During a recent home visit Philipo talked to some mothers preparing soil for sale. They process the magnesium rich soil for medication used locally during pregnancy. This is sold to raise some funding to help send children to school. This family lives near the mountain seen in the distance some 20 miles from the school.

Majidi tells me that once you get out of Morogoro the roads are not good which is why a motorbike is the ideal transport.

It's not just the parents who are working hard to support their children. One of the students, Michael Laurian, is also working, collecting rubbish for a small fee.

Majidi tells me Michael found it hard to stay at the school with much younger children and that at present he is choosing to work with other young adults to earn some pocket money. Majidi has this to say about his hopes for the future "that's why am fighting for a vocational program here at my school to accommodate them instead of living them roaming around the street because when they grow bigger they don't like to stay in their classrooms studying A,B C and counting 1-100".

Hopefully the motorbike fundraising will be just the start of longer term projects including a gardening/small holding project to teach students like Michael some skills which will support him more appropriately and give him life-skills and a brighter future. Remember the Special Needs Unit support pupils up to the age of 19 although it is based in the Primary School.

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