Finnish
Special Education
In Africa
For students with disabilities in Tanzania
Welcome to FSE!
Our Mission
At Finnish Special Education in Africa, we are dedicated to empowering deaf students and young people with disabilities in Arusha, Tanzania. Since 2013, we have worked hand-in-hand with local schools to improve access to quality education, train educators in inclusive teaching methods, and provide vital resources like interpreters, digital learning materials, and IT infrastructure. From constructing a brand new learning center to supporting students with meals and school uniforms, we are working to break down educational barriers and create equal opportunities for students with disabilities to succeed. Our mission is to pave the way for a more inclusive future, and together, we are shaping a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Our Projects
Currently:
Arusha, Especially! (2025-2028)
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted us project funding, again!
This project aims to help all students access education fully and fairly, as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Schools in the program focus on learning readiness, digital and media literacy, and life skills.
Previously:
Longido Area Schools
In the Longido Area of northeastern Tanzania, lack of food and water affect student well-being. From 2017 to 2019, our School Meals Project provided regular meals to Ngoswak Primary School, doubling enrollment to 720 students, including disabled children for the first time. Though funding constraints have paused the program, the impact remains.
Previously:
Arusha, Hear!
From 2014-2016, this project trained teachers at Meru Primary School Deaf Unit, boosting the percentage of deaf students passing national exams from 40% to 100%. Also, a new learning center was constructed, equipped with internet, solar power, and computers. We employed trained interpreters and ICT technicians, ensuring the sustainability of inclusive education.
Meet The Founders
Eva Forssén and Antti Komulainen
Eva and Antti are a married couple whose work in Tanzania began with a shared passion for education and travel. While traveling, they visited Arusha and were deeply impacted by the challenges they witnessed in local schools, especially those that were impacting children with disabilities. Both retired educators, Antti and Eva felt the need to take action, founding Finnish Special Education in Africa (FSE) and gathering funds for their first project. What began as a heartfelt initiative has grown into a thriving community of volunteers from Finland and Tanzania, impacting many students’ lives. In 2023, Eva and Antti were awarded the World Healer Award by Fingo, the umbrella organization of Finnish development organizations. Together, their passion and expertise have paved the way for transformative change, ensuring that children with disabilities in Arusha have access to quality education and a brighter future.
95%
of deaf children are born to hearing parents using spoken language, impacting social-emotional development
91,000
total deaf students in Tanzania, but there are only 19 schools specialized in inclusive teaching for disabled students
80%
of deaf students in Tanzania either drop out of school or do not pass their secondary education examinations
Read Ewald's Story
📍 Arusha, Tanzania
FSE has been dedicated to advancing educational and social equality for diverse groups with disabilities in Tanzania since 2010, with a specific focus on deaf children and youth in Arusha. Arusha, with a population of 618,000, is located in the northern highlands of Tanzania, at the foot of Mount Meru. It lies between the Serengeti Plain, the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, the Olduvai Gorge and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Change A
Child's Life
Today
Every Child Matters
“A mentally or physically disabled child should be able to enjoy a full and fulfilling life in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self confidence and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community.”
"If every child matters, every child has the right to a good start in life. If every child matters, every child has the right to be included. And that is so important for children with special needs".
"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart."
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."