In Manyanya Village, Njombe Region, daily life is shaped by distance and limited access to
basic services. Homes are scattered across hilly terrain, and children often walk long
distances to school on rough, seasonal roads. During the rainy months, movement
becomes even “harder, isolating families and disrupting learning. In this remote setting
where consistent follow-up at home and school is difficult Nuru’s story reflects the silent
struggles many children face., .
At only 10 years old, she has experienced more instability than most children her age.
After her mother remarried and began a new family, Nuru remained with her elderly
grandmother. Although her grandmother cared deeply for her, keeping up with Nuru’s
Learning became difficult. Nuru started falling behind, especially in mathematics, and she
lacked the close follow up she needed at home.
However, her life began to change when her teacher, Mr Mhagama, noticed her struggles.
He saw a child who was always present in class but drifting academically. One afternoon,
he made a decision that would shape her future.
“I felt something in my heart when I looked at her,” Mr Mhagama recalls.
“She was quiet, respectful and trying her best. But she was carrying a weight she could not explain. I wanted to give her a place where she felt supported and cared for.”
Initially, he took Nuru into his home and treated her like his own child. She received
consistency, attention and guidance that she had long missed. For the first time, she had a
stable environment where learning was part of daily life.
Soon after, Uwezo Tanzania conducted a learning assessment in the village. Nuru was one
of the children assessed at Mr Mhagama’s home. The assessment team quickly identified
her challenges in mathematics and recommended the Jifunze class The Jifunze class is a
structured, targeted learning program that groups children according to their actual
learning levels rather than their age or grade. Through short, intensive learning cycles and
continuous assessment, teachers adapt instruction to each child’s pace helping learners
like Nuru rebuild confidence and master foundational numeracy skills step by step within
30 days
For Mr Mhagama, this referral was a moment he had been hoping for.
“I was relieved,” he says.
“As a teacher, it troubled me that a child under my care was finding
mathematics so difficult. When the assessors recommended Jifunze, I felt like Nuru had finally
found a path that matched her needs. I saw hope in her eyes.”
Joining the Jifunze classes opened a new chapter for Nuru. Slowly, she began to catch up.
Her fear of numbers reduced and was replaced by interest and confidence. She started
solving problems she once avoided. The improvement in mathematics lifted her
performance in other subjects as well.
Today, Nuru balances her days with discipline and purpose. She wakes up at six in the
morning, attends school, returns home at four and completes her house chores before
settling down for studies between five and six in the evening.
“This routine helps me finish everything,
” Nuru explains.
“I wash utensils, sweep the
compound and then study. I like it because I am improving in school. I can see myself
changing.”