Kujali International's founding project was in partnership with a local nonprofit in Tanzania. Together, we redesigned an orphanage into a self-sustaining boarding school.
Kujali's origin story.
In 2005, while an undergraduate student at the University of Florida, Sydney Schaef boarded an East Africa-bound plane with a guitar and suitcase in hand, en route to the University of Dar-es-Salaam for a term of study. While in Tanzania, she met a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to social change, and a group of 30 kids who loved to sing.
"That experience changed the course of my life." Sydney returned to the U.S. inspired by Mr. Mwalugaja's vision for transforming orphanages into sustainable boarding schools that helped equip disadvantaged youth with the skills, resources, and opportunities to forge their own bright futures. She founded Kujali and started sharing the vision with everyone she knew.
Two years later, Kujali International and Hananasif Orphanage Center co-founded the first free boarding school for orphaned and disadvantaged youth in Mkuranga, Tanzania. Over an eight year period–through local fundraising, music album production and sales, horticulture programs, solar kiosks, adventure travel, and more–the school became financially sustainable and 100% locally operated. HOCET Secondary School remains an active, registered school in Tanzania today.
Stories from the archive.
Explore the archive that captures the story of Kujali's first major initiative from 2006-2013, working alongside young people and local leaders in Tanzania to reimagine the orphanage institution and create a more human-centered, impactful model of care.
Enjoy this special narrative from Suma, HSS School Manager, who shares insights into the home visits conducted in November (2011) by the HSS Selections Committee to help select students for…
A special note from Kate Kessenich, Kujali’s Field Operations Director, about one of our HSS graduates, Damas Matthias. Damas is currently participating in Kujali’s Bridge Program, through which Kujali provides…
Look back with us on the year, and celebrate another year of growing, learning, and becoming in 2011. Thank you for all that you’ve helped make possible! Want to watch…
Smiles, hugs, prayers, and farewells filled HOCET’s children’s home earlier this week as community members crowded around the very excited, and very nervous, fourteen year-old awaiting her flight to the…
I just finished grade 7 here in Canada. Last year when my sister came back from Tanzania, she recounted helping students from HOCET Secondary School who were close to her…
Congratulations to our Climb for Kujali 2011 Team for an incredible journey! This year’s second annual Climb for Kujali event took us to new heights. A team of 13 climbers,…
We’re growing at HOCET Secondary School! We are so happy to announce that our efforts to launch school-wide cultivation thus far have been successful! Starting with a few independent…
HOCET Secondary School’s 2010 Form IV graduates have inspired me, and are a great reminder to me of the impact HSS has on its students….. I was involved in Kujali’s graduate…
After an 8-week trial period, we’ve decided that the HSS “School Store” is here to stay! Well-stocked and student-run, the HSS School Store offers students the opportunity to purchase or rent a variety of…
