Kitarini School Library Build
Donation protected
Building a Library for Kitarini
For those who have donated or are following this campaign, you'll noticed it's been changed/updated.
It's exciting to let everyone know that the food program has now been funded for the initial period and several people are earmarking a percentage of sales towards it's future. Hundreds of kids who attend Kitarini are now receiving lunch daily.
And we've broken ground for the library! I visited Tanzania in June (no campaign funds are used for my travel or expenses) and was able to meet with Sune and Pia to finalize plans and keep the project rolling. Sune will servce as project manager on site in TZ.
The Library funding is getting very close. Over $5000 has been donated and our goal has been adjusted to what is needed to proceed with building. We will then need to raise apx. $2000 more by October to furnish the Library. Our hope is to complete the build funding during August, to begin in September, with a target of having the Library built by November.
Hundreds of kids as well as the surrounding village will benefit from the Kitarini library and I'm asking everyone to help bring this campaign home.
Thanks all!
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Project History and about the library:
Over the last couple of years myself, along with a number of others in the gem cutting and jewelry world, have had the privilege to visit Kitarini, a school for Masai children about an hour out of Longido, Tanzania.
The school was started by local miners Sune and Pia Merisheki, when on a prospecting trip Sune ran across a group of children gathered for "school" under a tree out in the bush. Together, Sune and Pia raised funds and petitioned the government for support. Today Kitarini consists of a collection of 5-6 metal roofed buildings where 400-450 primary school-age kids come on a daily basis, walking up to five miles each way from their homes in the bush.
Within minutes of spending time with these beautiful children, everyone who has visited is totally captivated by their smiles and dedication to learning in this remote corner of Tanzania.
One need of the school (and nearby village) is a new building to house a library. While food will serve a daily nutritional need, a library will have lasting impact for generations as a base of new found knowledge for the school and community.
Hundreds of books have been donated to the school and hauled into Tanzania in suitcases and boxes, collected by jewelers and gem cutters who love these children. Without a library these books remain boxed and unused.
As a children's book publisher for more than two decades I know how the power of reading can change kids lives forever. There is no limit to the potential these children have and what can be unlocked through the power of reading. It becomes especially transforming that the surrounding villages will share this library. This humble library has the power to change the lives not only of the children from the school, but become a community resource.
Please join me in this project to fund this library. We plan to complete the project during 2017. Any funds raised that are not needed to complete the library will be used for other needs of the school and local children, such as funding lunch for the school kids, and housing for teachers.
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An online auction of gem rough, cut stones, jewelry, cutting services is still being planned and many have donated. Watch for details - I hope this auction can help complete what is needed to furnish the building. If you can donate please contact Dan Lynch through the links provided or look me up on Facebook. Anyone donating will receive credit during the auction for their items unless otherwise requested.
Thank you for supporting this cause!
For those who have donated or are following this campaign, you'll noticed it's been changed/updated.
It's exciting to let everyone know that the food program has now been funded for the initial period and several people are earmarking a percentage of sales towards it's future. Hundreds of kids who attend Kitarini are now receiving lunch daily.
And we've broken ground for the library! I visited Tanzania in June (no campaign funds are used for my travel or expenses) and was able to meet with Sune and Pia to finalize plans and keep the project rolling. Sune will servce as project manager on site in TZ.
The Library funding is getting very close. Over $5000 has been donated and our goal has been adjusted to what is needed to proceed with building. We will then need to raise apx. $2000 more by October to furnish the Library. Our hope is to complete the build funding during August, to begin in September, with a target of having the Library built by November.
Hundreds of kids as well as the surrounding village will benefit from the Kitarini library and I'm asking everyone to help bring this campaign home.
Thanks all!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Project History and about the library:
Over the last couple of years myself, along with a number of others in the gem cutting and jewelry world, have had the privilege to visit Kitarini, a school for Masai children about an hour out of Longido, Tanzania.
The school was started by local miners Sune and Pia Merisheki, when on a prospecting trip Sune ran across a group of children gathered for "school" under a tree out in the bush. Together, Sune and Pia raised funds and petitioned the government for support. Today Kitarini consists of a collection of 5-6 metal roofed buildings where 400-450 primary school-age kids come on a daily basis, walking up to five miles each way from their homes in the bush.
Within minutes of spending time with these beautiful children, everyone who has visited is totally captivated by their smiles and dedication to learning in this remote corner of Tanzania.
One need of the school (and nearby village) is a new building to house a library. While food will serve a daily nutritional need, a library will have lasting impact for generations as a base of new found knowledge for the school and community.
Hundreds of books have been donated to the school and hauled into Tanzania in suitcases and boxes, collected by jewelers and gem cutters who love these children. Without a library these books remain boxed and unused.
As a children's book publisher for more than two decades I know how the power of reading can change kids lives forever. There is no limit to the potential these children have and what can be unlocked through the power of reading. It becomes especially transforming that the surrounding villages will share this library. This humble library has the power to change the lives not only of the children from the school, but become a community resource.
Please join me in this project to fund this library. We plan to complete the project during 2017. Any funds raised that are not needed to complete the library will be used for other needs of the school and local children, such as funding lunch for the school kids, and housing for teachers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
An online auction of gem rough, cut stones, jewelry, cutting services is still being planned and many have donated. Watch for details - I hope this auction can help complete what is needed to furnish the building. If you can donate please contact Dan Lynch through the links provided or look me up on Facebook. Anyone donating will receive credit during the auction for their items unless otherwise requested.
Thank you for supporting this cause!
Organizer
Dan Lynch
Organizer
Arrington, TN
