| Namaste, Jambo and Hello to all our Mondo supporters.
The new year has started well with exciting Projects underway with our partners HELP Nepal, Mondo Tanzania, Mondo Challenge Kalimpong India, and Sky is the Limit Uganda!
They have been busy over the last 6 months, delivering important and impactful Projects to those most in need of our help and support.
Matthew Band, our CEO, was able to visit the fantastic Teams in Tanzania and Uganda, in January and February 2026, and witness their impact first hand. He had the privilege of seeing Education and Microfinance in action, led by our two Country partners, Mondo Tanzania and SITL Uganda! |
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In Tanzania, our ‘Microfinance’ Ladies and their Village Community Banks i.e. VICOBA Groups with 30 Members in each, continue to flourish with the support of the excellent Mondo Tanzania Team!
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Lenjani Primary and Olkokola Secondary Schools in Arusha, completed in 2024, continue to go from strength to strength, and are now oversubscribed due to the demand from the local Maasi communities, with 230 children in the Nursery class!
Our CEO was also honoured to attend the Opening Ceremonies of two further local Maasi Schools, completed in 2025, Donyomurua and Oliowang in Moshi, funded by the Eagle Fondation, which will be transformational for the children, families and communities.
A special ‘Beacon’ Primary School is also planned for construction in 2027 at Lepolosi, which will be a ‘Model’ for education in the Siha District, supported by the Local Authority and District Commissioner.
In a short, exciting step across the Border into Uganda, in the large Poultry Shed on the SITL Farm, the first mature Hens are now laying eggs, which alongside crops such as spinach, casava, maize and a banana plantation will provide school meals for the children!
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Some more exciting news from Uganda, the 3-year School Facility Development Plan, funded by the IMECHE (Institute of Mech. Eng) Support Network, has completed its 1st year, including construction of new:
- Handwash Station,
- Pit Latrine,
- Solar powered electricity in every classroom,
- School Gate
- Safety fence around the perimeter,
- Playground Equipment,
With a renovated Dining Hall, Kitchen, and two new Classrooms & an Office to follow in 2026!
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Volunteer Teachers & non-Teaching support has also gained traction in 2025 in India, with school placements completed and we are looking at restarting the impactful Teacher Training Programme, and investment in IT infrastructure.
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Moving across continents from Africa to Asia, in Nepal, with a new Government in place, things have settled down, and Jimmy and his HELP Team have continued with the 2026 recruitment process for the SEE Scholarship Awards (Secondary School) where financial bursaries will be handed to 75 Scholars, allowing them to remain in School for 2 more years, with Mentors in place for support.
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Mondo HELP Scholarship Awards 2025
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The Saathi Teacher Training Programme continues to go from strength to strength, with the 6th Cohort of 30 Teachers now in place with classroom delivery focused on numeracy & literacy and the 4Cs i.e. Creativity, Collaboration, Communication and Critical Thinking.
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Saathi Teachers attending the Empowering Classrooms Conference 2026
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In more exciting news, the new Flagship Saathi Teacher Training Centre in Kathmandu, which Mondo supports, has ‘broken ground’ and we wish the HELP Team every success in its construction over the coming 12 – 24 months and hope it will become a beacon of excellence in Nepal.
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It will be a fitting tribute to Anthony Lunch and the many Volunteers who have supported Mondo over many years!
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Meanwhile in India, our Mondo CK representative, Santa Rai, and 12 Network Schools having held a very successful Inter School Quiz & Creative Writing Competition, giving over 100 children the opportunity to compete and interact, as well as holding two major Sports Competitions in Darjeeling and Kalimpong with 2000 children, staff, local officials, parents and people from the community in attendance, they have also just delivered an impactful Environmental Awareness Programme with the students on World Environment Day… A massive well done to Santa, his Team and Mondo Network Schools!
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Inter School Quiz Competition
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Inter School Sports & Dance Competition
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Students taking part in World Environment Day 2026
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Volunteer Teachers & non-Teaching support has also gained traction in 2026 in India, with school placements completed and we are looking at restarting the impactful Teacher Training Programme, and investment in IT infrastructure.
On his trip to India in 2025, Matthew, our CEO met with the Proprietors & Principals, Teachers and Staff of Mondo’s 12 Network Schools to track progress, assess School ‘Needs’ and witness the dedication, hard work and commitment… as a result of this, a number of small CAPEX Projects have been completed across the Network including new WASH Facilities at St Mary’s, Sacred Heart and Mount View, in addition to the new RIBS School in Darjeeling, funded by Mondo UK and its supporters, and the new Classroom facility at the Alpha Primary School.
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12 Network Schools Principals’ meeting with Mondo CEO and Santa MCK
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Last but not least, a peek into life at Mondo UK, where our current CEO, Matthew, will be moving on shortly, with recruitment already underway for a replacement, and he wanted to say a few heartfelt words:
“I have had an amazing three years, at Mondo UK, with many successes and highlights, and have come to regard the Teams in Tanzania, Uganda, India, Nepal and UK, as family… they are very special people, who with little recognition & reward, make a significant impact in the life of the people they serve… dedicated, committed and resourceful, they are making a real difference, and long may it continue!
I would just like to say a BIG ‘Thank you’ to ALL who have supported me on the Mondo journey; Trustees, Staff, Teams, Funders, Volunteers, Donors and Supporters, and pay special tribute to Anthony Lunch and his family, who had the heart to help others!”
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