Greetings from the GCF team,

6 months seems to have flown by and in fact we are already midway through July.

Hope you are all well and safe and are having a decent summer.

Grand Circle Foundation had an incredible year in 2023, spending 524,000$ on a variety of projects and in 2024 we have already funded projects totalling 280,000$. This has only been possible due to the extraordinary generosity of our travellers, and we, all our students, schools and communities are exceptionally grateful.

So where did we give back.

Every single school (6 in Tanzania, 4 in Kenya, 2 in Rwanda and 1 in Ethiopia) received school supplies, stationary, admin items, revision books, geometry sets and so much more.

Our students in grade 7 in Tanzania received solar lights to keep at home and use for revision and homework. Its astonishing to find as many as 80% children with no access to a light in rural areas.

Some how this year as the GCF person on site I gained a new title of “Toilet Queen”. So what did GCF fund? Super nice loos for our teachers in 5 schools, 8 toilet blocks in 5 schools and we are also building a 3 door toilet unit at the Amboseli Medical centre as well as supporting an outreach program where health checks are carried out in remote areas for new mums.

Teacher desks and chairs and student desks have been rolled out in several schools in East Africa as well as dining room tables but with the schools growing so quickly, we need more and so have started fund raising.

This year sees GCF and our contractor from Entonet Construction build our 3rd Dormitory in Kenya, thus keeping children safe from predators. Yes, this is a real risk as children walk to school as far as 8 kms in the dark and all our 4 schools border Amboseli Park. The Govt of Kenya has promised to build the last Dorm needed, for boys at Lewis Secondary. We wait patiently.

We have 40 students on various scholarships in East Africa INCLUDING 5 in college or University. One of our college students Jacob who is studying Business and accounting would like to stay on and complete a course in Forensic Accounting and Jacqueline would like to carry on studying community health and nutrition as a diploma. Please contact us if sponsoring students at any level suits you.

Play and gardening projects have featured heavily in the Foundations giving back. It is thrilling to hear that kids looks forward to coming to school early so they can skip or hula hoop or play badminton and rounders, or play ball AND they don’t want to leave school as they are having so much fun. Thank you to everyone who has donated. You have made thousands of children happy !!! Every school received gardening tools and are now empowered to grow their own vegetables. In todays’ world skills like growing your own food and being self sustained are important life skills that will never leave you.

Changarawe, Ayalabe , Rhotia, Olmoti and Lewis Secondary have all had some renovation work either on windows, or class rooms, helping keep our students out of the cold wind and more comfortable. We have also added rain harvest systems in 70% of our schools.

 

And finally Basket Ball. GCF were kindly gifted funds to build South Kajiados only and first basketball court and everyone from as far as 50 kms is talking about it!! The hoop boards are in and so next will be putting in, levelling and smoothing the top layer. We know many of our travelers’ play or watch the game and at Amboseli Primary, the kids cant wait to learn how to play. If you are keen to spend half an hour with a bunch of over eager/over excited children, and you are in the region, do pop in.

Finally, one last thing, …Thank you all for travelling with OAT and thank you for all the gifts you bring and donations you make. Its quite remarkable as too how far your dollar has gone this year and the incredible impact you have made by giving back. None of the 61 projects and 40 supported students done this year would have been possible with out you.

Enjoy the remainder of summer,

Stay well and stay safe, and if you have any questions please reach out to us @Grand Circle Foundation

Sandra