O'Brien School for the Maasai   

630-654-2291  

The promise has grown. In 2007, we returned for the opening of our first three classrooms and to create a soccer field. Today, our school has three additional classrooms, a 4,000 book library, a women’s center, and a clinic used by a visiting doctor to treat the Maasai. Thanks to Sister Dona, Mother Superior of the Franciscan Cappuchin Sisters, and Gabriel, a leader of the Maasai tribe, as well as to the many generous people who have contributed their efforts and contributions. The O’Brien School for the Maasai is an operating reality and a great source of pride to the village.

This past year, we received such wonderful support from family and friends within our community that we filled two containers to ship to Tanzania. A team of us were on hand to unload them upon their arrival at our village and we set to work to build library shelves and picnic tables, organize books, and complete the many projects we had planned. Village women made curtains for the new library with sewing machines that we supplied.

Much has been accomplished, much more is needed. Doing business half a world away is challenging, and many needs are still a “work in progress”. We want to bring water to the village for drinking and hygiene, and to irrigate a community vegetable garden. Finding and keeping good teachers is so important for our success but feeding the children a healthy diet and treating AIDS and other diseases are also high priorities. More space is needed as enrollment increases, and the women of the village hope to learn how to read and write.

Yes, we’ve provided a school building… but an education requires more than four walls. It demands an ongoing financial commitment and support system and the continuing determination to bring a brighter future to the children of the Maasai of Sanya Station, Tanzania.

We welcome your ideas, your input, your support.