Unity School of Arusha

A small school with a big story of resilience and renewal

Unity Primary School is a private primary school located in Arusha, Tanzania, serving children from low-income families who would otherwise have limited access to quality education.

Founded in 2002, Unity School originally grew to serve more than 450 students. For many years it was a thriving and respected part of the local community.

Then, in 2008, everything changed.

A School on the Brink

After the death of its founder and chief benefactor, Unity School lost both leadership and financial support. Without stable funding, enrollment steadily declined.

By 2022, the school had nearly collapsed — serving only 12 students.

Facilities deteriorated. Teachers worked without pay. Basic resources disappeared. The future of the school was uncertain.

Yet even in its lowest moments, Unity never truly closed its doors.

The Beginning of a Revival

When Doug and Marcy Wielfaert first visited Unity School in 2024, they found:

  • volunteer teachers working without salaries

  • classrooms in need of repair

  • children eager to learn despite limited resources

What stood out most was not the condition of the buildings — but the commitment of the people.

The teachers had refused to give up on the school.
The families had refused to give up on their children.

Unity School was still alive — it just needed help.

Growth Through Community Support

With modest early donations and growing involvement from visitors and supporters, Unity School began to recover.

Enrollment has steadily increased:

  • 12 students in 2022

  • 55 students in 2023

  • 75 students in 2024

  • 95 students in 2025

Today, Unity School is once again a place of daily learning, structure, and hope.

Most of the teaching staff continue to serve on a volunteer or low-paid basis — motivated not by income, but by belief in the children and the mission of the school.

Why Unity Matters

Unity School represents something larger than a single institution.

It shows what is possible when:

  • local leadership remains committed

  • outside support is respectful and accountable

  • and education is treated as a long-term investment, not a short-term charity

Unity is not a project imposed from outside.
It is a community effort — strengthened by partnership.

MPJ Tanzania Projects exists to support that effort

Unity School of Arusha is living proof that with dedication, partnership, and consistent support, even the smallest schools can rebuild — and thrive.