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www.ADEAAfrica.org
“My husband saw the sewing work I was doing with ADEA as a nice hobby for me to do with my girlfriends, until our town lost electricity for four months. My husband’s work depends on electricity, so suddenly I was the breadwinner for the family. My husband is now much more appreciative of my work (and of ADEA) and sees the importance of the work I am doing and is very supportive.” - Sarah Ligombaji
Dear Friends, I’m back in Tanzania; back in the heat and humidity, the dusty roads and hut villages, the geckos and mosquitoes and a slower pace of life. The transition back into East Africa was surprisingly more difficult than I anticipated. Heat and physical discomfort really puts ones character to the test. But now that my house is back in order, the lizard poop cleaned off the walls and the cockroach legs picked out of my tea box I am feeling pretty settled. I would like to say a special thanks to all who played a part in the wonderful summer I spent in Seattle raising funds for the Maasai school project and ADEA in Tanzania and helping my parents to move. MAASAI SCHOOL PROJECT Upon arriving in Dar es Salaam, I met four members of the Maasai school committee who had traveled to Dar for a meeting related to the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) curriculum we are using for the school. Six ACE schools were represented (4 in Tanzania 2 in Kenya) and the ACE director from South Africa was there to speak and encourage these growing schools. Everyone was impressed and encouraged by the progress the Maasai have made. Amadeus, one of the parents who came to the meeting, said how grateful he was to have a school for his children, and to please not forget the plight of the poor in East Africa. This week 60 more Maasai students began preschool bringing the total to 80. Our long-term dream is to include the hundreds of Maasai children around Lemong’o (most of them desperately poor) in the school program. We decided to begin a sports program using traditional Maasai activities. This will allow the current Moran (warrior) Maasai to serve as instructors. Local women will train the girls in activities they would traditionally learn if they were not busy in school. The purpose of our school is to bring the community together around education and Maasai traditions. The older generations carry these tradition and we want them to participate in the life of the school and know they have much to offer. In November I will go to Kenya to live and work with these Maasai for several weeks.
ADEA In TANZANIA: I am now in Mtwara, Tanzania working with artisans. I am fulfilling our purpose as an NGO (a non-profit) by moving the artisans towards greater professional and economic independence. We have decided to take three artisan group representatives (Msuao Tiago for the carvers, Anthony Mwambe for the painters and Sara Ligombadji for the tailors) and hire them twice weekly to oversee quality, stock and gift shop issues. Without them taking on these duties, the artisans will remain dependent. In January, the artisans will be given order books, and ADEA will be making orders from the artisans, versus ADEA giving orders to the artisans. If funds allow, these representatives will travel to Dar es Salaam to work at the ADEA booth at a bi-annual craft and gift fair. This week I have eliminated our storeroom and, in turn, doubled the size of our gift shop – which has has eliminated the need for double inventory checks and prevents products from getting lost in storage. MAKUYA Traditional Performing Arts Festival: We have decided to postpone the MaKuYa traditional performing arts festival (due to lack of funding) until summer 2008. In November I will travel with the festival director, Dominic Chikundi and Philipo Lulale (ADEA’s Co-Director in Tanzania) to the villages in Mtwara region (I live in Mtwara municipality, which in Mtwara district, in Mtwara region). We will videotape the unique talents in southeastern Tanzania then use the DVD to show that traditional village performances are still strong amongst the Makonde, Makua and Mayoa of Tanzania. It will be an amazing trip, which we hope will help us raise the funds needed to put on the arts festival. It will be a wonderful event! LOCAL TIDBITS in the tradition of my emails:
SPIRITUAL NOTE: This is a big lesson I am learning: not to let worries and activities related to future dreams kill my ability to be in the present moment. I found myself so overwhelmed by financial and planning concerns for my future and the future of ADEA, that I was too stressed to be in control of my own emotions and a horrible example of the love we are called to. 1st Corinthians 13 reminded me that if I have not love, I am nothing and whatever I do is meaningless. Since this moment is all I have, I need to BE here and try to fill each moment and encounter with love, which is impossible to do when I am obsessed with concerns for the future, SPECIAL REQUEST: Fundraising is, however, a reality for both now and for the future. Would those of you who make charitable contributions to non-profits please consider giving to ADEA this year? This is a pivotal year for my work in East Africa. I have committed to work in Tanzania and Kenya into August of 2008. I will continue to be involved after that, but since both groups are moving toward independence, it may not be full time. There is so much I want to do in the months ahead: continued skills training with artisans, helping artisans get their products to markets in Dar es Salaam, further development of and fundraising for our MaKuYa performing arts festival, helping the Maasai leaders learn both corporate fundraising skills to support the school and bee-keeping to support their families and – and much more. ADEA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit in the US EIN #83-0393515, so all contributions are tax deductible. Checks and donations by credit card can be sent to: ADEA, P.O. Box 45751, Seattle, WA 98145. Some companies match contributions; you can even give through the United Way. I am grateful for anything you are able to send. Thank you. Douglas - Kupikita (Makonde) – Olokurrukurr (Maasai) Below are the different ways you can support the work of ADEA
One Time Contribution One-Year Monthly Partnering
Support Check Credit Card Please make check payable to: ADEA
Credit Card: MC Visa Card No. _____ _____ _____ _____ Exp Date ____/______ Name on Card_______________________ Signature:__________________________ (include billing address below if paying by credit card)
Name______________________________ Address____________________________ City _______________________________ State______ Zip______
Phone ____________________________ Email ___________________________
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Your contributions via cash, check or credit card are greatly appreciated. Mai lchecks and credit card form to: ADEA – P.O. Box 45751 Seattle, WA 98145 - USA
Here are some addition ways to support ADEA
Automatic Withdrawal Option for Monthly Support
University Presbyterian Church Finance Department will process automatic monthly withdrawal and pay to ADEA the full contribution.
Go to www.UPC.org Select STEWARDSHIP Select STRATEGIES FOR GIVING Select either Automatic Bank Withdrawal or Credit Card Authorization for Recurring Giving Under GIFT INFORMATION: OTHER write: ADEA-Douglas McFalls
Matching Gifts
Contact your Human Resources office and ask if your company matches employee donations. Review the program guidelines to see if ADEA’s economic development programs in education, arts and culture are eligible to receive matching gifts. (ADEA serves all, regardless of religious affiliation). Complete
the form and send it to
For questions about matching gifts information, please Email or call Douglas McFalls (douglas@adeaafrica.org or 206. 227-0082)
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Newsletter:
October 2007
