Case Study 1 - Educational Improvements in Tanzania

Since 1999 when construction of the Bulyanhulu mine began, Kahama Mining Corporation Ltd (KMCL), Barrick’s subsidiary in Tanzania, has worked very closely with the District Educational Authorities, Ward officials, nongovernment organisations and local communities near the mine on a range of diverse programs. Either directly or indirectly, these programs are having an impact on primary and secondary educational performance and attendance.

Working with CARE Tanzania, KMCL provides refresher training for primary school teachers, contributes construction materials for repair and upgrade of school buildings, and donates school books and other learning resources to schools in the local villages.

In collaboration with TANESCO, the national power supplier, KMCL is extending the electrical power grid from the mine to two rural villages. Electrification will provide light in the evening, enabling school children to study beyond daylight hours without straining their eyes.

KMCL installed and now operates a piped water supply system which provides clean drinking water for two rural villages located close to the mine. Water has also been provided to 14 villages located along the main water pipeline which runs from Lake Victoria to the mine site. These projects have improved the living conditions of the families living in these villages, and freed time for young boys and girls to go to school and to complete their after-school studies.

The Company completed construction of the only secondary school in Bugarama Ward in 2005, which allowed 72 students to complete their first academic year. 180 students are enrolled for 2006.

KMCL is also sponsoring four promising rural students to continue their education at the Moshi International School. Sponsorship includes all living expenses and tuition. KMCL, through its Social Responsibility Department, organized its employees to sponsor orphaned children to study at the Bugarama Secondary School. Seventy-eight students will receive sponsorship whereby their annual tuition fees will be paid and school uniforms, books and related learning materials purchased.

KMCL partners with the local villages to provide housing to attract qualified teachers to their schools. The Company provides the construction materials and community members contribute their time and labor to these projects.

The diverse range of programs is already demonstrating remarkable results. Originally one of the poorest areas in the country in terms of educational performance, in 2005, four primary schools in Bugarama Ward scored in the top 10 in the Kahama District in the Standard Seven National Examinations (primary school leaving examinations), and Bugarama Primary ranked 16th out of the 11,000 primary schools in the country.