History

Siha Leadership School, founded in 2003, has been serving families nin the Kilimanjaro-Siha District of Tanzania since 2003. Click here to learn more about the school’s history.

School Leadership

PUNCHWMI Foundation/SHEFO

Siha Leadership School is owned by PUNCHWMI Foundation, a NGO established in 2002 by Paster Wariael Maphie.  The foundation is anticipating a change of name to SHEFO - Shelter of Hope and Excellence Foundation.

The NGO is governed by a nine member board including:

• Pastor Wariael Maphie, Board Chairman and Pastor

• Goodluck Nnko, Teacher

• Olais Sikoi, Engineer

• Magreth Mushi, Advocate

• Unity Msami, Pastor

• Barakael Lutherson, Board Secretary and Project Managing Director

• Dave Burgess, Engineer and President, UboraTZ

• Jerry Thames, US retired business executive

• Tim Neet, US retired business executive

SLS Parent Committee

The school is also supported by a ten member parent committee which is responsible for providing additional oversight and communicating with and representing the parents of the school

Mentor Team

A US-based teacher mentoring team provides training and support to SLS teachers.  It consists of trained and experienced educators including:

• A graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Bachelors degree in Biology and Animal Science with middle and high school teaching experience.

• A preschool - kindergarten founder and administrator. 

• A holder of Bachelors degree in Education from the University of North Carolina and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from North Carolina State University.  Experienced Elementary School teacher.

• A teacher with 40 years of classroom experience and a Bachelors degree in Education from Belhaven College.  

• A graduate of Westchester University with a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and extensive experience as an early grades teacher and administrator.

Direct oversight of the school is provided by:

• Baraka Lutherson, Managing Director, Shelter of Hope and Excellence Foundation (SHEFO)

• Amani Nicolas, Head Teacher, Siha Leadership School

UBORA

UboraTZ is a US-based nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving long-term sustainability for the people of the Siha District of Tanzania.  Ubora comes alongside local religious, government and community leaders and through its partner in-country NGO, SHEFO.  Impact is achieved through five programs: child sponsorship, education, health, business and community.  Click here to visit the Ubora website.