Insights

08 29 2016

When I was growing up, books were everywhere—picture books lined my elementary school classrooms, textbooks were stuffed in my high school locker, and my personal collection of books was always growing. A local bookstore down the street had “meet the author” events, book clubs, and giveaways as a regular course of business. Not to mention that there were libraries at every stage of learning—spacious buildings with floors full of books and comfy chairs to read them in. With my library card I could rent mystery books, history books, fiction, nonfiction, books on tape, and any other book my heart, or brain, desired—for free.

Books, for me, have always been ubiquitous.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in Tanzania and in many other developing countries around the world. This lack of access to learning materials often correlates with the challenges that education systems face in these countries.

According to USAID Tanzania, the country has made significant progress with education and within Africa it boasts one of the highest net enrollment ratios for primary education. However, despite this promising statistic, there are many other obstacles to overcome. The country still struggles with student retention rates, successful transition from primary schools to secondary schools, and application of those skills post-education. USAID Tanzania explains this issue using the results of a study on the quality of the education system there, which found that “when Tanzanian children finish primary level, their performance is extremely poor, with seven out of every ten children unable to read basic Swahili and nine out of every ten children unable to read basic English.” So how could StratComm help?

In the middle of a blazing hot August in 2014, StratComm was honored to have been awarded a $5.4 million contract by USAID Tanzania to manufacture and deliver 2.5 million textbooks to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The project came as a part of its “Big Results Now in Education” program, and the mission was to improve the overall quality of education in Tanzania’s primary and secondary schools, with a focus on science and mathematics. The impetus of the project was a visit to Tanzania by President Obama, who made a presidential promise to supply the country with textbooks in support of the country’s educational goals.

With extreme attention to detail and years of experience handling complex projects, the StratComm team was able to fulfill the requirement to deliver the textbooks within 100 days from the date of award. The books were printed, bound, and shipped onboard four vessels, arriving during November and December 2014. When the books were handed off to USAID, our job was officially complete.

Yet, while the actual work was complete, our entire team still felt very connected to the project and its mission. The project’s timeframe had been tight, our entire team absorbed in the complexities of shipping, logistics, and quality control checks. We were immersed in the logistics details, including ensuring the shipping containers were lined with moisture control bags, managing the intricacies of customs clearance in Dar es Salaam, and working at all hours to ensure the textbooks were delivered on time. With all of these details, it was hard to find the time to pause and consider who would be receiving these books so far away in East Africa, and the meaning they would have in so many millions of lives.

But our books were about to make a difference in a way we could not even fathom.

The Real Reward

On February 24, 2015, we saw the real reward for long nights on conference calls and early mornings at the printer—our books were in the hands of children across Tanzania. The day marked the event of the official handoff of 2.5 million textbooks from USAID to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MOEVT) in Tanzania.

Viewing the photos from the handoff, we were filled with excitement, pride, and hope. The textbooks we printed were first requested by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in 2013, during President Barack Obama’s visit to the country. They were then promised by USAID, which turned to StratComm to help make it happen. As the photos showed, they would be used to enrich lives and advance education. The historic event was held at the Mtakuja School in Kunduchi, Dar es Salaam and attended by President Kikwete and U.S. Ambassador Mark B. Childress. The two made speeches during the event and emphasized the importance of education to help the country strengthen its infrastructure and alleviate poverty.

That winter afternoon our team huddled around the computer screen to see the images of smiling students, ready to make their mark on the world through improved education, with newly printed textbooks in hand. In Tanzania we recognized the importance of promoting education, but it wasn’t until we saw the meeting of our books and the students that we truly understood the impact of this mission, and the true reward was realized.  

AUTHOR

Kayla Foley
Project Manager at StratComm