MaaSAE Girls School Celebrates 20 years!

We spent our last several days in Tanzania at the MaaSAE Lutheran Secondary Girls School in Monduli.  From the Operation Bootstrap Africa website:  Established in 1995, Bootstrap has supported girls' education through a first-of-its-kind residential school for daughters of the Maasai and other semi-nomadic people in Tanzania. Today, 275 girls from impoverished backgrounds are part of this nurturing, supportive educational community. In a Tanzanian girl's life, education makes all the difference.  The MaaSAE Girls School (MGLSS) offers girls the chance to make a brighter future for themselves and for their families. More than 650 girls have graduated since the school's founding 20 years ago. The school was founded by Rev. J. David Simonson.  (Operation Bootstrap Africa )

We met many girls while we stayed at the school.  We were able to tour the campus and attend worship with the girls, as well as take a walk to the local market.  You can visit previous posts on my blog to learn more about our visit to the girls school!  Tanzania Day 17, visit to the Girls School, Tanzania Day 18, visit to the Girls School,

The MaaSae Girls School recently celebrated 20 years!  Here are links to two videos - the first is a historical look back at the school and the second is the 20th Anniversary celebration!

MaaSAE Girls School Historical Photos 1995-2015

MaaSAE Girls School Anniversary Celebration Jan. 24, 2015  

Africa Experience - Tanzania - Day 19

July 14-15, 2014

Leaving Tanzania - Doha, Qatar City Tour

David (Nature's Gift Safari) picked us up at 5am! We got ALL of our bags packed up and headed to the Kilimanjaro Airport by 5:30am.  We had some time at the airport to browse through the small gift shops and enjoy some coffee and sandwiches.  We had a VERY long trip ahead of us - more than 30 hours to get back to Washington! 

Playing cards to pass the time...

Leaving Tanzania and Dar Es Salaam...

Arriving in Doha, Qatar - sand storm

Our flights from Kili to Dar Es Salaam and Dar to Qatar were uneventful.  We had almost an 8 hour layover in Doha, Qatar.  Qatar Airways offers a free city tour for passengers with a layover longer than 6 hours.  The tour is limited to 20 people and is based on first come, first served.  There were 18 of us, so rather than risk it, I was able to arrange a paid tour through the airways.  We prepaid for the tour, $25 each.  You need a visa to leave the airport, and that was included in the tour. 




When we walked out of the airport, there was a guide and tour bus waiting for our group!  There had been a sand storm in Doha earlier in the day, so visibility was limited.  It was like fog in the Northwest.  It was over 90 degrees at 7pm, and very humid.  That was cool compared to the 110 degree daytime temps.  It was also Ramadan.  You are not able to eat and drink until the sun goes down.  Respectfully, everyone is to abide by this belief.  Thank goodness we were there shortly before the sun went down.







Entrance to Pearl Island

Doha is the capital city of Qatar.  Qatar is an Arab country off the coast of the Persian Gulf.  It's population is 1.8 million with more than 1 million living in Doha.  Qatar is the world's richest country per capita.  We went from one of the poorest countries in the world to the richest in a matter of hours.  In 2022, Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup, the first Arab country to do so. 



Pearl Island

Our 3 hour tour started off with a drive to Pearl Island.  Pearl Island is an artificial island spanning almost 4 million square meters. Once fully completed, Pearl Island will resemble a string of pearls. It is home to residential developments, restaurants, high end retail shops and hotels. 

Some of the amazing sights along the way!

We drove to Souq Waqif and had 45 minutes to walk around and shop on our own.  Souq Waqif is one of the largest 'standing markets' in Doha.  They sell traditional garments, spices, handicrafts and souvenirs.  It is over 100 years old but was recently rebuilt to represent current architecture styles.  We had fun walking around and bought some ice cream.  In front of the Souq was a large open area that recently hosted viewing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

Souq Waqif

From the Souq, we continued on to Katara Cultural Village.  Katara, a cultural village, is home to a theater, concert hall, amphitheater, mosque, exhibits, galleries, and restaurants.

A Mosque at Katara Village

They had telescopes set up to view
the stars above!

interesting artwork

As we left Katara Village, you
could see the men worshipping
in the Mosque - note ALL the
shoes outside!

Our last stop was previously visited Pearl-Qatar Island.  We were able to walk along the boardwalk and gawk at the beautiful yachts in the harbor.  There are many expensive car dealerships and luxury shops. 

A view of Pearl Island during the day!

Pearl Island was beautiful - and full of richness!


 

The bridge to Pearl Island in the night..........and day!

Farewell - our last group picture!

The tour was amazing and a great way to spend our time in Doha!  It was well worth the $25.  Once we returned to the airport, we had some time to eat and relax.  Of all places, the boys found a Burger King!  

Our flight from Doha to Phili went smoothly.  We mostly slept and watched movies.  We were coming to an end of an amazing experience.  One that I was grateful to share with my family and the 14 others we traveled with.  It has humbled us, and made us thankful for what we have.  It has given us an insight into the lives of others less fortunate.  I hope to return to someday and spend time with the amazing people of Tanzania and the friends we made!

 

A recap of our travels home....Tanzania to Qatar to the US

 

 

 

 

 

 

Africa Experience - Tanzania - Day 18

July 13, 2013

Breakfast....

Off to worship!

I opened my journal to blog about this day, and the caption reads "Ah....what a day"!  We woke up on this Sunday and worshiped with the girls.  Pastor Jane and Jean led the service.  There were two choirs - the older girls (dressed in shukas and bright colors, form 5 and 6 girls) and the younger girls (in their school colors, red).  The girls wear a particular color for their year in school, and it follows them until they graduate....the older girls wore yellow, the second year girls wore red, etc.  We also received communion.

Euni and her daughter Naomi

The girls don't usually receive communion unless a Pastor presides over the service (maybe once a month).  Euni Simonson and her daughter also attended the service, and we enjoyed coffee and pastries with them afterwards.  We had a little time before lunch to start organizing and packing our suitcases.  What a chore!  Many of us planned to leave some clothes, shoes, and toiletries behind for the girls and some of the other people we had met along the way. 

At the end of the service, the girls auctioned of pens and pencils!

The beautiful sanctuary designed by David Simonson

Euni hugged and thanked
each one of us! 

For lunch, we enjoyed a meal with the school staff.  We had rice, fruit, chicken and a meat/veggie sauce.  They also treated us to sodas!  Following lunch, some of the form 5 and 6 girls offered to take us into town for the traditional market.  It was about a 45 minute walk.  We stopped at a couple churches along the way (one Lutheran and one Catholic).  At the market, we walked around.  We bought the girls (Naramatisho, Tumaini, and Judith) some things to take back and share with the girls in their dorm.  We picked out some oranges for Naramatisho, Tumaini wanted some bananas, and Judith wanted avocados.  A large bag of oranges (20) was about $2, and 2 huge avocados were less than a $1 total. 



On our way to the market.....



TIRE SHOES.....they make shoes out of old tires.
They cost about $5 and are worn by most
of the tribal people.  The story says
that when the men are out walking in the dirt,
you can not tell if they are coming or going
because the print left in the dirt can go
either way. 

Enjoying ice cream!

On the way back to the school, we asked if we could stop at the market.  We bought the girls some juice to have in their room and some ice cream for all of us.  The girls didn't like the ice cream so much - interesting! Tumaini said it was too cold! 

Kyler, Tumaini, Judith, Brett, Naramatisho, Toni, Connor

We worshiped with the girls again before dinner.  For dinner that night, Rebeka made a very good meat and spaghetti.  We spent the evening packing.  Our family was able to get everything in 6 suitcases, including a suitcase full of baskets and snacks/treats (cookies, coffee, candy) that we would share at KLC later for our Tanzanian service. 

Rebeka took great care of us!

We had some money left at the end of the trip, and some of us sat down together to decide who to leave money with.  It gave us time to reflect on what we had done, what we had seen, and where there was need.  Our overall Tanzania experience is one that we all knew would stay with us the rest of our lives!

 

 

Clothes being left behind.....