Congratulations Arise School Grade 7 Graduates 2023!

Grade 7 students at Arise School were excitedly looking forward to celebrating their graduation on Saturday, 23rd. September.  Having recently sat their national examinations, along with fellow students throughout Tanzania, graduation day is an important landmark in their lives – the completion of primary school and their onward journey to secondary education.  

In the company of their proud parents, fellow Arise students and staff,  invited guests and neighbours of the school, an impressive show of dance, singing, presentation, and even a puppet show by some of the students, added much colour, fun and enjoyment to the occasion. 

The Guest of Honour, Professor Wilfred Mlay, a long term friend and advocate for both Arise and ACE, spoke to all.  In particular, he addressed the Grade 7 students with a thoughtful and inspiring message as they look to start the next stage of their life and journey to adulthood. 

Following the speeches, Professor Mlay presented each graduating pupil with a Primary School Leaving Certificate.  For many of the pupils and their parents, especially those students sponsored through ACE who would otherwise have been very unlikely to have had the opportunity to reach this stage of their education, it would have been a very special and memorable occasion.  

Certificates were also presented to individual students for particular achievements, including academically, on the sports field, leadership and social responsibility.  We were delighted to learn that, in spite of the barriers they had faced in their young lives, amongst them were two ACE sponsored pupils who were recognised in this way.  

As is very much the tradition in Tanzania, after the presentation, the students, their parents and guests enjoyed a celebratory lunch together.  It was a wonderful sense of closure to the students’ ten years of education at Arise.  

Many congratulations Grade 7 and thank you for your great leadership of Arise School during 2023.  Thank you, too, to the Arise staff team and to our ACE sponsors whose ongoing support and commitment has enabled the students to aspire and achieve in this way.  We wish you all good luck with your examination results and every success in the future.  Onwards and upwards!