Education

     A Tanzanian proverb:
                   "If you educate a boy,
                    you educate an individual;
                    If you educate a girl,
                    you educate an entire family".       
Here is the Link to find the quote.
This same theory is echoed throughout the world. Greg Mortenson made reference to educating the girls is to change the world in his book Three Cups of Tea. What seems so normal and may not even be valued by many is actively sought after by those needing the education. What kind of world change would there be if every child had the same education opportunities as the children in the United States?
     The above link is the a site discussing the Maasai Project. This is a project with the goal to educate Maasai girls. I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful school. The Monduli MaaSae Girls Lutheran Secondary School sits within a coffee plantation in the traditional Maasai village (boma) tradition. After years of trying to convince the tribal elders to send the girls to school the Prime Minister, the Bishop of the ELC, and the missionary Rev. David Simonson along with a tribal woman by the name of Mama Ruthie, the consent was finally given. The Maasai fathers do not want their daughters educated because it is thought they are only to be married and have children. The daughters are often arranged to marry a friend of the father at a young age.The huge chapel is in the center of the grounds. The Rev David Simonson designed the chapel and school. The chapel is shaped like Rev Simonson's shield given to him as a high honor from the Maasai tribe.
     There are 280 students representing seven different tribes. The students are selected by academic promise and opportunity need. The student is admitted by invitation only after the head of the primary school recommends the student. The girls are to attend the school for seven years with the hope to have achieved academically to progress to the highest level which is equivalent to first year of college.
     When the girls first arrive at the school they must be taught how to use stairs, they have never used stairs or drinking glasses. One building was full of computers however there is no internet access available. There was a beautiful kitchen but no one knew how to use the equipment so the meals are still cooked on the fire pits. All the school expenses are paid by outside donations. A scholarship to sponsor a student is $700.00 per year. Seems a small price to pay to help educate a country.