Feed 600 Children School Lunch in Tanzania

Even ten years after my first visit to Losinoni, a trip to this small Maasai community never ceases to feel exciting, inspiring and like a true adventure. My visit to Losinoni this past week was no different. We arrived at the school on the dusty road, lined with acacia trees and dotted with young boys herding goats across the grassy plains. A chorus of blue-uniformed students was there to greet us, in addition to local education officials and school committee members. We were greeted warmly with a welcome song prepared by the students, each verse describing the past AfricAid contributions they were most grateful for. 

The dynamic Head of School, Mr. Ezekiel, gave our small group a tour around the school campus, showing each section with pride. He showed us the classrooms AfricAid supporters had previously built, the solar panels installed for a computer and photocopier, and the kitchen where the school lunch is prepared each day. With visible excitement, Mr. Ezekiel shared how significantly the school lunch program has boosted attendance at the school, through the support of many friends, including an AfricAid supporter who has run races to provide over 30,000 lunches at Losinoni. We also spent time with the moms of the students, who make beaded keychains and bracelets for AfricAid to sell to raise money for the lunches -- and who have also come together to pay the salary of the cook as their way of contributing further. All of us were excited to come home with bags full of beautiful beaded jewelry, each hand made with so much love and care. 

We had the chance to see the almost-complete renovation of a classroom, made possible by the generosity of two AfricAid supporters who asked for donations to Losinoni in lieu of gifts for their wedding. Afterwards, we all gathered into a classroom, where the school committee members and local leaders had prepared snacks and soda for us, including the most generous gift of all -- a goat to share together. During the celebration, we had the chance to share our gratitude and congratulations for the hard work of the school leaders, and Mr. Ezekiel shared an inspiring report with us. I was particularly heartened and inspired by the section that described the magnitude of the impact AfricAid supporters have had at the school over the past several years: 

"The above mentioned achievements have resulted to better standard seven examination results. The number of pupils selected for Secondary School increased from 13 in 2004 to 75 in 2012 which is an increment of 83%. The above progress for standard seven examination have set a new record for this school when compared to our past achievement of only 25% selected for secondary school. This is an obvious outcome of AfricAid support as earlier mentioned." 

Even though the school's leadership has achieved unheard-of results for a rural Maasai school, they dream of even larger impact. Most immediately, Mr. Ezekiel hopes to provide a library for the students of Losinoni, creating a shared space for students to read and learn computer skills. With his vision and leadership, I have no doubt that he can make this dream a reality, and I hope that AfricAid can play a role in supporting him. 

Although the sense of adventure when visiting Losinoni has remained the same over the past ten years, so much has changed along the way: an entire community has come together to make a new future possible for a generation of young students.