Continued Success of Rudisha Foundation

It is with great pleasure I am able to write this blog and share updates about the children in the Rudisha Foundation. "Kurudisha" is the Swahili word for "give back" and this is exactly what every sponsor does each year. 

The children in the program were in very unfortunate situations where their families were unable to afford school fees, so the children were not able to attend school. In 2012 Moses and I had the idea to help one child in need and with the help of my mother-in-law, Martha Msuya, we were able to do this. With the desire from our family and friends to also help children in need, things grew from one child to seventeen and we created the Rudisha Foundation. We are so grateful for the love and kindness given to each family and child in the program. 

Joel visiting Martha

Martha Msuya, (co-founder of the foundation) is currently taking care of all the payments for each school. In total there are now fourteen children in the program - they do not all attend the same school. Depending on where they live in Moshi we have them attending schools near their home. This helps make life easier for the child and their family, siblings attend the same school. There are eight schools in total and the fees vary for each child. The foundation covers the cost of school tuition fees, food costs while they are at school, notebooks required for class, school bag and their full school uniform as well as two pairs of shoes for the year. 

Joel is the most recent graduate of the program and he is waiting the results from his 2017 school year. We are excited to learn his results, to see if he will receive his certificate of Secondary Education.  

To date, the foundation has had two children graduate; Nancy and Rashidi. Our goal is to have the rest of the children graduate with successful secondary school certificates. 

When Martha returned from Canada to Moshi in October, the children started their visits and she would send me updates (as Moses and I are not in Tanzania this year) of their marks and overall progress. She will often take the children out for lunch or prepare some food at her home. They enjoy coming over to see "bibi"(grandmother in Swahili).

Abida on her way to school

Sara before school

Sara's tests with great marks!

Noel

Brothers- Noel & Joshua

Athumani doing a puzzle at Martha's house last week

More updates from Martha.....

"Elizabeth's birthday today so I made her a small cake! She came over with her school results from the first 6 months, she's doing well and is growing!! She speaks her broken English, she's trying very hard. She was our very first little Eliza at four years old, just playing in the dirt and following her mom around, now she's ten!"

Elizabeth and her mother, Catherine 

"Went to vist Zinduka school today, they had 32 kids in class plus another older class with just as many kids. They are trying to raise the money for their trip to Momella but hardly any parents have paid yet. I'm going to give them our drivers name and number from our Rudisha safari, so they'll have another option. They want to hire a coaster. Violet's book work looked good"

Violet & Martha

"Spent part of the day with Wahida, Hassani and Ally!! We had chicken choma (BBQ) across the road first, then went up to Uhuru Hostel so boys could play, then drove them home down that bumpy road past Langoni school. Their mom, Wahida is a very nice person to sit with and visit. They much appreciate the help we give. I have the boys reports from June to show you."

Brothers - Hasani & Ally

"Naomi's mom, Gisella came with Naomi's reports and test results, Naomi comes 4th out of 107 pupils this year. Gisella looks good too, takes her medicine all the time, they both wrote a thank you letter. Naomi came with me all day long in her frilly dress, we walked and drove around town, came back home and had our rest, her mom came and picked her at 4."

Naomi writing the thank you letter to her sponsors, Megan and Craig

"Julieth has two more exams to write, then she is done for the standard 6 . I asked her which subjects she likes best - they were math and science!! Of all things, heh! She smiles a lot and looks so good." Grandmother Christina (when she knew I was coming to visit) - asked me on the phone if you were coming too)! Christina says when she gets the report and the next years costs in writing - she will come to Moshi."

Julieth 

"Lucas says he likes math the best subject. We met at a bar called Snow View, he had chips mayai (french fries with eggs). When the school letter comes, they need payment by Jan. 10 or so."

Great report, Lucas!

"Took Gidion and Loveness to a nice spot just down the road from the school, we had chicken and roast green ndizi (banana). I drove them mostly all the way home then. The outfits are what they wear every Friday to march with. Gidion came 6th in his class this yr. Loveness came 2nd!!!"

Loveness, Martha & Gidion out for lunch

Martha mentioned that the children are still talking about the safari trip we took them on last February! I would love to be able to take them on another adventure, one day! Perhaps next time for an overnight 😀  Read about the Rudisha Foundation Safari and view all of the photos from the amazing day! 

We thank everyone who has helped provide a life changing situation and given the gift of education to fourteen children for the 2018 school year; Donna Brown & Stuart Ion, Janice McCray, Laura, Madison, Nicven the gift of education to fourteen children for the 2018 school year; Donna Brown & Stuart Ion, Janice McCray, Laura, Madison, Nic and Asher, Jeffrey, Shelley and boys, Lois Tambourini & Zenon Szewczyk, Maureen Carswell & William MacKinnon, Norma and Tom Isotamm, Elmwood Brant St. John's & St. Peter's Lutheran Parish, Margo & Sidney Strowbridge, John and Debbie Baer, Amy, Gerody and Ava Bennett, Mary and Ron Tally, Erica, Derek, Iris and Hugh MacKinnon, Megan Matheson Hamilton & Craig and Morrison Hamilton, Nancy Lee & Eric Strowbridge, Micheline Bissonnette-Kuras & Paul Kuras. View the "supporters" tab to see a list of those who have sponsored for previous school years. 

I would personally like to also thank my mother-in-law, Martha for all that she has done for Rudisha Foundation. It has been hard on my heart not being in Tanzania this year to see the children myself - so I really appreciate her keeping me in the loop with every detail and for all the work she does to get them enrolled into school!  Asante sana, mama.

To learn more about how you can help children in need, contact me at any time! Learn about how it all started, visit Rudisha Foundation.