Recent Articles
Empowering Maasai Youth Through Education
July 12, 20114 Comments
We’re partnering with a Maasai community in Tanzania to create a quality school that is a road to hope and a future for the Maasai. This is particularly a need for Maasai girls who traditionally are given no voice and few options. Our goal is, having received a well rounded education of mind and heart, these students will […]
Fuel Station update
December 7, 2023No Comments
Tim and I visited the fuel station in Tanzania last fall and were so happy with what we saw. Everything was in order, including the meticulous bookkeeping showing clear profits. The small store stocked with snacks was doing good business and vehicles were pulling off the highway into the station grounds. Some were buying gas. […]
Fuel Station Up and Running
May 16, 2022No Comments
March 30, 2022 was the grand opening! And grand it was. According to Wilson it was a short ceremony. Understand, “short” meant five-plus hours of speeches, gift giving, singing, and dancing followed by ribbon cutting, food for all and general hanging out. This event even warranted the slaughter of a cow! Among the ten persons […]
Fueling Their Future
November 26, 2021No Comments
What if the school didn’t have to depend on us for operating expenses? What if there were a business in Tanzania whose profits would fund the school? What new project would our non-profit be able to tackle then? From day one, this has been a question we and our Maasai partners have explored. A school […]
Graduation 2021 – #4
November 26, 2021No Comments
Warmest congratulations to the students of the class of 2021, the fourth class to graduate from Return Home Secondary School, and to the staff who have worked so hard to educate and mentor these students. This accomplishment follows much intense study and determination over the four years of secondary school. Our hearts are full as […]
COVID -19
November 26, 2021No Comments
As the world has grappled with COVID-19, the dedicated staff at Return Home Secondary School has continued educating and mentoring over 160 students. This handwashing station not only protects from illness, it also establishes the habit of washing. In arid lands such as this, using water so liberally is a new experience. The rainwater harvesting […]
Partners In Crime
April 27, 2018No Comments
During our recent stay at the school, I had a long conversation with Miss Rose (not to be confused with Headmistress Rose), one of the dedicated young teachers at the school. Miss Rose, a bright spot on campus who laughs easily, guides the students with a firm loving hand, and who expressed her gratitude to […]
Year two is underway!
April 14, 2016No Comments
The 2016 school year is humming along. Yes indeed. Sixty-six students, five full time teachers, two administrators, a lot of dedicated work on the part of all and the little school in the bush keeps on keeping on. Along with academics are sports, personal hygiene, gardening and sewing, daily devotions, singing … hoping, striving, dreaming, […]
Which path in life would you choose?
April 14, 2016No Comments
Most Maasai girls have no choice. They are given to be wives, in some villages, as young as nine or ten. You can do something about that. Ask about becoming a sponsor. Contact us at maasaischool121@gmail.com
A Small Window
October 22, 2015No Comments
A small window into the life of one of the students: We are 5 in my family. My father is the pastor he have no any income when I was in primary school, my parents decide to take me to my grandfather, my grandfather was a drinker he come home late and sometimes chased us […]
Upendo
September 21, 2015No Comments
This is Upendo. Her name means love. She puts her heart into her studies. I can’t wait to go back and see what she’s accomplished since we were there last. Upendo. It’s easy to have a soft spot in our hearts for each one.
The School – Open for Business!
June 4, 2015No Comments
The elders of Losimingori popped the question early in 2011. “We want to build a secondary school for our youth. Will you help us?”And here we see the first Form I class! The school opened January 2015. Pictured here are Senewa, Saitoti, Mary, Eliza, Happy, Lydia, and Glory with teacher William. Seriously. It can happen. […]
Under Roof
December 8, 2014No Comments
Teacher Housing[/caption] Wilson, Rose, and the village keep on keeping on. Isaak the builder and his crew have finished the roof on the teacher housing! This includes two basic three room units with a shared kitchen between. The sound quality of construction was noted by government inspectors. Rose spent two weeks in the capital […]
Outgive them? Not possible.
August 8, 2014No Comments
How can I help you know Rose and Wilson Lengima? I would love for you to meet them. The best we can do is invite you to imagine one of our visits to their Arusha home while in Tanzania last fall. Take a seat in our borrowed dusty jeep and drive with us to their […]
Teacher house walls are up!
August 8, 2014No Comments
Two three room houses with a shared kitchen between. Beautiful! Now it’s time for the roof. No rain yet, please!
Teachers – a place to call home
June 5, 2014No Comments
For the teachers, simple housing units of concrete block will be the place they call home . In April, elders of the community led the way in collecting precious foundation stones to begin construction of these houses. They began it, Maasai School 121 now follows up with walls and a roof. Teamwork! […]
Building One Done!
February 14, 2014No Comments
Aaaaaaaand here it is. The first building housing two classrooms and a teacher workroom! The roof will catch the cool rain and carry it to the storage tanks outside. After lessons, the students will drink the first clean water available in their community. This is a good thing in the world. Celebrate! Next? A simple […]
Two Classrooms!
December 6, 2013No Comments
The first two classrooms are nearing completion! We know this because last month we took ourselves over the ocean and along the tarmac, bumping through the bush to Losimingori. We touched the rough fired brick walls, stepped onto the concrete floors, and gazed through the spaces where windows will go. These pics sent last week […]
Elephants Walking
July 30, 2013No Comments
As Westerners, we like results, and these many months of preparation prior to building have sometimes felt ponderous as an elephant walking: step…s-t-e-p…s–t–e–p. But elephants are sometimes thought to be wise, and we are all for that. These ponderous steps have brought us to the latest news on the Maasai School project. The weighing of […]
Climbing Mountains
May 6, 2013No Comments
Students in the preparatory class are climbing mountains. Not the low, rugged hills near their homes in the bush, but the mountains of challenge and perseverance. The monthly report from the teacher, Letion, is revealing and gives us energy and inspiration to persevere too. For example the teacher comment about Mkapa Leiyo, who makes high […]
Village Elders’ Fact Finding Trip
April 16, 2013No Comments
Wilson emailed glowing reports of the visit to Malambo. This photo shows teachers and the elders in one of the Malambo classrooms. Notice the shelves with books and the charts on the walls. Having even a few learning materials is highly unusual for any school in Tanzania. The elders learned much, were very impressed, and […]
Building Before Constructing
March 8, 2013No Comments
The trip will take all day by safari vehicle. They might cross paths with giraffes grazing among the acacia trees; will drink up the fresh savannah air and eat a bit of road dust too; they might take on a passenger or two who will squeeze into the back of the land rover next to […]
Sunshine and vision in California
February 25, 2013No Comments
An excursion “down the road a piece” (Interstate 5) last week took us to family and a visit to Tierrasanta Lutheran Church. It was a pleasure to talk together about Maasai School – lots of insightful questions about a project like this one, the complexities of it, and the vision of change that our Maasai […]
Fueling Hope
January 16, 2013No Comments
One of the highlights of last year’s Preform One class was a student competition trip. Rose and Wilson selected five of the top students and brought them to MWEDU Secondary School where they competed with the students there in Math and English. They toured the school and stayed in Wilson and Rose’s home for two […]
Use of Funds Update
December 4, 2012No Comments
Our first fundraising goal was $15,000.00 for a deep well for the school and community. Thanks to many of you, Maasai School 121 was able to accomplish this goal. In fact our total funds are now almost twice that amount. Thank you! While we were fundraising, our Tanzanian partners, the elders of the Maasai community, […]
International Day of the Girl Child
October 12, 2012No Comments
For these girls, this day is a school day! October 11! Celebrate Day of the Girl Child, established by the United Nations. The theme for this year is “Ending Childhood Marriage”. A few Maasai girls from Kenya have something to say about early marriage and female circumcision… See this link: http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/kenya/fgm-maasai-women-speak-out
Friends
July 31, 2012No Comments
Along with the business at hand, we were able to see professors and students at the university where Tim was a Fulbright professor. We had great fun reconnecting.
Why a school?
July 31, 2012No Comments
Tim and kids in a Maasai hut. They are the reason why.
Maasai fun
July 31, 2012No Comments
We met with the elders of a Maasai village about the school. We had time to mix with the villagers. The camera on my IPad is great entertainment!
Arusha Rotary Club
July 31, 2012No Comments
There’s a flavor of India, here in Tanzania, and we were treated to an excellent taste of it when we were invited to attend a local Rotary Club luncheon meeting. In between sumptuous bites, we were given the opportunity to share about the school project and encouraged to continue the process of becoming a project […]
Water. Water. Water.
July 31, 2012No Comments
One purpose of our trip here has been to dig deeper into the water issue. In this area, it’s a crucial factor and is a heavy influence on the final decision on exactly where the school will be established. We talked to one organization that uses rainwater catchment system and also spoke with the manager […]
An African Rose
July 31, 2012No Comments
Roses. Bringing beauty to the world. That’s Rose, one of our team of Maasai School partners. But not only does she bring beauty in appearance and in heart, she brings strength and experience. Rose is Massai, holds a university degree, and presently works as headmistress of a Maasai girls school in Arusha. Having walked the […]
Treasure!
July 31, 2012No Comments
Imagine attending school, learning history, geography, English, science without books. This is the case for most schools in Tanzania. The teacher may have a copy, but not the students. We had the joy and privilege of using some of your donations to purchase books such as English and Math textbooks, dictionaries, wall maps, and story […]
Little School near the Boma
July 30, 2012No Comments
Greetings from Tanzania! We’re thankful to our Tanzanian partners for going to great lengths to accomplish much during our short three weeks here. These photos are scenes from the one room church where the Maasai school preparatory program is meeting. These students all finished primary schools and have passed the test qualifying them for secondary […]
Boing!
July 26, 2012No Comments
Yep, boing, boing, boing. After two very full weeks here, that’s the word of the day. We’ve been here and there and everywhere gathering information, talking with experts here and there and … right. Everywhere. Like a ping pong ball bouncing from one place to another. Water project hydrogeologist; architect; secondary school tour; Maasai village; […]
Water
July 21, 2012No Comments
News travels fast in the bush. While in Losimingori village this past week, the people told Wilson that a company was drilling for water in the area! This is exciting news. The sobering part is that as of today, they have been drilling for four days and still no water. We have also learned that […]
Other Side of the Planet
July 21, 2012No Comments
Hello from another side of the planet! It’s been one week that Tim and I have been back in beautiful Tanzania. It’s been such fun greeting friends from our year here in 2010/2011 and tasting treats like fresh corn from Mumo’s garden or ripe mango from the corner fruit stand. We’ve had several meetings with […]
Tanzania Bound!
July 9, 2012No Comments
Tanzania is calling! We’re off! Tim and I will be there for three weeks this month. Emails and phone calls have paved the way for meetings with a drilling company, with our Tanzanian project partners, the village, the new teacher, the wonderful group of students and many old friends from Tim’s year at Mt. […]
A Beginning
July 9, 2012No Comments
Pictures have arrived from the other side of the globe! This is the first step of Return Home Secondary school. The students are involved in a year of English and Math to prepare them for their first year of secondary school. They’ve all attended government sponsored elementary schools which are taught in Swahili. All secondary […]
Whatcom North Rotary Club
July 9, 2012No Comments
One of the pleasures of this project is people connections. We have the pleasure of meeting people engaged in so many generous and compassionate efforts . Tim and I met a few of those people this summer. A friend invited us to speak to a Whatcom County North Rotary Club committee that deals with international […]
Sun in May
July 9, 2012No Comments
Good Samaritan Village in Las Cruces, New Mexico invited me to present on our year in Tanzania. It was my great pleasure to do so… especially during May when the clouds seemed to have taken up permanent residence in Washington! Maasai School was highlighted during my talk and pics of those lovely and noble people […]
School Beneath the Tree
May 21, 2012No Comments
News! Our in-country Board member, Nancy, and our Maasai partner, Wilson, interviewed and approved for hire the first Maasai School 121 teacher. We have no building, but the students are anxious to start. They will conduct a preparatory year of English and Math “beneath the tree” while we continue step by step to put four […]
Board! not Bored
May 21, 2012No Comments
As directors, Tim and I are deeply appreciative of the Maasai School 121 Advisory Board. The members’ combined talents, years of experience, wisdom, heart …well… who can assign a value to these things? On top of all this, we just plain like them. They’re fun. We give a rousing cheer for Nancy and Ed Giddens […]
Hats Off to Al
April 29, 2012No Comments
How small the world has grown now that we have friends in Tanzania. This past week we had occasion to thank Mr. Alexander Graham Bell for his fabulous invention as our hearts were warmed with the sounds of our Maasai friends’ voices over the phone. We talked of many things which are in the works […]
Getting the Water Topside
April 14, 2012No Comments
We welcome to our team Greg, an engineer who has volunteered to design, build, and install a solar pump for the well! The goal would be a simple design that local village members could be trained to maintain. Long term sustainability and independence are key. We are so thankful for this provision. Welcome Greg!
Geo-what?
March 13, 2012No Comments
Drilling a well…not something we do everyday. So we’re talking to the people who do. Take dinner Sunday evening, for example, when my second cousin, a geophysicist, drew out a diagram for me on one side of a napkin. Seismic refraction. A good way to have a very good idea of where the water is […]
What About the Girls?
February 2, 2012No Comments
A recent e-mail from Wilson bring Tanzanian realities into stark relief. He has told us that there are seven children in Losimingori who have graduated from Form Seven, which is roughly our 7th grade. (think of that…. only seven out of his entire community). The parents do not have the funds to pay tuition to […]
December Gifts
January 9, 2012No Comments
Hey! Thanks everybody for the Christmas donations. One of many is pictured here. Using scissors and glue and her own creative flare, Hannah Slagle decorated this box and took it to her family’s Christmas gathering. Instead of buying gifts, kids, aunts and uncles, grandparents and great grandma slipped their dollars into this box for the […]
VCF Silent Auction
December 10, 2011No Comments
Joy in December! Our own VCF Church family sponsored a December silent auction and as a result the Maasai village is closer to a clean water source. Thank you, friends.
Harvest Festival
December 10, 2011No Comments
October -Harvest Festival sponsored by Sonrise Baptist in Lynden. We shared a bit and received so much in return. Donations are now almost to the halfway mark toward drilling the well! We’re thankful.
Milestones
November 1, 2011No Comments
October 29, 2011 We receive news that One To One International now officially has federal tax exempt status. The Pay Pal account is now established and ready to roll. Milestones!
Fundraising Update
August 15, 2011No Comments
We received a big welcome in the big state of Texas at Mt. of Olives Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas. This was our first presentation outside of our own church and we were so grateful for the support and encouragement we received as well as the generous donations. Thank you, brothers and sisters!