Shinda.org

Shinda Basic School is a pre-school and primary school established in the out-skirts of Arusha, Tanzania for the purpose of providing education, public health, and environmental awareness to the residents of Sokoni I and the neighboring communities. The school works with the government and other non-governmental agencies in improving the quality of life in this area of Arusha.  Shinda Basic school is registered by the Ministry of Education in Tanzania and is operated by Rafiki Trust, a Tanzanian non-profit. 

Shinda Basic School and Rafiki Trust started as a vision from the late Mr. Pasian L. Kimaro (1946-2006) in 1997. Mr. Kimaro, his family, and dedicated friends have since been the key source of inspiration and motivation for the existence and progress of this organization despite many set backs that would have made many quit or abandon the bright vision all together.

It was difficult for the for the late Mr. Pasian Kimaro to acquire finanical support but through perservance he was able to obtain funding  and Rafiki Trust was able to purchase a piece of land to start the first elementary school in 2001.

Operating in a small single building which served as the original classroom, Mr. Kimaro was able to enroll for the first time 90 students. This was a great number to accomodate in this small classroom and for one man to teach. Rafiki Trust had to seek help and support from outside sources, luckily, Shinda Basic School received international volunteers who were also Mr. Kimaro's former Swahili students. These former students helped in teaching, raising funds for purchase of an extra piece of land, and contruction of another classroom. Shinda Basic School is dedicated to providing these young children of Tanzania an opportunity to education which to many seems as an imaginable dream.

Despite the many setbacks Shinda Basic continues to face, in 2008 the first Standard VII class graduated with all but two students being selected for secondary schools.  Shinda Basic School and the community are very proud of this achievement, but our struggle to provide quality education at affordable prices continues.

We hope you will take some time as you read though the pages of our website, to think of ways to help us in reaching our goals. One can do this through in kind donations financially and materially, volunteering, and becoming an ambassador for our vision.

We would greatly appreciate your donation through