Bethany Pre and Primary School in Tanzania began with a casual meeting between Bethany Husby and a young man, Emmanuel Boaz, while the Husbys were on vacation in Tanzania in January 2017. This chance meeting resulted in an amazing story and from it, a mission to build and help sustain Bethany Pre and Primary School in Tanzania.
2017
The story begins…
January 02, 2017 – Aunt Jean took the Husby family on a safari trip to Tanzania.
January 07, 2017 – Bethany Husby met Emmanuel Boaz working in a gift shop and the two began a conversation leading to future collaborations and resulting in forming a non-profit to provide education for children in need in Tanzania.
March 2017 – Emmanuel shared with Bethany his brother-in-law Ojwang’s dream to build a school on his land in Kisongo, a village outside of Arusha, in northern Tanzania.
May 2017 – The Husbys formed Heart To Care Tanzania, a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing education for children in need in Tanzania. Proceeds from a 14-day Plant Sale in the family’s backyard raised over $17,000 for the school.
July 2017 – A fund-raising Chamber Music Concert featuring David Husby, a concert bassoonist, was performed at Peace Lutheran Church in Lauderdale, Minnesota, raising $985.
Bethany Pre and Primary School Construction started in 2017
September 2017 – All funds raised from the plant sale, music concert, and personal donations were used to begin school construction on September 12.
- Construction of Bethany Pre and Primary School begins!
- Emmanuel’s grateful words
- Ground breaking!
- Foundation formed
- Foundation walls grow
- School walls done!
- Preparing the floors
- Roof ordered
- Desks
- On-site welder
- Preparing cement
- Classrooms
- First cistern
- The roof is on!
- Painting the fascia.
- Water from the military line
- Washrooms
- Finishing touches to Bethany Pre and Primary School
- VIDEO How a quick stop to buy a postcard stamp turned into a school
- VIDEO Heart To Care Tanzania Promo by Erik Husby
2018
Bethany Pre and Primary School officially opens
January 08, 2018 – School doors opened for 42 students at Bethany Pre and Primary School, one year after meeting Emmanuel, and four months after the start of construction. We’re officially a school!!
May 2018 – In the USA, a second plant sale to benefit the school
February 2018 – Second school building begins
June 2018 – Community Center construction begins
July 2018 – In the USA, a garden party fundraiser to benefit the school
July 2018 – VIDEO Emmanuel Boaz and school children thank you for your support!
August 2018 – Student field trip to Tarangire National Park
August 2018 – VIDEO Progress Report for Bethany Pre and Primary School
September 2018 – Community Center construction continues
November 2018 – Official school dedication and cornerstone placement
November 2018 – Kitchen is constructed
2019
March 2019 – VIDEO The dream becomes a reality!
June 2019 – Larsen Library construction begins
July 2019 – In the USA, a second garden party fundraiser to benefit the school
August 2019 – Government-required fence constructed
2020
February 2020 – Heavy rains require immediate road repair
March 17, 2020 – COVID-19 closed the school, but learning continues
April 2020 – Books For Africa and Mary Jo Peterson’s books arrive
May 2020 – In the USA, a plant sale to benefit Bethany Pre and Primary School
June 2020 – VIDEO Celebrating 3 years of raising plants and children!
June 2020 – VIDEO 2020 Plant Sale ~ The Power of Plants!
July 2020 – Final school building starts
August 2020 – Cistern is hand dug
September 20, 2020 – School Founder, Ojung’u is Samwel is laid to rest
November 2020 – Improving the school grounds
2021
May 2021 – Library Artwork
July 2021 – Teacher’s Professional Development workshop
November 2021 – Peace Computer Lab
November 2021 – Student field trip to Lake Manyara National Park
November 2021 – VIDEO of Bethany Pre and Primary School by Erik Husby
December 2021 – Purchased 97.5 acres of farmland
2022
January 2022 – Teachers’ workroom
January 2022 – Second floor resumed on final school building
School overview
