Step-by-Step Learning Center
An inclusive school for learning disabled and able students
Step by Step Learning Center opened on the 29th of September 2005
with its first learning disabled student, Ruth Kenyi. With little
or no educational facilities for students with learning disabilities
available in Tanzania, Ruth's mother, Margaret Kenyi, determined
to gain the knowledge and training needed to establish a quality
special needs program in an inclusive environment. Margaret envisioned
an educational facility where children with learning difficulties,
together with students without learning difficulties, could together
receive a quality education and reach their highest potential. After
receiving her degree in education for learning disabled children,
Margaret and her colleague Dr. Milkah Mrema established the Step
by Step Learning Center (SSLC) in hopes of developing a world-class
model of inclusive education. Margaret and Milkah plan to expand
Step by Step into the first "inclusive" primary and secondary
school in the Arusha area that will serve as an example for all schools
in Tanzania.
Currently, Step by Step Learning Center operates in two rooms and serves the educational needs of eight mentally impaired students. One classroom is rented and used to host hands-on activities while a second room has been donated for use as an office and classroom. With so few facilities catering to the learning disabled, Margaret is looking for land to build a school which will provide inclusive, English medium education for girls and boys from pre-primary through secondary grade levels for over 50 students with learning disabilities and over 300 students without disabilities. The school will be a unique model to teach disabled and non-disabled children side-by-side.
To achieve this vision, the following facilities are needed:
- 11 classrooms, library/media center, music room, sports facilities, vocational training block, administrative block, kitchen and cafeteria.
- The secondary block will require an additional 6 classrooms, 2 laboratories, and a multi-purpose room.
OMEGA has partnered with SSCL in their efforts to construct the first inclusive school in Tanzania and is encouraging SSCL to raise 30% of necessary funds locally while OMEGA seeks the remaining 70% of funding from foreign donors. A basic budget summary for the SSCL Building Project is posted below. If you are interested in supporting OMEGA and SSCL in this effort, you are welcome to contact OMEGA for a detailed proposal and budget.
| Total Funds Needed | ||||
| Line Item Category | Step by Step Cash | Donor Cash | OMEGA Cash | Total |
| Salaries & Benefits | 0 | 17,640 | 16,800 | 34,440 |
| Supplies & Materials | 175,800 | 410,200 | 0 | 586,000 |
| Travel & Transport | 0 | 0 | 7,200 | 7,200 |
| Other Direct Costs | 0 | 1,733 | 9,818 | 11,550 |
| Equipment < $5,000 | 0 | 1,525 | 1,525 | 3,050 |
| Equipment > $5,000 | 0 | 50,000 | 0 | 50,000 |
| Total Costs | 175,800 | 481,098 | 35,343 | 692,240 |
If you are interested in this project and would like more information on supporting or adopting Step-by-Step Learning Center, please contact Jerry Hale at jhale@omegamission.org.
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