Introducing Arise School
Africa’s Children in Education (ACE) is a small UK registered charity with a powerful mission: to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstances, has access to meaningful education as a pathway out of poverty. Born from the founders’ volunteer work in East Africa, ACE has focused its efforts on establishing and nurturing Arise Community School in Tanzania.
What began as a single classroom has steadily grown into a thriving primary school, now serving hundreds of children from the surrounding communities.
At the heart of ACE’s work is a deep belief that quality education can uplift not just individual children but also entire communities. Through sustained development, close community engagement, and carefully built support structures, ACE continues to guide Arise School toward becoming a self sustaining centre of learning, care, and opportunity, particularly for children who might otherwise be denied access to schooling.
A School Rooted in Nature and Community
Any introduction to Arise School would be incomplete without acknowledging its breathtaking setting. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the school stands against a spectacular natural backdrop that is both inspiring and grounding. Arise has adopted a learning approach in harmony with nature: the school maintains its own gardens, which supply fresh food for the student cafeteria, and cares for animals that provide milk and other benefits.
Students are actively involved in tending these gardens and animals, learning responsibility, sustainability, and respect for life alongside their academic education.
Listening to Ron and Frank speak passionately about the school’s early days, when Arise consisted of just one room and one teacher, was deeply moving. Their energy and belief in the school’s potential were infectious. In that moment, I felt especially inspired when I learned that Arise was now ready to introduce chess as a sport and learning activity for its students following my outreach. It felt like the beginning of something truly special.
Meet the People Behind the Vision
Frank Mrang’u serves as the Executive Director of Arise School, providing leadership on the ground and guiding the school’s daily operations and long term growth. Ron Hayes, along with his wife Sue Hayes, is one of the co-founders of ACE. The charity was born from their own volunteer experiences with vulnerable children in Tanzania and Kenya, beginning in 2008. Their commitment, compassion, and long term vision have shaped ACE and Arise into what they are today.
Starting My Journey with Arise
My own journey with Arise began in August 2025, when I first reached out to ACE to explore the possibility of introducing chess classes at the school. While interviews and discussions were being scheduled, Tanzania was going through a national election. On 29 October 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan won by an overwhelming majority, but the results were contested by opposition groups, leading to unrest.
In an effort to control misinformation, internet access across Tanzania was temporarily restricted, bringing our communication with the school to a sudden halt.
It was not until mid November, as the situation began to stabilize, that Arise re-established contact. On 18 November 2025, our first official video conference took place, bringing together Arise’s director Frank, key teaching staff, and ACE founders Ron and Sue. The meeting was energizing and reaffirmed our shared enthusiasm for the chess initiative.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The outcome of that meeting was clear: Arise planned to begin weekly chess lessons starting in January 2026. To accommodate the time difference, we agreed on very early morning sessions on my end, an arrangement I was more than happy to make. I am expected to work primarily with sixth grade students to build a chess club from the ground up. The prospect of introducing chess to Arise fills me with excitement, and I eagerly await the start of the 2026 school year.
It was also shared that most students would be completely new to chess. This presented a unique challenge and an opportunity. Unlike my usual environment, where familiarity with chess is a given, this initiative would require igniting the spirit of the game from its very first spark. I hope to inspire curiosity, confidence, and joy in these students, encouraging them to carry the game forward in their lives and, perhaps, become exceptional players in the years to come.
I dream of seeing Arise School grow into a vibrant hub of chess energy in Tanzania. To support this vision, I developed and shared a structured learning plan for the 2026 introduction. I was also graciously invited to visit the school in person, a possibility my parents believe may become reality during my high school years. The thought of playing chess in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro is both humbling and exhilarating.
These plans were proudly featured in the ACE Foundation newsletter as part of the 2025 Christmas outreach to charity members and donors, a fitting way to close the year with hope, purpose, and anticipation for what lies ahead.
