A COWAL local who has organised multiple trips to Tanzania for pupils from Dunoon Grammar School is hoping to return to the country with an ambitious plan to build a school.
Chris Barrett, a support worker at Dunoon Grammar School, has been taking pupils to Tanzania since 2023, giving young people the opportunity to experience life and work within the vibrant culture around Arusha while volunteering on local projects.
Now, Chris hopes to turn those experiences into a long-term project through a new initiative called Hands for Arusha.
Working alongside friends Neil Stewart, Wiktoria Dulska and Anya Tracey, Chris wants to support Grace Mbwambo at Emanuel Daycare in Arusha, who made a strong impression on pupils during one of their school visits.
The group’s ultimate aim is to build a school in Longido, in northern Tanzania.
Chris said: “Since 2023, I have organised school trips to this incredible country, giving pupils from Dunoon Grammar School the opportunity to live and work within the vibrant culture around Arusha while volunteering to support local projects.
“Now it is time to turn that inspiration into action.”
Over the years, the school trips have included donations to help provide meals, carry out school repairs and supply essential resources.
While these contributions have made an immediate difference, Chris believes education can provide a more lasting solution.
He said: “A good education can transform lives, create opportunities, and strengthen entire communities.”
Tanzania has also become a deeply important part of Chris’s life.
He said every visit leaves him with ‘admiration and love’ for the people he meets, particularly the children.
Many of the youngsters face extremely difficult circumstances, including going without food, having seriously ill parents or experiencing the loss of family members.
Despite these challenges, Chris said their resilience, positivity and determination to embrace life have been a major source of inspiration.
During visits to primary schools around Arusha, he has also been struck by the enthusiasm children show towards education.
The respect shown towards teachers and learning reflects, in his view, their hopes for a brighter future.
Chris also paid tribute to the head teachers he has met during his visits — Arufani Ernest, Haika Mongi and Novatus Mlay — for the care and guidance they provide to their pupils.
The proposed school would be designed to provide much more than classrooms.
Hands for Arusha hopes the building will become a community hub in Longido, providing a safe and supportive space outside school hours and helping with women’s empowerment and wider community development.
The project has an overall fundraising target of £70,000.
The money would help fund classrooms, a toilet block, a water supply including a borehole, pump and collection system, solar panels and an outdoor kitchen.
The group is also focused on making the project sustainable so the school can continue educating and supporting children and the wider community for years to come.
Chris is encouraging people to support the project in whatever way they can.
As well as donations, Hands for Arusha hopes supporters may eventually be able to travel to Tanzania and help with construction work, including laying bricks and mixing cement.
Other plans include allowing supporters to put their name on a building block, sponsoring a child or volunteering at the school to teach, support and nurture pupils.
Chris acknowledged that building a school is a ‘mammoth project’, but said help is needed to make the vision a reality.
He added: “We welcome anyone who wants to get involved on any level.
The Hands for Arusha team is now appealing to the local community and beyond to help turn their plans into a permanent source of education, opportunity and support for young people in Tanzania.
Those who wish to donate have been asked to send money to the Hands for Arusha named bank account, which can be found with 82-12-08 sort code and 10310760 account number.
