Academic year

September – July

Literacy rate (15+ years old)

77.9 %

Attendance rate

Primary school – 81%
Lower secondary school – 28%
Upper secondary school – 3%

In October 2018, the Acronis Cyber Foundation opened a school in Loongung, Tanzania, a remote village of about 3,000 residents where the educational situation was dire. Before the Foundation’s arrival, the village had only a small facility that was initially built for preschoolers and later began serving children up through third grade; overcrowding had forced some students to study outdoors. For many children in Loongung, the Acronis Cyber Foundation’s new school allowed access to educational opportunities that had never existed before.

With the Schools Initiative, the Acronis Cyber Foundation aims to develop computer classrooms in each school that it builds. But as Loongung has no electricity, the foundation looked for an alternate solution — the village of Terrat, 35km away, was deemed suitable for the construction of a computer classroom that could also serve the population of Loongung. Students who complete their studies in Loongung may be sent to secondary schools in nearby villages, including Terrat, to continue their education. The Terrat Secondary School boasts a capacity of 325 children and an infrastructure that can better support computer classes.

In 2021 the Acronis Cyber Foundation together with its partner, BUSYMOUSE Business Systems GmbH completed construction of a computer classroom in the Terrat Secondary School. This new classroom will enable computer literacy and STEM classes for students in the region, and marks the beginning of Phase 2 in the Acronis Cyber Foundation’s Schools Initiative, empowering children in underserved communities and building the skills they’ll need to excel in the modern world.

Country

The United Republic of Tanzania

Capital city

Dodoma

Population

56 million people

Currency

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Major languages

The country’s national language is Kiswahili, but Kimassai is the language spoken in the Acronis school community

The climate varies greatly within Tanzania. In the highlands, temperatures range between 10 and 20 °C (50 and 68 °F) during the cold and hot seasons respectively. The rest of the country has temperatures rarely falling lower than 20 °C (68 °F). The hottest period extends between November and February (25–31 °C or 77–88 °F) while the coldest period occurs between May and August (15–20 °C or 59–68 °F).

Generally, the main rainy season, or the ‘long rains’, lasts from March to May. The long dry season extends from June to October. During November and December there’s another rainy season: the ‘short rains’.

Hotel recommendations

Kilimanjaro Airport: KIA Lodge, Airport Planet Lodge
Arusha: Four Points by Sheraton Arusha, Fun Retreat Resort, Hotel and Ayurveda Spa, Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa
Zanzibar: Antonio Garden Hotel, Mizingani Seafront Hotel, Park Hyatt Zanzibar

Places to eat

Zanzibar: Beach House Zanzibar, Secret Garden
Arusha: The Baobab Restaurant at African Tulip

Best souvenirs from the country

Arusha handcrafted leather items (belts, shoes, wallets, handbags, etc.), tanzanite (it is cheaper in Arusha because it is mined there), kanga and kitenge, wood carvings and sculptures, paintings, ceramic art and pottery, artifacts, stone carvings, jewelry and beadwork, music instruments, glassware from recycled glass from Shanga shops in Arusha, woven items, masks, spices

Taxi

Zanzibar: Zanzibar Transport, ZTrans
Arusha: Tarimo Taxi Service
Kilimanjaro: Kilimanjaro Taxi

Travel agencies

Kenny Africa Travel

Interpreting services

Upwork

Day 1: Arrival to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Kikuletwa Hotsprings

Day 2: Kilimanjaro National Park

Day 3: Lake Natron

Day 4: Arusha National Park

Day 5: School visit

Day 6: Flight to Zanzibar, Stone Town. City tour (Old Fort, Anglican Cathedral, House of Wonders, Mangapwani Slave Chamber)

Day 7: Changuu Island, Tortoise Sanctuary