“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
— Cynthia Ozick

The Lewis family at the Ayalabe Primary School, Tanzania

Dear Friend,

As a mother, grandmother, and former teacher, I believe there is no greater investment than the education of a child. This has been one of my guiding principles ever since I founded the Grand Circle Foundation with my late husband, Alan, in 1992.

This summer, my family and I traveled to Tanzania, where we visited Ayalabe Primary School in the village of Karatu and saw the impact of Foundation support firsthand. I am so proud of what we have accomplished—but I also saw how much more remains to be done. Today, I invite you to join me in supporting a project that is especially close to my heart.

When we began supporting Ayalabe in 2014, the school had fewer than two copies of each textbook per grade and no supplies like paper, pencils, or chalk. Once the Foundation had addressed those basic needs, we moved on to ensuring the school had clean water, toilets, and kitchen supplies.

                                                                                                         Fresh water plumbing, Ayalabe Primary School

 

My family and I had the honor of witnessing the unveiling of a new toilet block during our visit. The impact this had on my granddaughters struck a powerful chord for me: Soon, they would be back home shopping for their own back-to-school supplies, clothes, and shoes—yet in Tanzania, they met children who were grateful for toilets. Such a powerful reminder that at any moment, somewhere in the world, someone is dreaming about the things we take for granted.

The experience left me moved to do something more. In speaking with school and village leaders, we learned that the school had no dining hall for its 380 students, leaving them exposed to the elements during meals. The school is also experiencing classroom crowding and lacks sufficient space for testing.

Will you help Grand Circle Foundation achieve our fundraising goal of $35,000 to build a multi-purpose space for dining, classrooms, and testing at Ayalabe?

I Want to Help

In villages like Karatu, school means more to a child than merely a place to study. When food and clean water are scarce at home, families rely on schools for consistent meals and proper hygiene—which provides incentive for students to continue their studies and enroll in secondary school.

By improving conditions at Ayalabe, you will help level the playing field for these students and ensure they are equipped to succeed—in primary school and beyond. Together, we can help create a world where no child must dream of the comforts my granddaughters once took for granted.

Love and Peace,

Harriet Lewis

Chair, Grand Circle Foundation