Kao La Amani Preschool and Primary School, Tanzania
Boma Ng’ombe / Tanzania
Why the Kao La Amani Preschool and Primary School matters
Fifteen years ago, the founders of the Kao La Amani Children’s Village began with a simple mission – to provide a safe home and quality education for children from risk-prone environments in northern Tanzania. Many of these children had lost one or both parents or had been exposed to neglect, poverty or unsafe living conditions.
From the beginning, education was central to this mission. The original Kao La Amani Primary School offered children from the Village – and from the surrounding community – the opportunity to learn together, form friendships, and share experiences. Integrating both groups has helped build social skills, confidence and a sense of belonging.
Today, the school serves around 235 students but is in need of significant upgrades to meet the growing demand for places and the need for modern, sustainable facilities. With plans to increase capacity to around 300 students, the development will help set a new benchmark for quality education in the region.
The design
The project is being delivered in two phases. Phase one – currently underway – focuses on refurbishing existing classrooms and facilities, including accessibility upgrades, new flooring, and fresh interior and exterior finishes. Visiting volunteers, staff and students have already contributed to new painted murals, giving the children a sense of ownership and pride in their school.
Phase two will deliver a new dining hall that will also serve as a library and social space, a modern kitchen blending both traditional and contemporary cooking methods, additional toilet blocks and dedicated drinking water taps. The outdoor areas will feature landscaped seating, play spaces and improved sports facilities for preschool and primary students.
Sustainability is central to the design. The school will run on off-grid solar power, use solar water pumping from an existing borehole, and be built from locally sourced materials such as volcanic stone from Kilimanjaro. The project will also include an ICT suite, giving students in this rural area access to digital learning tools for the first time.
Project scoping images, including a 3D masterplan proposal for school improvements and three renders of the new designs.
The impact
By October 2026, the upgraded Kao La Amani Preschool and Primary School will offer children a safe, sustainable and inspiring place to learn. With improved facilities, the school can set clear enrolment standards, ensuring a balance between quality and access.
The benefits go beyond education. The school will create new employment opportunities for teachers, support staff and local tradespeople, strengthening the wider community. Just as the Children’s Village provided safe homes, the new school will provide the foundation for lifelong learning – giving every student the tools, confidence and skills they need to thrive in the modern world.
PROJECT TYPE: Preschool and primary school
PROJECT PARTNERS: Tír na nÓg Children's Foundation (Client), Michael Hadi Associates (Structural Engineers), Tembe Group (Architects), Estate Care Limited (Structural & Services Engineers), Mosha Building Works (Main Contractor), Power providers (Solar experts), Sun Partners (Funding) and MK Arch & Plan (Quantity Surveyors).
STATUS: In construction
