MARA: The German Development Bank ( KfW) has teamed up with TANAPA to build a girls’ dormitory that is capable of accommodating 60 students at Manchira Secondary School in Serengeti District, Mara Region.
Inaugurating the 334m/- dormitory, on Tuesday , a representative from the German Embassy, Ms Julia Kronberg said the project was facilitated by Germany, through the German Development Bank, KfW to inspire conservation activities in the Serengeti ecosystem.
“This is one among many projects which have been implemented through cooperation between the governments of Tanzania and Germany, for the benefit of communities living around wildlife conservation areas, said Ms Kronberg, adding: “I earnestly believe this dormitory will sustainably be utilized to positively benefit the students, not only from this ward but the entire community in Serengeti District and beyond,’’ said Ms Kronberg who was accompanied by officials from the German government and the BfW Bank.
She thanked everyone taking part in the conservation of the Serengeti ecology, saying the dormitory was a result of their effort.
“ Both the people’s rights to development and the international objective to protect wildlife and living things are of equal significance. If communities aren’t benefiting, then there is no equality.
We sincerely believe that the availability of social services is a very important aspect in rights consolidation,’’ she noted.
Ms Kronberg praised TANAPA’s performance, saying the organization is a sincere stakeholder of the government of Germany in the implementation of projects in and outside the Serengeti ecosystem.
TANAPA’s Principal Conservation Officer, Mr Nuhu Daniel Masay said the dormitory was a symbol of good neighborliness between the local community and the national park.
“In forging good neighborliness with the community, education infrastructure has always been given top priority. We believe that educated people will support conservation,’’ Mr Masay said.
He thanked the Government of Germany for continuing to invest in wildlife conservation activities through the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS).
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A representative of Serengeti District Commissioner, Mr Eric Ngole, also thanked the German government, TANAPA and FZS for the project. “What you have done is remarkable. Please keep it up,” he said.
Teachers, students and even parents expressed their appreciation of the project, describing it as a big relief to the girl students. The headmaster of Manchira Secondary School Alhaji Shemtandulo thanked the donors and noted that the project will solve the challenges of student accommodation.
“ The beneficiaries of this dorm have been walking long distances to and from school. There was no motivation for their studies. This project will solve the problem of truancy among school girls,” he said.
