This information was gathered and prepared by Father Avitus, COCE DirectorThe people of the Izigo, Muhutwe and Mayondwe wards live in an economic climate that is harsh and volatile. As a people that face such imposing odds, they understand the critical need to make education available for their children. Traditionally, they have invested their limited resources in education because it is the only reliable method to provide their children with the resources necessary to survive. Like all parents, though, the people of the three wards wish for the next generation more than mere survival. It is through education they hope to empower their children and set into motion new opportunities in economic prosperity.
In the past two decades village life has been affected by the growth of cities, the depletion of natural resources, and disease. Parents within the three wards now, more than ever, view education as the sole hope of their children and the entire community. Most villagers of the three wards depended significantly on coffee, a traditional cash crop of the region, which has been grown for centuries. However, the price of coffee per kilo (2.2 pounds) has gradually dropped from US$ 0.70 to US$ 0.20 in the local market. The banana, a staple food which the people depended heavily upon for trade and subsistence, has been plagued by a strain of banana bacteria wilt (technically known as Xanthromonas). This disease has collapsed domestic banana production, deteriorating local consumption and commercial revenue. The over development of commercial fishing in Lake Victoria has also decreased the availability of fish at reasonable prices, compromising the primary source of protein in villagers’ diets. HIV/AIDS has further handicapped the community. Those who contract HIV/AIDS, many of whom would otherwise be capable of positive contribution in the community, are instead unable to be productive. This disease has taken a great toll, both spiritually and economically, within a community already suffering economic plight. The sad consequence of this disease of poverty is a growing army of orphans, left to be cared for by relatives and friends whose resources are often inadequate to do so. Far too often these orphans drop out of school, marry early and these children begin having children of their own. Worse still is the exodus of children to the cities where they engage in promiscuous and immoral acts for their very survival. Although it is difficult to quantify the true impact of disease and food scarcity, Tanzania government statistics reflect the hardship faced by the people of the region. According to national data, the per capita annual income for local villagers from the three wards is among the lowest in the country, about US$132, compared to a national average of US$213. For reference link,
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The presence of Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHSS) gives the orphans and poor children of the region the welcome opportunity to receive an education, which will one day help them to build a better future. Further, the school stands as a much needed center of employment, which will hire not only teachers and staff, but will also utilize builders, tradesmen, and the local producers of construction materials. In ten years time, we anticipate that this institution will have played a pivotal role in transforming the community into a more stable and modern society and economy.
