Andorran Teacher Builds School in Rural Tanzania

Andorran teacher Naia Aguilar is leading an initiative to build a school in the rural Tanzanian community of Robanda, with construction planned for 2026. The project, backed by Mans Unides and coordinated through the Maisha Bora association, aims to address overcrowded classrooms, dilapidated facilities, and a shortage of basic materials in the area.

Aguilar, who teaches in Andorra, first encountered the challenges during a volunteer trip to Tanzania about three years ago to visit her partner, who lives there. She described the experience as transformative: children walked long distances to attend classes in poor conditions, yet showed strong determination to learn. "As a teacher, I couldn't ignore it," she said, feeling a sense of responsibility upon returning home.

The effort seeks to provide quality early childhood and primary education while involving local families and leaders in planning and execution. Aguilar emphasised that the school will belong to the community, fostering broader changes in habits, expectations, and economic prospects. High dropout rates, driven by a lack of resources, make access to education especially critical.

Coordinated from Andorra, Maisha Bora handles fundraising, awareness campaigns, and oversight, while Mans Unides provides financial and technical support. Aguilar highlighted the project's personal lessons in humility, listening, patience, and collective decision-making.

On International Women's Day, March 8, Aguilar framed her work as an example of essential female leadership in global cooperation. "Women's leadership is not an exception but a necessity," she stated. She stressed education's role in empowering girls, noting it boosts their chances of earning income, delaying marriage and motherhood, and gaining autonomy. In gender-inequitable settings, schools offer tools for rights awareness, job opportunities, and self-discovery.

Aguilar called for greater awareness in Andorra of global inequalities and urged young women to act without waiting to feel fully prepared. "Commitment starts with sensitivity and grows through action," she said. "Begin with what's within reach."