Ormeoshi Primary School
Donation protected
I
We often say that the outcome of a good trip is when 'travel changes you'. Rarely, are you able to predict how the experiences will impact the end result. While we anticipated well in advance that our trip to Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania would be extraordinary, we were unprepared for how profoundly it would change us.
We traveled with an extraordinarily talented group of people, individuals who are all experts in the travel industry. Collectively we recognize the value in the experiences we get to share and want to give back where we can. Before traveling, we reached out to one of the hotels at which we would be staying and asked if there was a school nearby that we could visit and bring school supplies. The Mara Safari Club in Kenya was instrumental in arranging this request. Not only did they help us coordinate the donation but thoughtfully guided us to this remarkable school - Ormeoshi Primary School (in Maasai Mara, Kenya).
What I was completely unprepared for was the fact that the entire school (all 501 students) would be there to greet us and show gratitude for our donation. We were the proud recipients of THEIR generosity through the warmth of their welcome and through the gift of their song and dance. What we thought was a small act of kindness was received as the most significant gift.
Honestly, all we did was bring a large duffel bag full of school supplies - a donation that paled compared to the need. But it was met with such genuine appreciation and gratitude that we are now motivated and driven to do more.
The school is small and in much need of structural repair. It does not have nearly enough space for all the students. If I were to write what I believed they needed the list would be expansive. When asked how we could best assist, what was asked for it truly humble compared to the need. The school Administrator asked only for books and a football(soccer ball). Astonishingly, this all they asked for. This brought me back to a conversation which took place earlier in our travels, with the Chief of a Maasai village, when asked what he wanted, he responded: "teach our children."
These students taught us what ambition looks like in the face of adversity and how the strong spirit of intellectual curiosity has the power to connect and change the world. Most of all, they reminded us that we all have a duty to give back to what we take the value most from. With passion, comes purpose.
So I am writing to ask for your help in joining us in giving the tools they need to educate and inspire this incredible group of children. As Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
One text book costs $7 USD. They did not even ask for one per student. Their combined request is a very small fraction of what we are asking for here. Our goal is to get all the text books they need and start to build a reference library to fuel the fertile imaginations and set he foundation for a future of brilliant, meaningful contribution.
100% of all donations will be given to the school and we will share updates as we progress so you can see the real time impact of your contribution.
We often say that the outcome of a good trip is when 'travel changes you'. Rarely, are you able to predict how the experiences will impact the end result. While we anticipated well in advance that our trip to Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania would be extraordinary, we were unprepared for how profoundly it would change us.
We traveled with an extraordinarily talented group of people, individuals who are all experts in the travel industry. Collectively we recognize the value in the experiences we get to share and want to give back where we can. Before traveling, we reached out to one of the hotels at which we would be staying and asked if there was a school nearby that we could visit and bring school supplies. The Mara Safari Club in Kenya was instrumental in arranging this request. Not only did they help us coordinate the donation but thoughtfully guided us to this remarkable school - Ormeoshi Primary School (in Maasai Mara, Kenya).
What I was completely unprepared for was the fact that the entire school (all 501 students) would be there to greet us and show gratitude for our donation. We were the proud recipients of THEIR generosity through the warmth of their welcome and through the gift of their song and dance. What we thought was a small act of kindness was received as the most significant gift.
Honestly, all we did was bring a large duffel bag full of school supplies - a donation that paled compared to the need. But it was met with such genuine appreciation and gratitude that we are now motivated and driven to do more.
The school is small and in much need of structural repair. It does not have nearly enough space for all the students. If I were to write what I believed they needed the list would be expansive. When asked how we could best assist, what was asked for it truly humble compared to the need. The school Administrator asked only for books and a football(soccer ball). Astonishingly, this all they asked for. This brought me back to a conversation which took place earlier in our travels, with the Chief of a Maasai village, when asked what he wanted, he responded: "teach our children."
These students taught us what ambition looks like in the face of adversity and how the strong spirit of intellectual curiosity has the power to connect and change the world. Most of all, they reminded us that we all have a duty to give back to what we take the value most from. With passion, comes purpose.
So I am writing to ask for your help in joining us in giving the tools they need to educate and inspire this incredible group of children. As Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
One text book costs $7 USD. They did not even ask for one per student. Their combined request is a very small fraction of what we are asking for here. Our goal is to get all the text books they need and start to build a reference library to fuel the fertile imaginations and set he foundation for a future of brilliant, meaningful contribution.
100% of all donations will be given to the school and we will share updates as we progress so you can see the real time impact of your contribution.
Organizer
Andrea Johnson
Organizer
Toronto, ON