O’BRIENSCHOOLFOR THEMAASAI

2 0 1 5a n n u a la p p e a l

“Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

- Galatians 6:9

2015: our growth“There have been many changes over the past year at the O’Brien School for the Maasai. In addition to the school’s newly constructed classrooms, we have a few new employees, several new students, a whole new team of international volunteers, and plenty of projects that are developing our students’ extracurricular skills and enabling them to become educated, respectful, empowered members of their community.”

- Andrea Ronquist, 2014-15 School Director

59NEW

STUDENTSWELCOMED

19PROUD

GRADE 7GRADUATES

93rdPERCENTILE

IN TANZANIA

5NEW

TEACHERS HIRED

CHARACTER EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITYEDUCATIONWe provide a unique

education to our students. By teaching the Tanzanian

National curriculum and specialities, such as health, music, art, and

computers, our students are well-enriched. Our

students are also trilingual after attending our school!

STUDENTS: 382TRIBES REPRESENTED: 9

TEACHERS: 17NONTEACHING STAFF: 19

TEXTBOOKS: 1,460

To create positive change in the whole community, we engage with many key stakeholders throughout the year. We invite local leaders, Village Elders,

and the students’ families to attend meetings,

educational workshops, and community

development initatives.

FAMILIES REACHED: 100sTREES PLANTED: 1000sSCHOOL COMMITTEE

MEMBERS: 11

We know that women invest up to 90% of their earnings on their families compared to men (40%). By encouraging women

to become entrepreneurs and ensuring their success

by educating them, we can enable them to

build strong, healthy communities in stable

societies with sustainable economies.

WOMEN ENGAGED: 49HIGHEST PAYMENT: $500

Our goal is to instill good behavior in our students and staff. We want our students to know how to self-regulate their

emotions and to have good morals. We also

partnered with NAFGEM, who strive to end female genital mutilation (FGM), a cultural norm that many

of our girls experience.

FGM WORKSHOPS: 5STUDENT SEMINARS: 11 VILLAGE WORKSHOPS: 3

ABOUT THE SCHOOLThe mission of the O’Brien School for the Maasai is to bring an empowered future to a Maasai community and others within the Hai District by offering a high standard, primary education with an emphasis on moral character formation for the children, as well as entrepreneurial skills-building programs for women. Our goal is to inspire the next generation to become the leaders of Tanzania, Africa, and the world.

Even our teachers work toward the mission, stating: “We are here to work hard to help poor families. They need a lot of help from us teachers... [and we] will help all the families.” We are also proud to say that the School Inspectors always commend the school on its safe environment, productive garden, effective teaching methods, and overall excellence of our academic performance.

OUR 34 STAFF MEMBERS“My aim was... to be with the Maasai people. I got [an

education] then came here to Maasailand and found some others who were in the same condition I had been in. I was

eager to share what education I have. Even though it is not a lot, it can help.”

- Teresi Koitumet, Teaching Assistant

15STAFF LIVE IN

SANYA STATION

100%OF STAFF ARE TANZANIANS

192 PEOPLE SUPPORTED BY OBSM SALARIESIMPACT:

156,000MEALS COOKED AND SERVED TO

STUDENTS

4,875WATER JUGS

FETCHED

1,620CLASSES TAUGHT

STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN TEACHING AT OBSM FOR 2+ YEARS

62% 3FULL-TIME, LONG-TERMA D M I N I S T R A T I V EV O L U N T E E R S

OUR VOLUNTEERS

MUSICART

HEALTH

TEACHINGSUPPORT

Andrea Perri Lizzy

ADMIN

Photo: Kelsey Coplen

Teachers for Tanzania

International Service Learning

OUR STUDENTS

“[The O’Brien School is special because] other schools do not eat what we are fed here. We have a dining hall. Here we have some games

and sports, a playground, and grasses for playing. Only in O’Brien School can you find a music program where you learn songs [and] uses of instruments like guitar, harmonica, drums, and shakers. In other schools, they

speak broken English and some Swahili, but we speak English very well. [And] we have enough teachers to help give a good education. Even

the performance in exams is excellent.”- Eliawinga Maiko, Grade 5 Student

219 BOYS 181 GIRLS

22:1 STUDENTS TO TEACHERSRATIO:

TOP 5%IN THE

KILIMANJARO REGION

57NEW

STUDENTS TO START IN 2016

15 OUT OF 18

2014 GRADS IN SECONDARY

SCHOOL

34 GRADS =OUTOF FIRST

GENERATIONS E C O N D A R YS T U D E N T S37

OUR SUPPORTERS

Although it was a rainy evening, many supporters of the O’Brien School attended a beautiful fundraiser held in Kellie O’Brien’s gardens. Great food, conversation, and stories of the school were shared throughout the night. Thank you to all who attended and donated generously!

We gathered so many useful donations that we sent 2 containers from Hinsdale, IL to Tanzania this year! The containers were filled with food, 3,000 pairs of shoes, and donated school desks and supplies all donated by our American community. We appreciate all donations!

2015 IN REVIEW

Nineteen students successfully completed their primary education and graduated on

November 5th. Congrats, Class of 2015!

Thanks to Dave Klawitter, Davey Wallace, and Jarrod Ward for the generous donations of instruments and your musical

expertise. Dave, Davey, and Jarrod taught music to our students and held concerts and afterschool programs. We’re so grateful!

Our garden has flourished! Thanks to Saphi, our Head Garden Teacher, our students are more knowledgeable

and our meals are more nutritious. Now we are even one of Slow Food International’s “10,000 Gardens in Africa”!

Congrats & thanks to Kellie, Nancy, June, Paul, Colleen, Matthew, and Andrea who

climbed to the Rooftop of Africa to fund a community store in the village!

We broke ground again! We’ve started construction on the final phase of our campus.

We’ll have 3 more classrooms, a clinic, and a computer lab!

We are especially appreciative of Andrea Ronquist, our former School Director. She beautifully managed the O’Brien School since July 2014. We also are so grateful for Perri Huggins, who served as the Office

Manager throughout the past year too. Thank you both for being amazing volunteers!

Elizabeth Nelson, who has been with us for the past year, has assumed the position of Director. We, along with the villagers, are very happy to have her. Lizzy shared a few thoughts on her new position: “As my time was winding down as the Director of Special Projects, I knew in my heart that I was not

ready to leave. I’ve made numerous meaningful relationships with the students, staff, village members, and fellow volunteers. I’ve had to deal with situations that most people only read about. I wanted to

continue as Director not only to see my projects through from this past year, but to have a more hands on experience aiding in our students’ education. The students are the most rewarding part of his position, and I admire their determination and dedication to continue their education. There is nothing I love more than seeing the students walk in through the gate on Monday morning, ready for the week ahead. [They]

are already role models for the community.”

We also welcome Ella Kerr as Office Manager and Taylor Cody as Director of Special Projects!

We seek assistance in:Donating just $1 a day for 365 days a year

can provide education, books, and meals for one student. You CAN make a difference.

Needed: $365 for one child

While we have partially completed our last phase: 3 classrooms, a clinic, and a computer

room, we still need funds to provide all the items needed to furnish them.

Needed: $50,000

Our students come from families who cannot take them to the hospital when they are sick.

For $5 a child, you can provide each child with a medical insurance policy that will

allow them to be treated for free.Needed: $2000

Our BIGGEST Challenge:Our school’s operating expenses are

$150,000 per year. This goes to salaries for both teachers and nonteaching

staff, food, utilities, maintenance, and all those small things that keep showing

up. Any contribution to the operating expenses helps keep our doors open to students who are 90% subsidized by your donation. We are working with a very poor Maasai village where life is

harsh and money is scarce.

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING DONORS, PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND SUPPORTERS:Christ Church of Oak Brook, Feed My Starving Children, Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club, Hinsdale Middle School, International Service Learning, Maasai Stoves and Solar, Monroe School, Notre Dame Parish, Pepsico, Soles for Africa, Trek for the Maasai Climbers, Women’s Club of Oak Brook

I WILL: INVEST IN A CHILD’S EDUCATION

NAME: E-MAIL:

ADDRESS:

DONATION AMOUNT:

To donate by credit card go to: www.obrienschool.org

Make checks payable to: O’Brien School for the Maasai | Please mail it along with this slip to the O’Brien School at 527 W. Maple Street, Hinsdale, IL 60521

All donations are tax-deductible, 501(c)3: #50304.Check if your company will match your gift!

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

John 3:18