Please help us raise money for Samburu Trust!
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Ol Malo Foundation IncIn honor of our B'Nai Mitzvah on Aug 1 in Israel, we are raising money for Samburu Trust in Kenya!
$11,858
raised by 109 people
$10,000 goal
Today we visited the school!
The last day of school was May 2019 due to lack of funding. Today, thanks to your generosity, we re-opened the school!!
We walked to the village and joined the kids on their trek to school so that we could experience what their route is like. I don't think Liam, Ella and Rafi will ever complain about having to take the bus again! It took us quite a while to hike up to where the school is located. The kids do this once in the morning, back to their village for lunch and hike back to the school after their break.
We learned how they make a broom out of leaves - we each made our own and then cleaned all of the classrooms! Although they do not any English, and of course we only learned a few words in their native tongue, we communicated through smiles, holding hands, taking pictures, playing futbol and jumping rope!
It was a life-changing day, to say the least. Thank you all for being a part of our journey!
Over two years ago, both of us decided that we wanted to go to Kenya, after a persuasive speech Ella gave in 4th grade titled "Why We Should Take a Family Trip To Africa!". (It was very convincing 😉 ). It was decided that we would have our B'Nai Mitzvah in Jerusalem and celebrate in a meaningful & memorable way by traveling to Kenya as a family. Something that surely will be as life-changing as the history/experience of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah itself.
Making our travels even more impactful - we decided that we wanted to raise money and visit a non-profit while we are in Kenya. We choose to raise money for Samburu Trust - an incredible non-profit making a big difference in the Samburu people's lives.
THEIR MISSION: to protect and secure the future of the Samburu people and their land through education, conservation, healthcare, water supply, women’s opportunities and eco-tourism. Even more importantly, their philosophy is that it is essential to foster and facilitate the spiritual Samburu people, not hinder and westernize. Read more about their mission and the history of the Samburu people here.
One of their biggest needs currently is funding for the school. They are developing a unique system of learning which is relevant to pastoralist children – Giving children wings to fly whilst keeping their feet strongly rooted in the land. Before this mission, their closest school was over 2 hours away by foot. Now named Naitengen, “an area to pass knowledge,” the project trains Samburu teachers. Their vision is for their school to support a number of community schools in the surrounding area. Supporting teachers and providing food and materials, they customize their education to respect the culture, the land, the traditions of the children.
Please donate and be a part of our meaningful and life-changing adventure to Kenya! THANK YOU!
Love, Liam & Ella
Video beautifully created by Kaylee LaMoine.