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Reimagining the orphanage as a model of care.

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.

Strategic Planning at HSS

September 1, 2010
It has been an important month for the HSS community.  We’ve strengthened the dialogue among school stakeholders, asked the hard questions, reflected on challenges, and identified our greatest needs moving…
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Kilimanjaro Team Arrives

August 15, 2010
We’re excited to welcome our first Climb For Kujali Team to Tanzania!  After months of fundraising and awareness-raising, our team of ten participants and our Director of Development Climb Coordinator,…
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Tonight’s Charity Poker Tournament

July 29, 2010
On behalf of the Kujali Team, congratulations to tonight’s tournament winners and thanks to all of our participants for joining us at Commerce Casino for Kujali’s 2010 Summary Charity Poker…
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Supporting Kujali Just Got Sweeter

July 27, 2010
Hi everyone! My name is Jen Vigdor and I’m one of Kujali’s 2010 Kilimanjaro climbers!  As a fundraising tool for Kujali, we have partnered with Baking For Good, a baking company…
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Hasheem Thabeet Visits HOCET

May 17, 2010
I landed in Dar-es-Salaam on May 5th for the first time in nearly four years, warmly welcomed by Kujali’s field team and the children & staff of HOCET.   I felt…
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Kujali International designs, studies, and promotes learning innovations that radically improve educational opportunities for underserved youth.
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