who don’t will be assigned to a government secondary school. Both types of schools are full boarding schools, but the education at a private school is significantly better. Once a student graduates from Form 4, several options are open to them. If they have performed well, they may go on for two more years of secondary school called A levels, and then possibly university. If their scores are not high enough, they may attend a vocational college where they can pursue careers in education, tourism, healthcare or skilled jobs.
Currently, we have 400 students who are enrolled and sponsored in secondary school. Our hope is that current sponsors of primary students will continue their support through this final step, as it is critical to launching a student into a job that will impact their and their family’s future. Without sponsors, these students would not have the incredible opportunity to continue their education from primary school. They now understand the value of a good education to help them rise above the grip of poverty and realize their dreams for themselves, their families, their communities, and their country.
In 2018, we received a special Elder’s Fund offering to build a dormitory for adolescent girls who attend our Mairowa school in Tanzania. The details and need were shared in this video, The offering raised approximately $300,000, which has covered the building costs as well as initial staffing for the dorm. We’re excited to report the dorm is finished and opened in January 2019. It now provides a safe and comfortable place for the girls to live, study and thrive as they experience God’s love and care for them. We praise God for the opportunity to meet this need!
The Kondoa Integrity School (KIS) opened in January 2006 as the first English speaking, private primary school in Kondoa. Kondoa is a city of 25,000 predominantly Muslim people in central Tanzania. A student’s education at KIS begins with two years of preschool and kindergarten to begin the transition to learning English. There are sixty children in each grade level and the current total number of students up to seventh grade is 520.
There has been an amazing transformation in our students’ English ability and this is very visible in the community. Another well known characteristic of KIS is that the children are individually loved and nurtured by their teachers, which is recognized and appreciated by their parents. Classes begin each day with praise, prayer and devotions which center on a story from the scriptures.
The Mairowa Integrity School (MIS) opened January 2006 as the first English speaking, private primary school in Mairowa. Mairowa is a village of 16,000, predominantly Maasai, people in northern Tanzania. A student’s education at MIS begins with two years of preschool to provide a transition from Maa, the Maasai language, to English. There are 30 children in each grade at MIS and currently there are 320 students through seventh grade.
Mairowa is a community without electricity or running water. Scottsdale Bible continues to work with our Tanzanian partners toward community development and self-reliance. In 2005, Scottsdale Bible provided a well, enabling a consistent supply of inexpensive, clean water to the village. An agriculture project was initiated at MIS to support the children’s feeding program. In 2009, a dental clinic was established at the government health clinic to serve the community. And in 2011, solar power was installed at MIS to expand the teaching and learning possibilities of the students, teachers and community.
