Canton Intermediate School and Kilimanjaro Education Foundation Open New Classroom in Tanzania

CANTON, Conn., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- With music as their inspiration, students and teachers at Canton Intermediate School (C.I.S.) worked with Kilimanjaro Education Foundation (KEF) to fund a new classroom for a school in Tanzania.

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C.I.S. and KEF, a non-profit organization that strives to improve education and build school facilities for African children, announced today the opening of a new 1,000 square foot modern-day classroom in the village of Olturoto, just outside of Arusha, Tanzania. The classroom, which officially opened on February 12th, is equipped with desks, chairs, chalkboards and electricity.

"C.I.S. is proud to give the students and teachers of the Olturoto Primary School a modern day classroom that will help improve educational opportunities," said Andrew Buckle, C.I.S. read technology specialist.  "This classroom represents part of the C.I.S. mission which is to create an awareness of the importance of community and community service."

The classroom project was initiated in 2008 by C.I.S. staffers Andrew Buckle and Patrick Allen who were eager from the start to use their songs and effort as inspiration to their students to take on a social issues with passion and conviction and to do something about it.  See story http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/kef/32327/.

For more than two years, C.I.S. students and staff have worked with that dedication, raising more than $12,000 through a variety of fundraising efforts in selling CD's, charging admission for talent shows and volleyball games, holding basketball shootouts during halftime at games, and selling baked goods.

"The opening of the Canton classroom, is another momentous event for the village of Olturoto," said James Meengienga, Olturoto school headmaster.  We are very thankful to our sister school Canton for all they have done and the communications they conduct through the pen-pal program between both schools."

"It has been our privilege at KEF to work with C.I.S. to make this classroom a reality," said Todd Grossman, president and founder of KEF.  "I am very proud of the entire school and how they have accepted responsibility for actions and recognize how their actions affected others."

Building the classroom was KEF's second major undertaking in less than a year. KEF completed the construction of a bathroom facility on the Natema school grounds thanks to the awareness that Ann Curry and Today's Ends Of The Earth Series created in Fall 2008.  Monies used for the project were raised through personal and corporate donations. See story http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/kef/40147/.

About C.I.S.

Canton Intermediate School (C.I.S.) serves a population of approximately 400 students, grades four through six, and has a proud tradition and reputation of being a school with high standards in academic preparation and a school devoted to a child's well being.  C.I.S. utilizes the "responsive classroom" approach to teaching and learning that fosters safe, challenging, and positive classrooms.  Canton Intermediate School believes that a child's success is directly related to school, home, and community partnership.

About KEF

Kilimanjaro Education Foundation (KEF), (www.kef4kids.org) founded in 2006, is incorporated in New York State and organized as a 501(c)(3). KEF strives to improve education and to build school facilities for underprivileged children in Tanzania and other countries bordering Kilimanjaro. KEF's volunteers and directors share in and impart not only the Foundation's passion for children and education, but also in KEF's core values of honesty, integrity, creativity and imagination.

SOURCE Kilimanjaro Education Foundation (KEF)