A school for the future of Africa
The Hekima Girls’ School in Tanzania is helping to shape the future of Africa. The project in Bukoba on Lake Victoria combines first-class school education and practical organic farming. And gives young women from humble backgrounds a perspective.
Organic farming is an integral part of the curriculum at Hekima Girls’ School.
The Hekima Girls' Secondary School is located in western Tanzania, not far from Bukoba on Lake Victoria. Hekima means wisdom, knowledge or prudence in Swahili, the lingua franca of East Africa. The secondary school for girls lives up to its name. The graduation rate is excellent, the grades are among the best in the country.
Yet school education is not a matter of course for women in Tanzania’s poor regions. Because the school combines high-quality education and gender equality with food security and environmentally friendly prospects for the future, the RAPUNZEL One World Organic Foundation and its predecessors have been supporting the Hekima School since 2003.
In 20 years, the number of schoolgirls has risen from 40 to 300–400 and the educational project has developed into a nationally recognised flagship institution. Among 4,000 Tanzanian schools, the girls at Hekima School achieve some of the best results – and at the same time, hands-on training in organic farming is an integral part of everyday school life. A self-confident generation of women is growing up here, and there can be no doubt that this is good for Africa.
Yet school education is not a matter of course for women in Tanzania’s poor regions. Because the school combines high-quality education and gender equality with food security and environmentally friendly prospects for the future, the RAPUNZEL One World Organic Foundation and its predecessors have been supporting the Hekima School since 2003.
In 20 years, the number of schoolgirls has risen from 40 to 300–400 and the educational project has developed into a nationally recognised flagship institution. Among 4,000 Tanzanian schools, the girls at Hekima School achieve some of the best results – and at the same time, hands-on training in organic farming is an integral part of everyday school life. A self-confident generation of women is growing up here, and there can be no doubt that this is good for Africa.
In 2018 Hekima School opened new dormitories.
Our support
With the help of the funding, the Hekima School was able to build new and more modern classrooms, set up a solar power supply, fundamentally renew the outdated water supply and set up and expand school gardens for self-sufficiency and practical training.
Rapunzel Naturkost supported the school from 2003 to 2021 through the HAND IN HAND fund and other company donations. Rapunzel Naturkost employees have also repeatedly donated to the school. The RAPUNZEL One World Organic Foundation has been continuing and intensifying this collaboration since 2022. Joseph Wilhelm, Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Directors, has already been on site in Tanzania several times.
Support by Rapunzel Naturkost and RAPUNZEL One World Organic Foundation
- 2024 School fees for 20 girls (support over 4 years)
- 2023 Repair of the solar system (replacement of the inverter)
- 2022 Construction of 12 school toilets
- 2021 Cultivation of organic sunflowers for food security
- 2021 Further organic cultivation for the food security of schoolgirls
- 2019 Land and forest protection from bushfires and land grabbing
- 2018 Refurbishment of classrooms and school rooms
- 2017 Repair of the solar system
- 2016 Repair of the solar system and emergency aid after earthquakes
- 2014 Construction of a dormitory. Repair of the solar system
- 2013 Installation of a solar system and complete overhaul of the outdated water supply system for the school and accommodation facilities
- 2012 Renewed expansion of the school garden by purchasing a plot of land. Teaching on the cultivation plots is being further developed.
- 2011 Installation of the first solar power supply
- 2009 Construction of sanitary facilities. The school garden is being expanded in order to grow more food for self-sufficiency.
- 2007 The school is supported in the purchase of a field to plant organic maize as a school project and for the school’s self-sufficiency.
- 2005 The girls’ school receives furniture and teaching materials.
- 2004 Construction of a classroom
- 2003 Construction of a classroom
Hekima Girls' Secondary School
Pupils enrolling at Hekima School. Attending secondary school is a great opportunity for girls.
Hekima Girls' Secondary School
Among other things, the pupils learn how to increase biodiversity in horticulture and how to produce organic pesticides – for example from the neem tree.
Donation account of the
RAPUNZEL One World Organic Foundation
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
IBAN: DE44 6005 0101 0004 1028 49
SWIFT/BIC: SOLADEST600
Name and address in the reason for payment
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