LUPANGA SECONDARY SCHOOL - WEB DEV
A project that brought a professional online presence and accessible digital information to a school that was previously without.
Morogoro, Tanzania
The Problem
Lupanga Secondary School faced a significant challenge in the digital age: it had no online presence. Prospective students and families had no way to learn about the school, its programs, or the resources it offers, limiting the school’s reach and visibility. Without a website, Lupanga couldn’t effectively communicate any information to the community.
Additionally, many teachers and students had minimal experience with computers and the internet, making usability and accessibility key considerations in designing the site. Creating a platform that was both welcoming to newcomers and easy for staff to manage long-term were essential in developing a site that would serve the school’s and the community's needs .
My Role
As the sole designer and developer for this project, I took on multiple responsibilities to ensure Lupanga Secondary School’s website met the community’s unique needs. As the most technologically knowledgeable person in the school, I partnered with the Foundation for Improving Education Outcomes of Needy Students (FIEN), whose team gave me a deeper look into how schools operate in this region of Tanzania.
I conducted user research and interviews with both students and faculty to identify key features they needed, from essential school information to resources that support learning. Over eight weeks, I managed every aspect of the project, from concept to launch, balancing design and usability considerations with local context. I concluded my time in Tanzania by presenting the finished website to the school and offering an introductory WordPress training session to select faculty members to help them maintain the site after my departure.
Understanding The User
To create a website that truly served Lupanga Secondary School, I needed to understand the unique needs and challenges of its community. Many students, families, and staff had limited experience with technology, so accessibility and simplicity became top priorities in my design. I conducted interviews with students and faculty to learn what information would be most useful to them and how they envisioned interacting with the site.
By gaining a firsthand understanding of their familiarity with digital tools, I could design a site that felt approachable and was easy to navigate. Working closely with the FIEN Foundation, I also gained insights into the school’s operational needs and the type of content that would best reflect its mission and values. This user-centered approach allowed me to build a website that is not only functional but also meaningful to the Lupanga community.