From 2008, we have begun to assist in Esilalei, a Maasai village along the shores of Lake Manyara. Together with Into Africa UK and Belafrica (Europe), we have built their first classroom – a Nursery school for 120 students. The elders of Esilalei had heard, along the ‘Maasai Grapevine’ of the success of Ilkurot and spent many months finding out who were responsible. They knocked on our gate, and we had no hesitation in bringing education back into the village.
We hope to continue expanding the school with the first classroom for the primary school. During December 2008, three groups of students from Brisbane Girls Grammar (Australia) participated in building projects in both Ilkurot and Esilalei – the results have been amazing. There have been desks and murals painted, holes dug, playgrounds established, plastering and many other well appreciated chores. It was such a success.
