Rural Misungwi in northern Tanzania is a hard place to grow up. Children with disabilities are sent away, far along dirt roads, to specialist schools. Madam Sanga recognises that this doesn’t give children the best chance to thrive, or help communities accept them. With our help, Madam Sanga is committed to driving meaningful change. 

We know that for all children, staying with their family and being part of their local community is crucial for their development. However, under the segregated education system in Misungwi, children with deafblindness and other disabilities were not receiving the support they needed to learn and grow effectively. 

Bringing children together 

To address this, we launched a specialist training programme for mainstream teachers, laying the groundwork for including students with disabilities in their local schools. Madam Sanga, a dedicated educator, was selected to participate in this transformative training. 

In just one year, Madam Sanga has created a thriving, inclusive learning environment at her school. Previously, the school had no students with disabilities, but now five children are learning alongside their peers. Her remarkable work in transforming the learning environment has garnered recognition from regional and national government officials, with her class being celebrated as one of the best examples of inclusive learning. 

Madam Sanga has become a beacon of inclusive education in her region, passionately sharing her experiences and demonstrating how teaching materials can be adapted using locally available resources. As a trainer of trainers, she has educated over 100 pre-primary school teachers and organized a peer-to-peer learning programme for educators. Additionally, she has facilitated a women’s conference in Misungwi to further promote inclusive practices. 

Working together with families 

Involving parents in their child’s education has been a key factor in fostering a more inclusive learning environment. Through open communication with families, Madam Sanga has gained a deeper understanding of each child’s unique needs, allowing the school to collaborate effectively with families to support their child’s learning journey. 

Reflecting on her experience, Madam Sanga notes, “Initially, I found it challenging to communicate with parents of children with disabilities, but now I see every challenge as an opportunity to engage with them and find solutions.” 

Without the training provided by Sense International Tanzania, Madam Sanga explains that she would have lacked the understanding necessary to include children with disabilities in the learning process. “I would have continued sending children to specialist schools,” she admits, “but now they are part of my class, and I encourage them to learn.” 

Madam Sanga expresses her confidence in teaching all children, regardless of their needs, stating, “I feel so confident teaching any child in my country since I can accommodate learners with a range of needs. I am so proud of my role as a teacher.” 

Today, Madam Sanga’s expertise and leadership are highly valued, and she continues to inspire others to build more inclusive learning environments. Her commitment to ensuring that every child has access to quality education, regardless of their needs, embodies the values we champion at Sense International. 

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