Each Friday, the another jennifer blog shares stories of those who incorporate philanthropy into their everyday lives – personally and professionally – in a creative and unique way. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Jennifer.
After finishing her master’s degree in education at Stanford University, Adele Miller felt the need to give back to the third world.
She and her sister taught in East Africa in the late 1960s, shortly after Tanzania had gained its independence and started to allow girls into the classroom.
Forty years later, some of the students they taught became qualified and experienced teachers. Adele and her sister developed a strong bond with these women and shared a vision of creating a primary school complex.
And that’s how the Jitegemee Project was born.
“Jitegemee” is a Swahili word that signifies the energy, spirit and commitment that one individual or a community has deep within that brings about good development for themselves and for others.
“Education is the key to life” is the Jitegemee Project’s motto. Their goal is to contribute to the much needed education facilities in Tanzania by building a fully-equipped primary school complex in Buyuni, a newly developing residential area outside the capital of Tanzania.
The Jitegemee Project is truly a global grassroots project with Adele, in the US, and her sister, in England, leading the way. They do various fundraising events throughout the year and work to spread the word about their project however they can.
There are 7 phases to the Jitegemee Project, from the initial buying of the land to the completion of the interior finishings. They are now working on phase 4. All of the workers are locally hired, and two Catholic Tanzanian Sisters provide guidance on the development of the project on site. The complex is being worked on piece by piece, and classes are added gradually. For the time being, classrooms are also being used to house teachers and students.
When the project is complete, Adele tells me that the school will educate more than 500 students every day. And those students will be taught by hardworking women who are committed to a lifetime of social service. Just like Adele and her sister.
While the Jitegemee Project is a non-profit 501(c)3, all of those who work for the charity are volunteers, so there is no overhead cost. You can find out more about donating on their website.
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