Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania Preserving the Past and Ensuring the Future Through Education

NORTHERN TANZANIA, August 9, 2010 – Engineers Without Borders Portland Professionals Chapter (EWB) traveled to Lashaine Village, Tanzania in June to oversee the expansion of a rainwater harvesting system and the installation of an expanded solar energy system at Orkeeswa Secondary School, built and operated by the Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania (IEFT). Addition of a second water tank and expansion of the energy system ensures there will be enough resources to accommodate the growing student population.

“It was great to see how all of our efforts over the past year have come to fruition,” said Brad Ostapkowicz, EWB travel team member. “You gain a lot of perspective when you are in direct contact with the students who the EWB’s projects are helping. It also gives us incentive to keep working through the next coming year; knowing the students will be progressing in their studies, in part, due to the sustainable sources of water and electricity we helped to provide.”

The 60,000 liter rainwater harvesting system, installed by EWB last year, was increased with the addition of another 60,000 liter ferrocement tank. The tanks will soon be supplemented with a bio sand filter to treat collected rain water, and a pipeline to deliver water directly to the school’s kitchen. EWB partnered with Chloride Exide, Ltd. to expand the 160-Watt solar power system Chloride Exide donated the year before. The school now has a new 1,080-watt solar energy system to power their classrooms, staff offices, and their newly constructed science lab. There is now enough energy available to power the entire school, as well as the future library and computer lab. Orkeeswa students are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of new energy efficient computers that they will be able to use on a daily basis.

“The most amazing part of the trip was driving around the villages, meeting the students’ families and seeing their home life,” said Ada Banasik, programs coordinator for IEFT and EWB travel team member. “As engineers, we of course enjoy seeing our designs implemented, but the hospitality and warm smiles of the Orkeeswa students, their families and literally thousands of village children that seem to spill out of the bush wherever we show up is unforgettable and makes the countless hours of design work, report writing and fundraising that made this project possible so rewarding. Thank you Lashaine!”

EFT is dedicated to providing affordable secondary education to underprivileged indigenous children in rural Tanzania. They have made it a priority to create a reliable and sustainable infrastructure at Orkeeswa School; understanding that students’ ability to attend school depends on the availability of a reliable and safe source of potable water and a renewable source of energy. Rainwater is the only source of water available to the Lashaine Village, prior to the installation of the new tanks the school was collecting rainwater in small plastic tanks positioned under the roof downspouts. The volume of the plastic tanks, however, was insufficient to last through the entire dry season and the school was forced to truck in water from neighboring areas, diverting funds away from the school’s budget.

IEFT opened Orkeeswa Scondary School in April of 2008. The first 40 students that were enrolled in English-immersion classes have nearly completed their Form II (sophomore) courses and an addition of 40 more students each year has begun English-immersion classes. IEFT plans on expanding school facilities and accepting additional classes until they have reached the full build-out in 2013.

For additional information about IEFT or the EWB-IEFT Partnership, please visit the IEFT Web site at www.ieftz.org, or the EWB Web site at www.ewbportland.org/tanzania. If you are interested in joining the team, sharing similar design/construction experiences or assisting with obtaining the funds necessary to complete this project, please send an e-mail to tanzania@ewbportland.org.

WHAT: The Springbox Gallery hosts the 3rd Annual Art for Africa event to raise funds to support the Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania (IEFT), a nonprofit organization co-founded by Portland local, Ashley Holmer.

Guests will be welcomed with live music, appetizers, wine, beer and refreshments as they browse through the artwork of Springbox artists, a silent auction, and Maasai jewelry and crafts. IEFT’s co-founders will also give a presentation about Tanzania and Orkeeswa Secondary School. Funds raised will go toward the construction of the campus' first library and computer laboratory operated using solar energy!

WHY: This event will support IEFT’s mission to provide quality secondary education to indigenous children in rural Tanzania. IEFT empowers children to positively transform their own lives, improve their communities and break the cycle of extreme poverty, while preserving their culture and traditions.

Ashley Holmer co-founded IEFT with Peter Luis of Fresno, California in 2005 when they witnessed the limited educational opportunities faced by Tanzanian children. Inspired by the intense motivation of the students in and around Monduli District, Tanzania and the lack of secondary schools in the area, they embarked on a mission to create change. Alongside the villagers of Lashaine and the local government, IEFT built and opened Orkeeswa Secondary School, to provide quality education that’s affordable for families in rural Tanzania. Currently, the school educates 80 students each year and continues expanding the facilities to enroll 240 students each year after buildout is complete. Funds raised from this event will support ongoing school expansion and operations.

For more information about IEFT or to purchase tickets to attend Art for Africa, please visit www.ieftz.org.

IEFT Announces 2nd Annual Fundraising Gala
-A Night for African Education March 11-

Chicago, Ill. – February 15, 2010 – Join the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEFT) on March 11 for A Night for African Education at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace. Enjoy a gourmet dinner, full host bar, live music, silent auction, and Fair-Trade Maasai Jewelry & Crafts all for a spectacular cause – learning more about education in East Africa and supporting solutions to global poverty.

2nd Annual “A Night for African Education” Gala
Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 7:30 PM
Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrance, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Pre-sale tickets: $50/person, $90/couple, $300/table of 8, $375/table of 10
Day-of-event tickets: $75/person at the door

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.ieftz.org or email info@ieftz.org.

The second annual event is being hosted by Chicago resident and IEFT volunteer, Abbie DeSantis, who became involved with IEFT in early November 2008 while pursuing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate in northern Tanzania. Abbie found that her journey to Tanzania and time spent at Orkeeswa Secondary School was one of the most worthwhile and rewarding experiences of her life.

The Tanzanian culture, Maasai people, as well as IEFT’s impact on local communities had such a positive influence on Abbie, she felt compelled to return in March 2009 to volunteer for another month at Orkeeswa. She is hoping to build awareness of the cause locally by hosting an event aimed at raising funds for the continued operation of Orkeeswa Secondary School.

“I am honored to be hosting A Night for African Education for the second year in a row,” said Abbie DeSantis, IEFT volunteer and supporter. “I hope that everyone will come out and support such a great cause."

Guests will enjoy a presentation given by guest speaker, Ashley Holmer, Co-Founder & Executive Director of IEFT. Ashley will share her personal stories about working within local and international communities to create sustainable change, and the organization’s successes and progress in providing quality, affordable education for children in rural Tanzania. Other Chicago-area residents who have volunteered with IEFT will also share their stories of working with the organization to help change lives of children in Tanzania.

Local Nonprofit, IEFT, Raises $300,000 to Fund Secondary Education for Children in Tanzania

PORTLAND, Ore. – January 12, 2010 – Despite the sagging economy and most cutting back on charitable giving this past holiday season, the Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania (IEFT), a local nonprofit that provides quality, affordable secondary education to under-served indigenous children in rural Tanzania, raised more than $300,000 in 2009 to support its projects and programs.

"This year proved to be tough for many organizations. When wallets and pocketbooks tighten, it's nonprofits that usually suffer the greatest; ironically, when they are needed most,” said Ashley Holmer, co-founder and Executive Director of IEFT. “We were pleased to see IEFT's projects expand and meet all our capital goals for 2009, and we know it wouldn’t have been possible without our dedicated donors and volunteers. It is because of their amazing generosity, IEFT looks forward to another successful year in 2010."

Major gifts to IEFT in 2009 included a $62,000 grant from Africa Directo for the construction of two science laboratories, two staff offices and two storage areas; and $25,000 raised by, “A Night for African Education,” a fundraising event held in Laguna Beach, Calif. to complete construction of a staff house on the school campus. A partnership with the East African-based company, Chloride Exide Limited, also led to the installation of a solar energy system, providing lighting and electricity to current campus structures. IEFT partnered with Engineers Without Borders to construct a rainwater harvesting system at the school, including a 60,000-liter water storage tank. Engineers Without Borders also received a $12,000 grant to install solar panels that will power new classrooms, computer labs and science labs.

IEFT plans on expanding Orkeeswa Secondary School facilities and accepting additional classes until full build-out is reached in 2013. Last year, IEFT raised enough funds to build two new classrooms with two staff offices, two science laboratories with two staff offices and two storage spaces, and a staff house.

IEFT hopes to boost fundraising efforts in 2010 and raise over $500,000 for Orkeeswa Secondary School. Fundraising events will be held throughout the year, around the world. Look for the 3rd Annual Portland Art for Africa event and the 2nd Annual Chicago Night for African Education event, both happening in spring 2010. Other annual events are also planned for Seattle, Laguna Beach, Fresno, Atlanta, Boston, New York and Dublin, Ireland.

BEAVERTON, Ore. — November 4, 2009 — Thanks to the support of Biamp® Systems, the Portland Professionals Chapter of Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) recently completed construction of a 60,000-liter rainwater harvesting tank at Orkeeswa Secondary School in northern Tanzania.

Biamp Systems donated 4,000 dollars to build the tank, which allows the children and staff who attend the secondary school to have a clean and reliable water supply.

“Biamp has a commitment to support targeted local, national and international charitable organizations in a way that reflects the global nature of its business,” said Steve Metzger, Executive Vice President, COO, Biamp Systems. “Engineers Without Borders is an important organization providing much-needed infrastructure projects in developing countries around the world. We’re pleased that the company could contribute to their work and help a community halfway across the world.”