Letter from the President
Fall is such a beautiful time of change. With the air cooling, the leaves changing color and falling, American students getting back to school—you can just feel the familiar shift from summer ending to new beginnings that the new school year brings.
This Fall, we find ourselves on the eve of important presidential elections in the USA and in the midst of challenging financial times. We know that giving becomes an even more important choice in these tough economic times. Just as our American economy is hurting right now, other parts of the world are struggling greatly too. It’s partly due to a lack of tourism dollars. So many people who live in poverty rely on the small amount they can sell to tourists to survive (70% of Kenyans earn a living from tourism). In addition, African game reserve fees are used to fund schools, so as that dries up, the schools rely even more heavily on Foundations like ours.
Times are tough—Better to team up than go it alone!
- Double your donation by asking your employer to match your donation through a corporate matching fund.
- As a family or work group, sponsor a child as a gesture of Thanksgiving or instead of buying holiday gifts.
- Rally Scouting troops or youth groups to sell 2009 Asante Africa calendars.
- Skip your Friday night dinner out and feed 100 children lunch for 1 month.
- As an alumni group, take the challenge to build a kitchen or a classroom together.
Contact us for help with these ideas! |
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In the midst of these challenges it is important to remind ourselves of what is good in our lives and the benefits that education brings. This definitely fuels our passion for giving children in East Africa the experience of new school year beginnings and skills for dealing with challenging times. As we enter the final quarter of 2008, we need your help more than ever. Asante Africa Foundation is pressing hard on our fundraising efforts so that we meet our commitments for 2009 school year scholarships and completing classrooms that children are depending on for the new school year (January 2009).
As we all try to stretch our dollars, remember that giving to Asante Africa ensures that your money is going directly to programs, at a much higher rate than many other charitable organizations. As we’re all looking to cut corners and increase spending efficiency, we know that Americans have always shared what they can—in good and bad times—and want to be sure that money goes as far as possible.
We have accomplished many of our 2008 goals (54 children in school, 36 toilets built, <2000 textbooks provided and a large scale classroom construction project underway.) We are confident that we will raise the money needed through the end of the year because of your generosity.
Our best to you and your families as we finish up this year, and great appreciation for all you’ve helped us accomplish so far in 2008.
Asante Sana (Many thanks )
Erna Grasz
Founder and CEO
Featured Student: Esther Naini, Kenya
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Esther Naini in her
school uniform |
No electricity? No problem! With a new laptop computer powered by solar cells, even our students out in the bush can learn to use computers and communicate with Asante Africa Foundation and its supporters. After a lesson from Erna on an earlier visit, Esther Naini, a 13- year-old student in Kenya, is now learning how to use the solar-powered computer of our program manager, Hellen Nkuraiya.
Esther was orphaned and was being raised by her aunt prior to receiving an Asante Africa scholarship and enrollment in a boarding school. Her gratitude, excitement for learning and pride in mastering the computer shines through in this email to Erna:
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Esther Naini, a newly computer-literate
student in Kenya |
Sopa Erna
This is Esther Naini.we have gone home for August holiday and we are 13 OF US StAYIng in THe girls house with Susan. Hellen has given me a chance to write this email to you and I want you to see am working very hard to learn computer. do you remember teaching me last time? I have given Hellen my performance and I hope she will sent to you. Thank you very much for changing my life. we are very pround of Asante Africa.
Goodbye, Kwaheri Erna. Your’s,
Esther Naini.
Hellen & Sabore Share Views on Culture, Education, and Leadership
If you live or work in the San Francisco Bay Area, it would have been hard to miss our Maasai visitors, Hellen and Sabore over the past month. They presented to more than 10 schools, 10 libraries and museums, 7 corporate audiences, 4 warrior training events and many more private parties and gatherings. They were here to help raise money for construction of a new school in their community of Maji Moto. Hellen Nkuraiya is our Program Manager in Kenya. She is a former school principal, business entrepreneur and passionate advocate for education. Sabore Ole Oyie is a Maasai tribal warrior, elder advisor, and cultural ambassador for Kenya.
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“There is no difference between children here
(in the US) and children in Africa,” Oiye said.
“They all have the same heart.” |
They shared their views on why education is so important in Kenya, particularly in their Maasai community, how they balance traditional culture and education, and why their vision for their school in Maji Moto is unique. They recognized the involvement of Asante Africa Foundation as not changing their culture, but empowering them to be self reliant through education.
Their message is that education is the key to building capability within their own community and country to solve the challenges they face in creating a future that honors the culture of all tribes. Illiterate herders and land owners are being cheated at the bank because they cannot read the deposit notes they are signing.
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“Education is the most powerful weapon
to change the future,” said Hellen,
being interviewed KRON TV. |
They see that early marriage and female circumcision are things that need to be changed in their culture, while keeping important rites of passage. As more children are educated and allowed to grow older before marrying, the community is slowly seeing the benefits and modifying their views.
Hellen and Sabore know that some community members and American supporters fear that encouraging young people to be educated and exposed to new ideas will weaken their culture. As they stood before audiences in full traditional dress that is their daily custom, they were living proof that students who pursue an education as they both did, will return to their communities to teach and lead. Their culture is strong and precious, and will be kept alive.
Hear their stories and wisdom for yourself, with video and print interviews posted on the News page of our web site.
Corporate Leaders Learning from Tribal Leaders
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Hellen & Sabore with Erna, speaking with
corporate leaders at Genentech |
Our visiting Maasai leaders Sabore Oyie and Hellen Nkuraiya spoke with several business groups in California on the topic of “Leadership Values that Transcend Cultural and Global Boundaries.” In sessions with Genentech, Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, Sequoia Benefits Group and others, they shared their leadership values, challenges, and approaches. And guess what—they’re very similar to those faced by American leaders. On the surface, the way we dress, speak or live could convince us that we are more different than alike, and facing problems that each other can’t relate to. But in fact, we’re all people working toward the same human goals of peace, health and happiness for our families, communities, and workplaces.
While technologies vary, the root opportunities and challenges are similar – adapting to changes in the environment by explaining to key stakeholders why change and adaptation are in their interest. From the Maasai standpoint, this means helping elders understand that educating Maasai children will yield more cows in the future than their current emphasis on “cow now” in exchanging girls for cows as dowry. In corporate America, this means bridging differences in perspectives among staff members so that you can coordinate the vision for the future of the business and execute that vision more efficiently and effectively.
Sabore and Hellen shared their values as leaders, citing respect as number one. Some of the other values and approaches shared across the cultures include:
- Establishing common ground, understanding of the other’s perspective, and exploring alternatives from a common view.
- Building trust and empathy first.
- Starting by accurately describing the challenge and consequences.
- Describing the destination – in terms that appeal to the listener.
- Using stories or examples of how others benefited from a change.
- Learning about other cultures, and alternative ways to see the future.
- Role modeling new alternatives.
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| Leadership discussions across cultures |
The way this plays out in each culture looks different, but the basics are the same.
Sabore and Hellen emphasized that no community will be prepared to solve their own problems and build the strength of their internal leadership without education. Students today, from nursery through secondary, are the leaders of tomorrow. They rely on support from Asante Africa Foundation and others to fuel this investment in their future.
Corporations are a key funding source for education in East Africa, through corporate donations and individuals who have the opportunity to select a charity for donation during their corporate giving campaign. Check out whether your employer has a corporate matching or grant opportunity, and choose Asante Africa Foundation as your charity. If you discover opportunities for grants that we can apply for, pass along the information and we’ll pursue it.
Supporting Partners Through Visits
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| Fostering partnership with the Greenbelt organization on environmental projects |
One way Asante Africa achieves our mission is through collaboration with our in-country partners. We respect their leadership and right to choose what’s right for their communities, and strive to work within their cultures to fuel the progress they desire toward improving their lives through education. Our partners rely on us for support and resources beyond money. Through weekly phone calls and emails, regular visits by our Board members to Africa, and visits by our African partners to the US when possible, we share our skills and insights.
Asante Africa Board VP Susan Olofson is a leadership consultant for Kaiser Permanente in her day job, helping Labor and Management communicate with one another more effectively. She took these skills to the bush in August to help facilitate the collaboration between the Maasai, Polish ministry, and Asante Africa on building a school in Kenya. Gaps in language and viewpoints between the Poles and the Maasai had created tense relationships before construction of the school even started. Expectations and roles were unclear, and misinterpretations were creating misunderstandings on all sides. Susan facilitated meetings between the groups over the course of a six week stay, and helped create agreements on how to work together with clear, agreed-upon goals going forward. Providing this resource of business and process consulting, without trying to impose a particular solution or way of operating, is another way Asante Africa supports our partners in East Africa.
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Susan facilitating a meeting with
Polish partners and Maasai leaders |
Another leadership team visit leaves for Tanzania and Kenya in mid-November, with a focus on finalizing funding decisions for 2009. The traveling team includes Erna, President and CEO, Stephanie Jayne, Program Director, Mark Newton, Program Team member, and Shirley West, Volunteer Coordinator. They will meet directly with school and community leaders who are requesting project funding, and with students who are requesting scholarships for the 2009 school year beginning in January.
These regular visits, paid for by the traveling volunteers, reflect the “Asante“ mutual thanks that our Foundation’s leaders feel for the communities we serve in East Africa. They are able to share their expertise and knowledge to support in-country partners, and they receive the tremendous gift of hospitality and immersion in the culture that informs their perspectives and decisions as leaders of the organization and stewards of our donor’s money.
Featured Volunteer: Kim Carlyle
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| Volunteer Kim and her baby Zola |
Kim Carlyle is our volunteer webmaster, keeping us looking good online, and up to date in sharing news and information with all of you. Through her heartfelt desire to add peace and goodness to the world, Kim provides the techno-savvy we need to keep the information and updates flowing to our donors and even to our partners in Africa who can see themselves online if they are able to get to a cyber café.
Kim’s sweet patience is a blessing when we say “Here’s a TV video we want to post on the web site—today if possible.” She kindly walks us through all the techno steps required to make that simple request fit the boundaries of our server, download specs and a bunch of other stuff we don’t really want to understand. And then she quickly gets the job done.
Kim joined us in early 2007, after hearing from former boss and now Asante Africa Marketing Director, about her trip to Africa and the amazing Asante Africa organization. She’s a talented professional, making a great contribution to many children’s lives in Kenya and Tanzania.
We also thank her sweet baby Zola, who at 10 months old is being very generous in sharing some of mommy’s time. Kim shows that every one of us has a talent that can be translated into a tangible benefit of quality education for a child in East Africa. And, juggling a bit of time for a good cause can be very rewarding.
In Kim’s own words, “I LOVE helping Asante Africa as much as possible. I hope as Zola grows she will appreciate the interconnectedness of humankind. Sometimes it’s hard to feel like I’m doing much since I’m not doing the more intensive work, but I know it takes a lot of spokes to keep the wheels spinning forward.”
A huge ASANTE SANA to Kim for sharing her heart, time and talents.
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What We Believe
Every child deserves an education and the opportunity to choose his or her future, regardless of the latitude or longitude in which they are born. Through education, each child can make their dreams a reality, help their families struggle less, and help their communities become self sustaining.
Our Vision
By improving the quality of and access to education in East Africa, Asante Africa Foundation gives children the tools to help shape the future of their communities and their cultures.
Our Mission
Asante Africa Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of and access to nursery, primary and secondary education in East Africa by:
- Creating healthier places to learn by building infrastructure to improve basic conditions at school
- Helping teachers be better teachers by providing them with necessary resources
- Providing scholarships for academically talented or highly motivated children in need
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Big
goals are achieved through contributions of all sizes.
Here’s what US dollars can provide:
- $12,000 builds a classroom
- $500 sponsors a student’s tuition, room & board, uniforms, personal items and books to for a full year
- $120 provides porridge for 1 month for 100+ kids
- $90 builds 3 desks/beds/other furniture
- $25 provides a child with 6 books
Asante Africa Foundation is a volunteer-run organization that targets 90% of donations to go to programs in East Africa, with 10% invested in our infrastructure to ensure sustainability.
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Accomplishments in 2008
- Completed Standard 8 classroom and Phase 1 of 3 new classrooms at Jeremy Academy primary school
- Funded Phase 2 of classrooms and watertower at Jeremy Academy
- Constructed 32 latrines at primary schools (Ilkurot, Makayuni and St. Mary’s Primary)
- Completed interior of 2 classrooms at Mwalimu Anna Nursery and Primary Academy
- Built desks and chairs for nursery school (Mwalimu Anna)
- Provided more than 2,000 textbooks (Sr. Mary Stephen Nkoitoi Secondary, Ilkurot Primary, Mwalimu Anna Academy)
- Provided a daily meal for nursery age children at school
- Supported teacher training at local universities for two teachers in Kenya and Tanzania
- Provided 1,000 text books
- Sponsored more than 70 students and orphans
Goals for remainder of 2008
- Starter grant for 40 new desks at Olooltoto Primary
- Build a new nursery school and toilets (jointly with Polish partners)
- Build 4 teacher’s houses
- Continue sponsorship for 70+ students and orphans
- Provide daily meal for nursery age children at school
- Raise funds and approve projects such as a school kitchen, completion of a girls dorm at primary school, additional textbooks for primary and secondary schools, construction of a nursery school classroom, 4 teachers houses, and repair and refurbishment of primary school classrooms.
- Support teacher training at local universities for two teachers in Kenya and Tanzania
- Provide 1,000 text books
- Sponsor more than 70 students and orphans
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How You Can Help...
Donate cash online or by mail!
Every penny counts. $4 buys a text book, $30 builds a desk, $20 buys 2 school uniforms, and $500 sponsors a student in boarding school for a whole year. Choose an area for your donation to be used for, or allow us to apply funds to the most urgent need.
In-kind donations are needed,
including airline mileage for Foundation staff to oversee projects and for African contacts to come to the US for training. We also need shipping resources to deliver donated goods to Africa. Please call or email us if you can help.
Ask your company about Corporate matching.
Your Human Resources department can tell you how Asante Africa Foundation can be included in their matching donation program. Let us know how we can support you with information, materials or presentations.
Volunteer:
Asante Africa Foundation is nearly all volunteer-operated. If you would like to volunteer, please call or email us to get more information.
Spread the word and generate donations!
Host a group presentation or fundraising event/campaign, forward this newsletter to expand the circle of awareness about our work, talk to your coworkers about ways to contribute. The more people who are interested in the Foundation, the sooner we can provide the desperately needed services to the children and families in Africa. Please contact us for more ideas.
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How We Work
Approximately 90 percent of donations to Asante Africa Foundation support in-country programs and are used towards projects planned in collaboration with community program managers. Board members and nearly all other Foundation support is purely volunteer based.
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1334 Carlton Place
Livermore, California 94550
Phone: 925-292-0245
Fax: 347-296-3642
info@asanteafrica.org
www.asanteafrica.org
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