Wilderness Tanzania empowers children through classroom rehabilitation project

September 2025 – Wilderness Tanzania and Travel Elevates – the non-profit charitable arm of the global Signature Travel Network – have joined forces with the municipal council, school authorities and local government to enhance educational infrastructure at Gwikongo Primary School in the Serengeti region, and Manyara Secondary School adjacent to Lake Manyara National Park.

The project was initiated by Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Tanzania, Wilderness’ renowned non-profit educational programme, after it received a grant from Travel Elevates. The grant was facilitated by the Wilderness Trust – the non-profit arm of Wilderness, dedicated to raising and disbursing funds for conservation and development in Africa – and channelled to CITW to improve educational infrastructure in some of its partner schools in rural Tanzania. CITW, the flagship programme of the Educate pillar in the Wilderness Impact strategy, has been active in the communities around Serengeti and Lake Manyara national parks since early 2024.  

“Despite being situated next to one of the most famous national parks in the world, these communities are some of the most vulnerable, with little in the way of infrastructure or resources. While the school children of Gwikongo can see the Serengeti from their classroom windows, the walls were crumbling around them, and elephants invade their parents’ maize fields”, noted CITW Tanzania Community Project Co-ordinator, Doctor Tipay.

The refurbishment of the classroom at Gwikongo has now been completed – providing a safe, comfortable and engaging space for more than 500 children, many of whom were previously attending lessons outdoors, with a limited water and electricity supply. The children’s school lessons and CITW Eco-Club environmental education activities now take place indoors, in a classroom especially decorated to energise and motivate students and teachers alike, while they will also benefit from the new access to a full rainwater harvesting and water tank system, and electricity supply connected to the grid.

“The refurbishment at Manyara will now begin, and it will replicate the specifications and approach we used at Gwikongo, including the empowerment of nearby communities by sourcing labour and materials from them. This not only stimulates the local economy, but also fosters a sense of community pride, and ownership, in the project. When we invest in our partner communities in this way, we also reinforce the value of tourism, showing that there are benefits to communities who embrace conservation and help protect the parks and wildlife”, Doctor added.

Since starting in the region, CITW Tanzania’s Impact projects have already been far-reaching, with Eco-Mentors having been trained to run Eco-Clubs at five schools, which between them cater to over 4,000 children. Amongst other initiatives implemented by CITW, the schools have established thriving reforestation and eco-garden projects, with the latter making a difference on a daily basis.

“We are extremely grateful to Travel Elevates for their support of CITW and our partner communities through this much-needed project, and to the Wilderness Trust for facilitating the funding that made it possible”, continued Doctor. “It also wouldn’t have been possible without the strong, collaborative relationships we’ve built with the school and local authorities – all in the name of empowering the next generation of decision makers through better access to education”.

“Together we've completed a classroom that will serve over 500 children, giving them not just a space to learn, but a chance to dream bigger. Being on the ground throughout the process, side-by-side with local builders, teachers, government officials, and the community, reminded me of what's possible when everyone pulls in the same direction. This is not just a building, it’s a symbol of dignity, a sign of hope for these bright, young learners”, he concluded.

Find out more about how Children in the Wilderness is empowering Africa’s future conservation leaders here.