Bwejuu Charity School was born from a simple but powerful idea: to keep local children engaged, safe, and learning. In the late 1990s, in the coastal village of Bwejuu, Zanzibar, two devoted educators Mualim Rajab Ali Jaku (now School Director) and Mr. Ahmed Ali Bakari began teaching a handful of students in the afternoons. Though both were employed at a nearby government school, their shared passion for education led them to start informal lessons in a makeshift shack, determined to offer children a better path and protect them from mischief.
Between 1996 and 1998,Mualim Jaku taught eight local students six of them girls in a humble, mud structured classroom. This grassroots initiative planted the seeds of what would become a life changing institution for hundreds of children in the region.
In 1998 , a generous couple from Oman funded the construction of a small shelter where students and elderly women could come together to learn the Holy Quran and receive basic education. This structure would later become the school’s first science classroom.
The early years were marked by dedication and generosity. Several key donors played an essential role in creating a permanent learning space. The late Saif Al Harrasy funded the foundation of the original building. Riyadh Al Busaidi donated the ceiling. The majority of the materials were generously provided by Sheikh Ali Mahrooqi and Awatif Al Maskery, making the dream of a real school a reality.
From 2001 to 2004, the school operated informally as a Madrasah, offering Quranic education and after school lessons to local children. Though it was not yet officially recognized, its positive impact on the community grew steadily. Among the first teachers were Ms. Asha Abdalla Abdalla , the late Zuhura Kassim Ali, and Busara Makame Haji true pioneers, two of whom continue to serve the school with unwavering commitment.
A turning point came in 2009, when School Director Mualim Jaku met Mrs. Muna Al Gurg, a philanthropic businesswoman from Dubai. Through her support and the backing of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Foundation, construction of the current main campus began. The new building was officially inaugurated in 2010 by former Second Vice President Seif Ali Iddi.
Interestingly, the school had already achieved a major milestone in, when it was formally registered under Zanzibar’s Ministry of Education as a coeducational boarding and day school. At the time, it had just three teachers and 25 students enrolled in KG1. Despite its growing stature, the school has never received government funding, relying instead on the continued generosity of donors and volunteers.
Over the years, Bwejuu Charity School has expanded steadily now offering pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary education. Today, it stands as a beacon of opportunity and community, sustained by two women led philanthropic communities in Oman and Qatar , led respectively by Mama Safia and Mama Rahma. Alongside these champions, countless individual donors and partners continue to support the school’s mission, programs, and daily operations.
Bwejuu Charity School has been serving the community since 1996, beginning as a small initiative led by dedicated educators and local volunteers. In 2004, it was officially established by members of the local and international community and registered with The Ministry of Education & Vocational Training Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (Registration No. PS/225).