German association promotes kindergartens in Simanjiro

By Happy Lazaro and Thomas Ratsim

In Germany Kindergarten system is as old as the word itself. The word is derived from the Dutch word that means a garden for children. Kindergarten movements in Germany and the United States started back in the nineteenth century. Now the practice has come to Maasailand.

Previously, Maasai children hardly benefitted from pre-schools as their parents are constantly on the move. Maasai nomadic life style revolves around with their livestock in search of water and adequate pastures wile the children are left to graze calves and goats.

Recently, a German Association for Peace and Conflict Research (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, AFK e.v.) came to the frontline in establishing kindergartens in the Simanjiro District, Manyara Region.

The German Association, Supervisor of the Kindergarten Project, Mr. Brown Ole Suya said that so far the Association has assisted in establishing eight nurseries in the district. The organization kicked off the assistance by starting nurseries in 1993. Ole Suya who is collaborating with the Project Co-ordinator Ellen Pfister said they now have schools in Olmoti, Samaya, Loimirori, Kidamongeni, Ukutu A and B, Losikonoi and Loribene,

The pre-school centres enroll children of four to seven years from those villages and they are taught for two years. The kindergarten teachers are standard seven leavers, who are trained methods of teaching by primary school teachers through seminars.

The Project Supervisor commended the system as it enables the village leaders to participate fully in the educational system of their young ones.

According to Mr. Ole Suya, plans are also underway to construct dormitories and establish water projects in a bid to make the community forgo the habit of wandering from place to place with children in search of water.

The German organization has budgeted Shs. 1 million every year for supervision and seminars.

The German Association for Peace and Conflict Research (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, AFK) was founded in 1968 by peace researchers from the social sciences and humanities.

Last modified: November 06, 2003.
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