Hope: Catherine Ryan and Seif Sakate, with their son Kolo, 3, are appealing for people to sponsor Bandari School students. Picture: Rob Gunstone

For only $20 a month, south-west residents can help a young African child gain an education.

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Residents can sponsor a Tanzanian child with links to Port Fairy as part of a new program.

Bandari School Project founders Catherine Ryan and Seif Sakate, from Port Fairy, have built a kindergarten in Mto wa Mbu with the help of south-west volunteers. Mr Sakate grew up in the region.

The kinder will open next month and provide education to some of the region's most disadvantaged children.

Sponsorship is one way to ensure the 20 children receive all the resources they need to attend school.

“We want to help as many kids as we can,” Ms Ryan said. There’s a lot need.

“The challenge is just limiting ourselves to 20 children because there’s so many that need that help.

“We need to be realistic about what we do.”

The couple started talking about sponsorship earlier this year, once the school became a reality.

“We’re going to need uniforms. We’re going to need books so the easiest way for that to happen would be through a sponsorship,” she said.

The couple said existing government schools had up to 100 children in a classroom, whereas the Bandari School numbers would be limited.

“We want to make sure it’s a quality education where every child gets attention from the teacher and help if they need it and they will need it. They’re very disadvantaged and need that support.

“Our project manager in Tanzania is in the process of finding the kids and we’re working with the council to find the kids who really need the help.

“She’s coming back with stories of kids who are living in abject poverty.”

The school curriculum will be taught in English to prepare the children for secondary school where all the lessons are in English.

Sponsorship is $20 per month, or $240 annually, which will provide each child with a uniform, books, a bag and breakfast when they arrive at school.

The pair hope that sponsors who sign up would choose to continue their sponsorship throughout the child’s primary education.

Sponsors will receive a photo of their sponsor child and information about their background.

Sponsors will also have the option of visiting the child at Easter when south-west volunteers head to the region on their annual trip to complete building works at the school.