2013 Calendars are Ready to Order!
Happy Holidays from Project Wezesha!! For our 3rd year running, we are providing an alternative gift-giving option for the holiday season! You can give the gift of education by contributing to our Scholarship Fund and we will send your our 2013 Project Wezesha calendars to give as gifts to your loved ones. Of course, you [...]
A Summer Internship in Tanzania by Katy Lindquist
In the summer of 2012, Project Wezesha had the great opportunity to work with an intern who was committed to exploring international development, community engagement and the power of education. You can read more about how Katy Lindquist became part of our program in our last blog entry. In this blog, enjoy the experience through [...]
The Tremendous Value of an Intern
In the winter of 2012 Project Wezesha was contacted by an undergraduate student via email: My name is Katy Lindquist and I am an anthropology student at Colby College in Waterville, ME. I am very interested in volunteering for your organization this summer. As an anthropology student, I have become very interested in grassroots organizing [...]
Introducing our New Students!
When we started this program, we had five students from Kiganza Village and perhaps you have been following them for the past four years: Edina, Diana, Ismael, France and Hindu. The following year we added a few more – Amosi, Silvesia, Khadija, Zainabu, Saidi and Dibeit. Since we started, Edina, Hindu, Silvesia, Zainabu and Khadija [...]
This is Their Story
This is her story. The story of most girls in the village. This is his story. The story of most boys in the village. Are you ready? There is no response more difficult to deliver than a ‘no’ to the request of a student for school support. Unfortunately, if I said ‘yes’ to every student [...]
Meeting with Village Leaders – Speech in Kiswahili
After discovering about some of our ‘issues’ here in the village, I composed a little talk for the village leaders. My friend in Kigoma, Bennie Muzzazzi helped me to translate it to Kiswahili so I could deliver it directly, knowing that what I wanted to say was being delivered. Here’s the video of the speech, [...]
An Epic Journey – Collaboration Leads to School Opening: January 2013!!
This has been a remarkably productive trip! Lucas and I feel more supported by the various government entities than ever before and that’s because, after flailing around on our own for 3 years, we’ve finally stumbled upon the right people. The first year we simply said ‘yes’ to the request of Mjumbe (chief) Bitata to [...]
Black Diamond sheds a little light on Education
I was recently reading Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Only a few pages into the Introduction I was thrown back to Mwanga, Tanzania – the home of our co-founder, Lucas Lameck. I remembered a conversation that took place at Lucas’ home with Lucas, his brothers Maiko and Kefason, my friends Hadley and Laura [...]
Project Wezesha Selected for Amani Hope Scholarship Program!
Project Wezesha is excited to announce a new partnership with AFR Clothing, a for-profit business that combines fashion with social justice. Authentic Fashion Renaissance (AFR) is capturing attention and raising awareness through the sales of clothing and contribution of proceeds from these sales to support children’s education in Africa. AFR Clothing is launching the Amani [...]
Business as “Usual”
Behind all the pretty pictures of the children and the growing progress of the school, there is the business side of things – which in Tanzania can sometimes be frustrating. At other times, it can be quite enjoyable to be part of – especially coming from another culture where business just unfolds differently. I’ll start [...]
Anecdotes from the Field
Dramatization: Two Americans plan to meet one morning at 9am to have a little meeting before a big meeting. Here’s how it might unfold in the morning – in a potential scenario: 1 – Hey, sorry I’m late. I was rushing out the door when I realized I didn’t save that file to the flash [...]
Wanafunzi – Our Scholarship Students
Project Wezesha has two primary programs – the construction of Amahoro Secondary School and the scholarship program for secondary school students. We currently support 13 students who are going to one of three secondary schools in the region – Mugonya, Mwandiga and Kagongo. On Saturday, we arranged to meet with the students to sit, chat, [...]
Update on Amahoro Secondary School – Sept 2011
On Thursday, Lucas and I went to Kiganza village to scoop up Hindu and Saidi and head over to Mgaraganza for our first big day of labor. We figured we’d have them come along so we could catch up while on our walk and as we wait for the work to begin. When I stepped [...]
The Education of Lucas Lameck
With his salary, one of the top priorities for Lucas was to continue his education. As soon as he started earning a salary for his work with Project Wezesha, he set to finding himself a school to attend. He was attending school for a short while before Tanzania passed a new ordinance – defeating many [...]
Back in the Kigoma Region!
It was so great to arrive back in Kigoma! Lucas met me at the airport and we were both glowing to see each other again. He’s really become like a brother to me, and the fact that ‘Dada Rai’ is how he and most others refer to me (Sister Rai), well it just always feels [...]
House Concert with Gigi Love
Gigi Love is playing at the house of our good friends, John and Tamrika on Saturday August 13th – starting promptly at 7:30pm. Gigi has decided to contribute part of the proceeds to Project Wezesha. Given that one year of secondary education costs a mere $20 per year and that $11,000 allowed us to construct [...]
It Takes a Village … like Salt Lake City
“It takes a village to raise a child” is an African proverb that reflects the culture of its origins. In my trips to Tanzania and Kenya and in my interactions with others from different countries in Africa, I have always been impressed by the all-hands-on-deck approach to raising the children. Educating, healing, clothing, feeding and even [...]
Local Businesses and Artists Help ‘Raise the Roof’
Our ‘Raise the Roof’ event at the Woodshed in SLC, UT is happening soon!! Local businesses, organizations and artists are really coming forward with their support of Project Wezesha! As a result, everyone who comes out for the fundraiser has the chance to take home some pretty amazing items! Here is a little taste of what’s up for [...]
Utah Artist, Hadley Rampton, Supports Project Wezesha through Art Sales
Upcoming June-July sales of Hadley Rampton’s watercolors from the ‘Zanzibar’ series will benefit Project Wezesha! Keep reading to learn more!! We’re so excited! Hadley Rampton is an exceptional artist from Salt Lake City, Utah. She is perhaps best known for her remarkable plein air oil paintings of wilderness landscapes in Northern Utah. However, her talents [...]
May 2011 Update on Amahoro Secondary School
It is so exciting to see the progress on Amahoro Secondary School. Project Wezesha is lucky to have Lucas as our co-founder and in-country director because he is really driving this project with his encouragement, diligence and excellent photos. He just sent 27 photos via email to share the progress! Since November, there have been [...]
Project Wezesha Founder Speaks at Ignite Salt Lake
Ignite Salt Lake is part of a worldwide speaker series entitled Ignite. The slogan for Ignite is “Englighten us, but make it quick!” The idea is that regular folks from around the world have a chance to speak about something they are passionate about … in five minutes! After submitting a proposal and being accepted [...]
Watoto Wanataka Kusema ‘Mambo’ to You!
Saidi is one of the newest students in our scholarship program. He just started secondary school in Mwandiga town this past January (2011). I recorded him last summer in a very informal little chat at his house. When you hear the voice in the background prompting him a bit, that’s Lucas – making my cryptic question about what [...]
Gifts of Education for the Holidays
This holiday season, you’re likely being pulled in many directions for your holiday shopping. I get several emails a day about how I should shop this year – all worthy causes, such as Seva.org, Kiva.org, Heiffer.org, Amnesty International, and many others. So why would you even consider Project Wezesha as your option this year? Well …. [...]
PW Students Visit Amahoro Secondary School
Last week, Lucas passed through Kiganza village en route to Mgaraganza village to collect more pictures of the school. On his way, he picked up some of the Project Wezesha students who were making the long journey home from school in Mwandiga. For those that live in Kiganza village, such as Hindu, Edina, Ismael and Diana, [...]
The mission of Project Wezesha is to increase educational opportunities for children in developing nations by building secondary schools in rural villages and providing educational scholarships to those in need.