Giving Thanks-Asante-Urakoze!!

On this lovely Thanksgiving Day, I would like to give thanks to everyone who has made Project Wezesha a great success over the past year.  Lucas and I had a simple plan when we sat at the Sun City Cafe in Kigoma in July 2009.  We just wanted to give out scholarships to a handful of children who wanted to go to secondary school, but couldn't afford it. 

Now, only a year later, we are happy to be supporting 12 children in secondary schools in Mwandiga, Bitale and Kiganza villages.  We also have three young students awaiting test results who hope to join the program in January!  In addition, we are so happy to be building Amahoro Secondary School with the village of Mgaraganza.  So much went into making this all possible - and I give thanks for all of it! 

I give thanks for Lucas, my partner and co-founder - a key player in making all of this possible.  Lucas has worked so hard with the village government to make sure everything is accepted and approved by the village and feasible for Project Wezesha.  He tirelessly interprets for me when I am in Tanzania, negotiating with the Ministry of Education, the Land Management office, our builders and the villagers.  He is also actively involved in the lives of the students we support, ensuring that they have what they need from month to month - materials, uniforms, school fees and of course - good attendance.

I give thanks to all of my friends and family, friends of friends and everyone else who has supported Project Wezesha through charitable donations, volunteer hours, participation in our race event last year, spreading the word and providing encouragement along the way! 

The whole experience has been amazing and I'm so excited to share, on this day for giving Thanks, the following series of pictures sent this week by Lucas.  They have finished all but the roofs on the four classrooms and the headmaster's office.  So fabulous!! 

Lucas, Isaya (our builder) and I have recently decided to roll our current funds into the completion of two additional classrooms and the teachers' offices.  When that is finished, we'll move on to the roofs.  It's so exciting to see this project unfold faster than anticipated.  We're well on our way to having the first ever secondary school for Mgaraganza, Kagongo, Kigalie, Mtanga and Bubango villages! 

Thank you very much! Urakoze cane! Asante sana!