Mary Jo Huelle
Mary Jo Huelle, Teacher and Chairperson of the Friends of Mwangaza

Mwangaza Education for Partnership

A vibrant part of our collective work in Tanzania is Mwangaza Education for Partnership. Supported in part by our Nebraska Synod mission support for Global Mission, Mwangaza is a joint effort of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania that addresses the challenges of formal and informal education in Tanzania at the secondary level. Begun in 1996 after discussions with educators in both countries, Mwangaza is a grassroots initiative, providing learning opportunities for people in both nations.

Mwangaza, a Kiswahili word meaning enlightenment, guides the partnership’s work as it promotes teaching, learning and leadership development for Tanzanian schools in the companioned regions of these national church bodies. Mwangaza has five major programs:

Mwangaza Education for Partnership
  • Skill development for secondary school teachers
  • Instruction for women leaders focusing on life skills, communication, family health and nutrition
  • A father/son program which covers communication, responsibilities of power and authority, and stewardship in home and community
  • HIV/AIDS instruction, integrated into all programs
  • A computer literacy program for teachers.
Director of Mwangaza Education for Partnership
Director of Mwangaza Education for Partnership
A highlight of the Mwangaza effort was several teacher exchanges between the Northern Diocese and Nebraska Synod. Through this program, teachers from the Northern Diocese spent nearly two months in Nebraska schools working with their counterpart. While in Nebraska, the Tanzanian teachers observed teaching methods, strengthened their English, and gained experienced in computer technology. They returned to Tanzania with their American counter part to present curriculum workshops to Tanzanian colleagues.

Mary Jo Huelle of Calvary Lutheran Church of Scottsbluff, who was one of the first exchange teachers to Tanzania, presently serves as the chairperson of the United States-based Friends of Mwangaza.

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