A mother to 3 children, Happiness Manyama embodies the role of a mother figure to the students at Butundwe Secondary School. Originally from the Mara region, she has devoted 11 years to teaching across Tanzania’s Lake Zone, including a posting at Rozela Secondary School in Bugando. For the past 2 years, Happiness has led Butundwe as headmistress. She speaks with pride about the construction of the school’s new dining hall which she sees as an opportunity to generate income that will improve student meals.
“My students love rice,” she notes with a smile. “Most schools can’t afford to serve it every day. We offer rice 3 times a week, but my hope is to provide rice, fruit and a beverage at every meal.”
To achieve her hope of improving students’ nutrition, Happiness plans to rent the space for community events such as town hall meetings, weddings and large gatherings to raise funds that will enhance the meals offered at the school. “Every aspect of my students’ welfare matters,” she says. “With the right support, the dining hall can feed them well and also serve as a hub for our community.”
She is currently in discussion with municipal authorities and other stakeholders to develop an income‑generating programme that will fund the remaining essentials like furniture and electricity for the dining hall.