TARA GETTY SECONDARY SCHOOL

RESTORED PROTECTED PRESERVED WILD

Tara Getty Secondary School – From Vision To Reality

Before the establishment of the school, students in the Moya and Mayoka communities in the Lake Manyara landscape had to travel 7–12 km daily to attend secondary school. Many children dropped out, with boys turning to fishing or cattle herding and girls facing early marriages. Recognising the urgent need for accessible education, the community allocated 15 acres of land.

Working with Wild Impact for over three decades, Tara and Jessica were motivated to support this area in Tanzania as an extension of their involvement closer to home in South Africa began a long term commitment and relationship with Moya and Moyoka communities in the Babati District on the edge of the incredible Lake Manyara.

Opening in January 2021 with 99 students, this first phase of Tara Getty Secondary School started with simple, essential-needs constructions in order to provide a comprehensive curriculum, including Mathematics, English, Physics, Kiswahili, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture, Civics, History, and Geography for secondary students.

The highlight for our family was visiting for several days over the official opening in November 2022. Caspar Getty, as a teenager, offered the idea of some dedicated sports facilities in his speech. This was met with unbridled enthusiasm, and now, the sports courts enable physical education, soccer, netball, volleyball, and athletics!

New science laboratories ensure hands-on learning experiences, and excitingly, Phase 5 is currently underway, to include extra staff accommodations, ablution facilities, fencing, two additional classrooms, a media library and a vegetable garden.

2021

A STRONG FOUNDATION
(Phase I)

Construction of four classrooms, a central administration block,
and two ablution blocks.
Construction of a 4-in-1 teachers’ accommodation block.
Tanzania Department of Education provision of teachers and learning resources.

2022

Expansion to Form II
(Phase II)

Enrolment grew to 158 students.
Additional four classrooms (two co-funded by the Tanzania Department of Education).
A 2-in-1 teachers’ accommodation block, furniture, and desks.

2023

Boarding Facilities Introduced
(Phase III)

Enrolment increased to 265 students.
Construction of dormitories for boys and girls, a kitchen, and a dining hall.

2024

Becoming a Full Secondary School
(Phase IV)

Enrolment reached 389 students, offering Forms I–IV.
Construction of science laboratories, additional ablutions, dormitory fencing, more teachers’ accommodations, and sports fields.

Currently the school serves 389 students from Form 1 – IV and funding each phase annually enables the expansion of facilities and teaching staff, for the first intake to progress through the school and graduate! This growth provides students with a quality education empowering them to build brighter futures. The Tara Getty Secondary school (named by the community!) has catalysed such zeal and positivity in this area and we share a wonderful, long term connection with the Lake Manyara communities as we continue to grow this vibrant school.

With a strong foundation and community support, the school is shaping the next generation of leaders and changemakers.