Education

Shade School

Shade School continues to grow! In January 2025, we reached another exciting milestone—adding 4th grade and expanding our impact.

Shade School first opened its doors in 2020 with preschool classes and, by 2022, received government approval to include primary grades. Now, we proudly serve students from age three through 4th grade, with plans to continue adding a new grade level each year until we have a complete primary school.

Alongside core subjects like English, Math, and Science, students enjoy music, art, Bible, and sports classes. They also receive two nutritious meals daily, and scholarships are available for vulnerable families and students with albinism.

Shade School is central to our vision of holistic care for vulnerable children. We believe education is foundational to breaking cycles of poverty and equipping children with the tools they need to pursue their God-given destinies.

A classroom with young students seated at desks, two adults standing at the front near a blackboard.

A child with albinism wearing a blue sunhat and sunglasses, sitting at a desk.

A group of young children standing in a line outside, waiting to board a yellow school bus labeled “SHADE.”

A classroom with young students seated at desks, a teacher at the front near a blackboard.

A group of young children playing outside on a swing set with a teacher supervising.

Two young children in blue uniforms, one smiling at the camera, the other wearing a blue sunhat.

A young girl with beaded braids standing indoors, looking at the camera.

A group of young children in school uniforms sitting in front of a two-story building with blue accents.

How We Got Started

The Tanzanian government has set up centers throughout Tanzania to protect children with albinism. For three and a half years, Shade served these children at a center in Shinyanga.

Shade launched two preschool classrooms in 2015 at the center after seeing education for the youngest as one of the greatest needs. In our classrooms, we provided supplies like books, clothes, and uniforms. We brought healthy food to help supplement the children’s diet. We sang with them and taught them the love of Jesus through the Bible.

In 2018, after a policy change at the center which meant that preschool-aged children were no longer accepted, Shade concluded our preschool services. While we were sad about this change, we continue to be thankful that many preschoolers received a good start to their education and were loved and cared for by Shade during those years. When Shade began the preschool, we knew that this would only be a temporary program.

Education

Shade School

Interested in enrolling your child at Shade School?

Wonder why you see few children with albinism in our photos?

It's all part of our strategic plan for our Shade School!

How We Got Started

Our vision has always been to have land and to build our school in order to love and serve vulnerable children.

Shade School continues to grow!