LES PROJETS | Elewa Africa

The Project Currently Under Implementation

A private school in Lesoit, Tanzania,
a project for equitable access to education

The project includes the construction of 3 classroom buildings, 1 administrative building, 1 kitchen with dining hall, sanitation facilities, and apartments for teachers, in order to attract and retain teachers in this rural area.

The future school will be able to accommodate 250 to 280 pupils, divided across 8 levels (2 kindergarten classes and 6 primary classes), and will provide access to education for the children of the Ilkandururo community.

Aware of the importance of education for future generations, the Ilkandururo community is deeply committed to offering its children the opportunity for a different future. Despite its limited means, the community has strongly expressed its determination to establish a private school and has committed to covering its operating costs. During various meetings, families stated that they would be willing to sell one cow per year to pay their children’s school fees.

This school will not only be a source of pride and inspiration for the region, but it will also be the first school owned by a Maasai community in the Kiteto District. At present, there are only 5 such schools in Tanzania.

The school will open its doors on 13 July 2026 for a trial semester, before officially opening at the start of the Tanzanian school year in January 2027.

Fundraising

Thanks to the substantial donation from Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV), as part of the BCV Solidarité program—of which we have the privilege to be beneficiaries this year—we are able to carry out the majority of the project.

The members and donors who have trusted us since the creation of our association continue to support us.

We warmly thank all the individuals and partners whose support is helping turn this dream into a reality.

To complete the construction and provide the best possible learning conditions for the children, we are seeking additional funding.

Every contribution makes a real difference.

Project phases already completed or currently underway

Preparation Phase (February–May 2025)

Community meetings, collection of socio-demographic data, establishment of the local organization Elewa-Africa Kiteto, initial engagement with regional and district authorities, development of architectural plans and budget, identification and acquisition of the land, and securing of the permits required to begin construction.

Shelter Construction and Site Clearing (June–July 2025)

The community took responsibility for clearing the land. This involved cutting down trees and removing bushes to make the area suitable for construction. This phase began on June 20 and continued until July 27, 2025. At the same time, a temporary shelter was built for storing materials, in order to secure the supplies needed for the construction work.

Phase 1 – Foundations (July–September 2025)

Following the site clearing carried out by the Ilkandururo community, construction work was able to begin. The foundations of the 10 buildings that make up the school complex were completed on September 12, 2025.

Phase 2 – Walls (September–November 2025)

The walls of all the buildings were completed by early November, ahead of schedule.

Phase 3 – Roofing and Ceilings (mid-December 2025 to mid-January 2026)

Phase 3 officially began on November 28, 2025, and was completed on January 28, 2026. In line with the schedule, all roofing and ceiling works were finalized within the initially planned timeframe, by the end of January 2026.

Phase 4 – Electrical Works, Plumbing, Window Grilles and Door Frames (January–April 2026)

This phase began on January 29, 2026, and was completed as planned on April 15, 2026. Security grilles were installed on the windows of the administrative building and the teachers’ houses. Door frames were fitted in all buildings.

Phase 5 – Finishing Works, Painting and Decoration (ongoing since March 2026)
This phase began in parallel with Phase 4 and includes plastering, surface smoothing with filler, painting or rendering, and tile installation.

Phase 6 – Doors and Windows (mid-April to end of June 2026)
The installation of doors and windows is the final stage concerning the buildings. It is scheduled to take place during the month of May.

Phase 7 – Fencing and Kindergarten Sanitary Facilities (ongoing)
Government regulations require kindergarten areas to be secured with fencing and to have nearby toilet facilities for children. Although not included in the initial plan, this phase became possible thanks to additional funding and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2026.

Phase 8 – Water System (ongoing since March 2026)
The project includes harvesting rainwater from the roofs of the buildings into two underground tanks with a capacity of 75,000 liters each. A pump will then transfer the water to two elevated tanks of 10,000 liters each, allowing distribution to the designated areas.

Phase 9 – Furniture (tender process ongoing, order planned shortly)
Classrooms, the kitchen, the dining hall, and administrative offices need to be furnished. This phase, scheduled for June, will complete the construction of the school and enable its opening on July 13, 2026.