Grapes growers' families see bright future

TDL Project Coordinator Saimon Chibehe Speaking to parents, students, teachers and guardians during the assessment visit to evaluate the success of the grape growers� students� scholarship scheme in Dodoma recently

Ester Mtonji, a Form Four student at Mpunguzi secondary school, resident of Chamwino District, Dodoma Region is one among the beneficiaries of a special education scholarship scheme offered by Tanzania Distilleries Limited (TDL).

 

The programme that intends to help children of grapes growers have saved the majority young girls including Ester from early marriages.

 

She said after completing her primary education at Handali primary school in 2011, her parents sent her to secondary school in the Region with the little money garnered from grape farming business.

 

“My parents only afforded to pay for my school fees during the first year at the school but they later failed due to instability of finances from the grapes business, she said adding, “This led to lack of educational materials and other school needs”.   

 

She said the poverty situation later forced her to accept a hand in marriage with her parents consent.

 

“I opted to get married because of the hard life I and my family were in. They did not see the reason for me to continue staying with them while I was out of school” she said.

 

However, she said as they continued to mull over, two month later after leaving school, TDL introduced the education project labeled, ‘grape and education first’ in their village.

 

She said being among one of the grape growing families, she qualified for the scholarship and went back to continue with her studies after the distillery paid all the school requirements.

 

“I am pursuing science subjects and my progress is outstanding, she bragged off, adding I have never returned back home because of failure to pay tuition fees or other school requirements”.

 

Kalue Mihambo, another beneficiary from the Region and a Form Three student at the same school said lack of income from her parents led her to drop out of school. 

 

“Grape farming has no income guarantee because it is associated with very low prices, despite the higher costs incurred during cultivation,” she said.

 

Kalue said with TDL support, there is no limit for her studies because the scholarship covers all school expenses including fees, books, and other contributions.

 

She said having the experiences of her elder brother and sister dropping out from school due to lack of income from her parents, she was desperate to find a sponsor to help her with secondary school education.

 

TDL support has also been extended to Anne Chihaula, an orphan in her third year at the school.

 

Anne who lives with her grandmother says despite their grape farm, the yearly income garnered from the produce was not enough to put her in class.

 

“The income we get from this seasonal crop is only enough for domestic usage. My grandmother is now relieved from any school expenses” she said.

 

She says many girls at their village end up in early marriages soon after their primary school because their parents are unable to pay for their secondary school. 

 

"We have been living in poverty despite being grape growers because prices are not favourable, I am assured to reach the advanced level of education with TDL support” she said.

 

Also the beneficiary is Nyemo Chienje, a form two student living in the district.

 

Teachers from Mpunguzi, Handari and Mvumi Mission Secondary Schools said students funded by the TDL have shown greater developments in their academic compared to others.

 

The Head Teacher of Handari Secondary School Lazaro Njamasi said the education scholarship to grape grower families have encouraged students to study hard and attain good performance because they have an assurance to complete their studies.

 

Njamasi said students failed to perform well because most of them could be forced back to their respective homes for school fees, during school period.

 

He requested other companies to emulate the best example demonstrated by TDL by ensuring that poor families have access to education.

 

Speaking to parents, students, teachers and guardians at the school, the education scholarship Project Coordinator Saimon Chibehe said education is important to achieve the drive of modern agriculture through modern technology that would boost production.

 

Chibehe said there is need for grape famers to change their ways of farming by ensuring their children have the required education considering agriculture being the major employing sector.

 

“We have devoted to offer scholarship scheme in the heart of corporate responsibility starting with the children of grape growers’ community in Chamwino District” he said.

 

He said such a move would also help children in grape growing communities from early marriages and enhance modern agricultural activities through formulation of the educated class of farmers in the country.

 

“A number of teenage girls from the grapes growing communities who stay out of school normally opt for marriages.  Keeping them in school would help the nation create a class of elite famers,” he said.

 

He said by valuing the importance of education in the society, TDL decided to provide full education sponsorship to 95 grape growers’ children.

 

The research conducted by his firm discovered that a number of grape growers families lack income to send their children to school, especially girls. 

 

The project Coordinator explains that until now the TDL has managed to pay tuition fees and other expenses needed to all students who sponsored by the company.