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

For Co-Founder Ashley Holmer, establishing IEFT is about creating positive change. When asked why she is devoting herself to this cause, her response is simple: "Because I can." Ms. Holmer is among that small percentage of people who not only think about making a difference, but actually do. An American from Portland, Oregon, Ashley is an avid philanthropist, athlete and educator. She enjoys working within local and international communities to create sustainable change through volunteering and problem-solving to find ways she can assist with solutions.

Through IEFT, Ms. Holmer hopes to create awareness for people in Western countries who think of Africa as a far-off land and, instead teach that Africa is our neighbor. In saying, "All men are created equal," she maintains that as global citizens, we cannot let starvation, death and sickness take our African brothers and sisters. With a passion for the education of children in rural Tanzania, Ashley help co-found IEFT after she journeyed to Tanzania in 2005 for a year of volunteering as an English teacher and soccer coach at a secondary school.

Ms. Holmer graduated in 2002 with a BA in Psychology from Willamette University. Her previous work history includes experience in various accounts receivable and accounts payable positions, sales and the mortgage industry. She was a founding member of the Portland Chapter of the National Charity League, has worked with multiple international and local charities, including involvement with her Alpha Chi Omega Chapter, a philanthropy-based organization that works to eliminate domestic violence and abuse of women. When she is not traveling between Oregon and Tanzania, Ashley enjoys coaching youth soccer teams, as she is a US Soccer Federation nationally licensed soccer coach.

Contact Ashley
Phone: +1-503-956-9390 (USA)
+255-783-089509 (TZ)
Email: ashleyholmer@ieftz.org

Co-Founder and Executive Director Peter Luis believes that creating change is about empowering youth with a proper education and providing them with the tools and confidence to realize their full potential. For Peter, IEFT is that social force that will sustain a better future for generations to come in Tanzania.

Mr. Luis is is an American from Fresno, California. After traveling extensively in South and Central America, Peter traveled to Tanzania in 2005 to teach English to Maasai children in rural villages. Through his interaction with the children, Peter realized their intense motivation and desire to learn and saw the incredible lack of opportunity and resources, and decided he needed to intervene.

Peter began his work in international development and within community-based organizations after receiving his BA in English with an emphasis in Linguistics from California State University at Fresno in 2002. He devoted the beginning of his career to traveling around the world to educate others and volunteer. In 2004, he went on to work on community-based education projects in Brazil and El Salvador: Centro De Intercambio y Solidarided (CIS) and for the Associacion La Voz del Pueblo in Estanzuelas, El Salvado before traveling to Brazil to work for AEC-TEA in Capim Grosso, Bahia as an English teacher. There, he also studied Spanish and Portuguese.

That same year, Mr. Luis worked for the American English Institution and Asian Immersion Program at his alma mater. In 2003, Peter worked for the Literacy Department at Fresno High School, and later received his Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate from Bridge Linguatec in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mr. Robert is a Tanzanian originally from the coastal region of Tanga. Since 2001, he has worked with such prominent groups as Student Partnership Worldwide (SPW), Community Aide and Small Enterprise Consultancy (CASEC), Global Service Corps (GSC), the Arusha Municipal Council and Support for International Change (SIC).

Working with groups on capacity building of grassroots communities, community-based organizations and civil society organizations, Raphael's role and focus has been as a representative of others in their struggle against poverty, promotion of social justice, empowerment, and participation in addressing the issues of basic human rights.

Mr. Robert has been involved in community issues such as education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, lobbying and advocacy, HIV/AIDS, life skills and moral issues. His aim has always been to promote national and international solidarity, unity and identification.

Yusufu Robert, School Headmaster, Swahili and Civics Teacher Lashaine Village, Tanzania

Mr. Robert attended Kampala International University in Uganda, from where he will soon receive his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Journalism. He has taught in two other schools in Monduli District in the subjects of history, geography, civics and Swahili. He grew up in Lashaine Village much like our students, who were thrilled when he was announced as the new Headmaster of Orkeeswa Secondary School. Mr. Robert is a great example of IEFT's focus on staff development; IEFT helped send Mr. Robert to school and he has now returned to his home village in a position of leadership at Orkeeswa, where he teaches Swahili and civics.

Mr. Laizer is a graduate of the Kampala International University with a Bachelor in Business Administration degree. He joined the Orkeeswa Secondary School in February 2009 and teaches math. Previously he taught at Oldadai Secondary School, Einot Secondary School (4 months) and the Edmund Rice Secondary School Tuition Center in Arusha (6 months). He is fluent in English and Swahili. Mr. Laizer joined Orkeeswa Secondary School to share his knowledge with those in need. His hobbies are football and music.

Victor Jerome Orota, Geography and History teacher

Mr. Jerome graduated Kampala University with a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications. Before joining the Orkeeswa staff, he taught kindergarten as well as Forms I and II at Masama High School. Mr. Jerome grew up in Monduli and was inspired for many years by Headmaster Yusufu Robert to be an educator. He was thrilled to join Orkeeswa Secondary School as a geography and history teacher in April 2008. After school you can find him on the courts spending time with students and assisting with the school basketball club. He loves teaching at Orkeeswa because he believes the students are encouraged to be creative within their environments and to express themselves. He is interested in languages, culture and sharing knowledge and experience with everyone he knows.

Dr. Seth Msinjili, Staff Mentor and Education Consultant
Mbeya Region, Tanzania

Dr. Msinjili was born in the Mbeya Region of Southern Tanzania and is now working and living in Monduli after years of studying and working around the world. He received a diploma in Range and Pasture Management in Kenya and a diploma in education in Mwanza, Tanzania. He completed an undergraduate and graduate degree in Veterinarian Medicine in the Soviet Union. He moved to Australia to receive a certificate in Comparative Agriculture Education and then back to the Soviet Union for a PhD in Veterinarian Medicine.

Dr. Msinjili was previously the Vice President of the Monduli Teachers College and the Headmaster of Moringe Secondary school, which teachers over 600 students in Monduli. Since 1997, he has been the Country Coordinator of the Inter-future program for the University of Massachusetts and since 2003, the YMCA National Chairperson. He comes ot Orkeeswa to aid in school operations, animal husbandry and general educational management.

Mr. Eneza is a project officer and driver for IEFT, and has been with the organization since its inception. Among his many responsibilities, Michael manages the school chicken coop, which contributes to the school's food supply, and assists with the management of the school garden. Michael often acts as translator between English and Kiswahili speakers and as liaison between villagers, parents and the organization.

Michael is also responsible for the project vehicle and ensures that it is able to take on the difficult road conditions where IEFT operates. He manages the transportation logistics for all IEFT staff and visitors, and makes sure everyone is where they should be. He enjoys his work and the fact that it helps improve his communication skills, knowledge of English and financial management. Mr. Eneza's positive attitude and spirit makes him an invaluable member of the IEFT team.

Mzee Lesinet, Store Manager & Head of Security

Mr. Lesinet is the Head of Security and Storage Manager at Orkeeswa Secondary School. He oversees all IEFT guards and manages the security staff schedule and supervises workers when there is construction at the school to ensure that IEFT policies are adhered to and the grounds kept safe and clean. Mzee assists with the school garden and is involved in one of our income generating programs, which provides goats to families in need.

Mzee also shares the knowledge he gains from working at our school, such as the importance of boiling water and about planting trees, with those in his village. He also enjoys talking about the impact the school has on our students. A native of Tanzania, Mr. Lesinet has a deep understanding of the people and culture around our school.