News and Updates
Spring 2011
Water is coming to the village of Kilimahewa in the Samburai ward of the Moshi-Arusha region of Tanzania – and the community has joined hands - literally - in an unprecedented way to better their lives.
One year ago EdPowerment Inc. was seeking 501 C-3 non-profit status in order to expand financial backing for its efforts to provide education, in the broadest terms, to the underserved community of Kilimahewa. Because economic advancement and education often go hand-in-hand, EdPowerment undertook a water project along with its “adoption” of the roadside Kilimahewa informal school.
In other good news, EdPowerment now sponsors 15 young adults in secondary boarding schools or higher education programs. Mama Grace works with each of these individuals and his or her school’s administrators to follow their progress. We extend our support when necessary to their families, always trying to allocate and deliver financial aid in a way that encourages responsibility and accountability. We take seriously the addition of each sponsorship because our commitment extends as far as each student can achieve in the Tanzanian educational system. One day we hope to graduate a host of professionals and community leaders.
One year after its inception, EdPowerment already is leaving its mark in the Moshi-Arusha region of Tanzania. While our future vision for projects is boundless, we have learned the value of Tanzanian “pole-pole” – going slowly – to make sure that what we do, we do well. Whether it be the Kilimahewa school, the Kilimahewa Water Project, our family of sponsored students, or our grassroots effort to build support for “special needs” children, particularly those affected by Autism, EdPowerment’s programs are taking hold in a way that is making it a respected and important collaborator for uplifting this community’s population.
As we write this update, 60 teenagers, who for various reasons cannot attend government high schools, regularly come to the Kilimahewa School. Each day a dedicated core of Tanzanian teachers (paid for by EdPowerment) impart the knowledge and enthusiasm for learning that will allow these young people to access further educational or employment opportunities. Just this May, the school moved from providing a “snack” of tea and rolls to a nutritious lunch program consisting of makande - beans and maize. Every week, the school’s more qualified students venture into Moshi to visit the library and from time to time special activities – sports days and field trips – bring new ideas and experiences that add a spark of life for these youth.
Change, however, goes beyond the walls of Kilimahewa School – and this is where today’s story is most exciting. Last August, EdPowerment contracted with Maji Tech Drilling Company to dig a bore hole behind the Kilimahewa School on the family property of our Country Director, Grace Lyimo. When water gushed from the site, the community came running. But finding water is only a promise of change. For change to happen, the community would have to come together to plan for the distribution, management, security and other matters required in a sustainable water development project.
This February, when Moira Madonia visited Tanzania, community members – young, old, male and female – met to hash out how they would organize and manage the well's water. Today,
In other good news, EdPowerment now sponsors 15 young adults in secondary boarding schools or higher education programs. Mama Grace works with each of these individuals and his or her school’s administrators to follow their progress. We extend our support when necessary to their families, always trying to allocate and deliver financial aid in a way that encourages responsibility and accountability. We take seriously the addition of each sponsorship because our commitment extends as far as each student can achieve in the Tanzanian educational system. One day we hope to graduate a host of professionals and community leaders.
One year after its inception, EdPowerment already is leaving its mark in the Moshi-Arusha region of Tanzania. While our future vision for projects is boundless, we have learned the value of Tanzanian “pole-pole” – going slowly – to make sure that what we do, we do well. Whether it be the Kilimahewa school, the Kilimahewa Water Project, our family of sponsored students, or our grassroots effort to build support for “special needs” children, particularly those affected by Autism, EdPowerment’s programs are taking hold in a way that is making it a respected and important collaborator for uplifting this community’s population.
As we write this update, 60 teenagers, who for various reasons cannot attend government high schools, regularly come to the Kilimahewa School. Each day a dedicated core of Tanzanian teachers (paid for by EdPowerment) impart the knowledge and enthusiasm for learning that will allow these young people to access further educational or employment opportunities. Just this May, the school moved from providing a “snack” of tea and rolls to a nutritious lunch program consisting of makande - beans and maize. Every week, the school’s more qualified students venture into Moshi to visit the library and from time to time special activities – sports days and field trips – bring new ideas and experiences that add a spark of life for these youth. Asante sana,
Moira G. Madonia, Kerri Elliott and Jillian Swinford
Water is coming to the village of Kilimahewa in the Samburai ward of the Moshi-Arusha region of Tanzania – and the community has joined hands - literally - in an unprecedented way to better their lives. One year ago EdPowerment Inc. was seeking 501 C-3 non-profit status in order to expand financial backing for its efforts to provide education, in the broadest terms, to the underserved community of Kilimahewa. Because economic advancement and education often go hand-in-hand, EdPowerment undertook a water project along with its “adoption” of the roadside Kilimahewa informal school.
In other good news, EdPowerment now sponsors 15 young adults in secondary boarding schools or higher education programs. Mama Grace works with each of these individuals and his or her school’s administrators to follow their progress. We extend our support when necessary to their families, always trying to allocate and deliver financial aid in a way that encourages responsibility and accountability. We take seriously the addition of each sponsorship because our commitment extends as far as each student can achieve in the Tanzanian educational system. One day we hope to graduate a host of professionals and community leaders.
One year after its inception, EdPowerment already is leaving its mark in the Moshi-Arusha region of Tanzania. While our future vision for projects is boundless, we have learned the value of Tanzanian “pole-pole” – going slowly – to make sure that what we do, we do well. Whether it be the Kilimahewa school, the Kilimahewa Water Project, our family of sponsored students, or our grassroots effort to build support for “special needs” children, particularly those affected by Autism, EdPowerment’s programs are taking hold in a way that is making it a respected and important collaborator for uplifting this community’s population. As we write this update, 60 teenagers, who for various reasons cannot attend government high schools, regularly come to the Kilimahewa School. Each day a dedicated core of Tanzanian teachers (paid for by EdPowerment) impart the knowledge and enthusiasm for learning that will allow these young people to access further educational or employment opportunities. Just this May, the school moved from providing a “snack” of tea and rolls to a nutritious lunch program consisting of makande - beans and maize. Every week, the school’s more qualified students venture into Moshi to visit the library and from time to time special activities – sports days and field trips – bring new ideas and experiences that add a spark of life for these youth.
Change, however, goes beyond the walls of Kilimahewa School – and this is where today’s story is most exciting. Last August, EdPowerment contracted with Maji Tech Drilling Company to dig a bore hole behind the Kilimahewa School on the family property of our Country Director, Grace Lyimo. When water gushed from the site, the community came running. But finding water is only a promise of change. For change to happen, the community would have to come together to plan for the distribution, management, security and other matters required in a sustainable water development project.This February, when Moira Madonia visited Tanzania, community members – young, old, male and female – met to hash out how they would organize and manage the well's water. Today,
- plans have been finalized for a two-tank system (one for the community and one for the school) that will run off solar panels with a back-up electric pump.
- a fence has been constructed for security purposes to enclose the property that houses both the school and well.
- the platform for the solar panels and tanks has been completed.
- a nearly two mile trench has been dug by community members through which piping will run into the village farms and properties.
- the community meets every Monday to discuss financial and security arrangements. These meetings now extend to a host of other community concerns.
In other good news, EdPowerment now sponsors 15 young adults in secondary boarding schools or higher education programs. Mama Grace works with each of these individuals and his or her school’s administrators to follow their progress. We extend our support when necessary to their families, always trying to allocate and deliver financial aid in a way that encourages responsibility and accountability. We take seriously the addition of each sponsorship because our commitment extends as far as each student can achieve in the Tanzanian educational system. One day we hope to graduate a host of professionals and community leaders. One year after its inception, EdPowerment already is leaving its mark in the Moshi-Arusha region of Tanzania. While our future vision for projects is boundless, we have learned the value of Tanzanian “pole-pole” – going slowly – to make sure that what we do, we do well. Whether it be the Kilimahewa school, the Kilimahewa Water Project, our family of sponsored students, or our grassroots effort to build support for “special needs” children, particularly those affected by Autism, EdPowerment’s programs are taking hold in a way that is making it a respected and important collaborator for uplifting this community’s population.
As we write this update, 60 teenagers, who for various reasons cannot attend government high schools, regularly come to the Kilimahewa School. Each day a dedicated core of Tanzanian teachers (paid for by EdPowerment) impart the knowledge and enthusiasm for learning that will allow these young people to access further educational or employment opportunities. Just this May, the school moved from providing a “snack” of tea and rolls to a nutritious lunch program consisting of makande - beans and maize. Every week, the school’s more qualified students venture into Moshi to visit the library and from time to time special activities – sports days and field trips – bring new ideas and experiences that add a spark of life for these youth. Asante sana,
Moira G. Madonia, Kerri Elliott and Jillian Swinford
