6.30am

The Buguruni Breakfast Club where porridge, eggs or fruit are served every morning. This started as the Tanzanear 2014 Appeal and is now a vital part of the school day.

7am

 

Because it is so hot in Dar es Salaam, the day starts early with litter pick-up and general cleaning, which the teachers and pupils do together.

7.30am

 

The school band starts playing assembly music and the children who can see the band from where they are summon the others. They line up in class rows for assembly, do some calisthenics, and sign the school prayer.

8am

 

Lessons begin. Schooling in Tanzania is still based around 'chalk and talk' (learning by rote from the blackboard) - we hope that the school's partnership with Mary Hare School will help the teachers at Buguruni complement the traditional methods with more innovative and interactive learning.

10am

 

Morning chai (tea and snacks). The children queue for milk-less tea and slices of bread and margarine. The sit and chat together, and if they have the equivalent of 5p they buy ice lollies.

10.30am

 

Lessons start again.

11.30am

 

Nursery pupils finish school.

2pm

 

Afternoon assembly. All other pupils except Standard 7 go home unless they are boarders. The boarders have lunch, which is nearly always ugali, a stiff porridge, and beans.

2pm onwards

 

The boarders change out of uniform, wash their clothes, play, sit and chat. S7 pupils have to do extra study, and there are sports and games.

7pm

Evening meal.

9pm

Lights out.