Ruaha Secondary School Honors & Grants 2002–2005
2005 Balsara Donation
My family would like to make a donation to programs devoted to education within African continent. We give this to honor the courage of the African people struggling against poverty, AIDS and war. We would like to give this in honor of those who suffered in the recent earthquake in Pakistan, and finally we wish to honor a very brave woman, our family friend. Polly is suffering from cancer and doctors have said they can do no more for her. She has two lovely children. We give this to also honor her courage and to ask God humbly for His blessings on her and her family. Thank you for your selfless work in helping our world.
2005 Megan Ran the Chicago Marathon!
Megan Horan ran the 25 mile Chicago Marathon. She had commitments for a total of $5,000 for her efforts with more to come as the team activities continue. With teary eyes and deep emotion she also shared a profound experience. She ran with a broken toe, and at one point in the race the pain of her broken toe became almost unbearable. At that moment, all of sudden Mona came to her mind and she thought of all the hardship that Mona had borne. At that very moment her pain subsided and went away! She then continued and finished the race. We know that Mona was certainly with her and cheered her on.
top2005 Microsoft® Curriculum
Microsoft® has provided the Mona Foundation with its Unlimited Potential Curriculum to be used in our technology labs in CTLC, Ruaha, and ADCAM. This curriculum will allow our schools to offer Information Technology Certification programs. The full curriculum includes these IT skills: Computer fundamentals, Database fundamentals, Digital Media fundamentals, Internet and WWW fundamentals, Presentation fundamentals, Spreadsheet fundamentals, Web design fundamentals, and Word processing fundamentals. Besides these sequential learnings, Microsoft® has a site with several specific 30-50 minute long modules on specific aspects of each of the Microsoft® products. These will be used to augment the curriculum we are given above. Two Microsoft® supporters have also offered 3 weeks of volunteering in Tanzania to train the teachers on how to teach these courses to put together a "certification program."
2005 Technology Training Offered
Mr. Paul Koyi, the Managing Director of Agumba Computers in Dar es Saalam, Tanzania's capital has agreed to support Ruaha Secondary School with ICT experts on site. His people will offer training and skill development for the school staff, support services such as repair and maintenance, fixing of software problems, networking such as LAN installation, setup and routing, assistance with web design, maintenance and hosting, and supplies for all ICT requirements. This connection is invaluable to Ruaha's ongoing development as a technology leader in Tanzania.
2005 Lemonade for Beds?
Back in July 2005, a group of children heard stories about the needs at Ruaha Secondary School in Tanzania. They heard that the boys there wanted to go to school very much but they had no place to sleep. “That's not fair,” they said, and they decided to raise some money to help build a dorm for the boys. So on a warm, sunny Seattle day Nigel, age 8, Sophia, age 5, Layli, age 3, Laurel, age 8, Garrett, age 8, Lucas, age 8, and Julia, age 5 decided to hold a lemonade and bake sale. They spent the morning making a fancy poster, baking muffins and cookies, and making lots and lots of lemonade. They found the perfect spot to set up a table where neighborhood cars could see them and stop safely. Guessing that it would cost $10 to buy a bed for one boy, the goal was to make enough money to contribute towards buying two beds. As the cars drove by, the kids jumped up and down shouting, “Help the kids in Tanzania! Buy some lemonade!” It was so loud and so exciting that it was impossible to miss them and impossible not to stop to see what was going on! Neighbors were so impressed by the excited way the children told the stories of Ruaha that they would donate $5 instead of 50 cents for a cup of lemonade or a muffin. Soon the goal of $20 was passed and the kids were so excited they kept telling people they have raised money for 3, 4, 5, 6, beds all the way up to 10 beds! The excitement and feeling of doing something for another child in another country was so great that it stands out as a highlight of the summer for them. They just can't wait to do it again! “Thank you Mona Foundation, for giving these children an opportunity to help their brothers in another country,” wrote their mother Rita. “Their enthusiasm was contagious and those who stopped were deeply affected and gave generously. They raised an incredible $110.11 for the day's effort, enough for eleven beds in the new dorm. Amazing what little hands can do when their “harts” moved into action!”.
2005 $45,000 for Boy's Dorm!
The Mona Foundation has already received two checks for $15,00 from two most generous ananymous donoers towards the building of the boy's dormitory and expects to receive another shortly. Now at least 40 of these students will be able to live in a modest but clean and comfortable dormitory with running water and electricity. We are truly grateful for the generosity and thoughtfulness of these three donor families.
2004-2005 25,000 Books!
In the winter of 2004-2005 Mona Foundation's college group, Mona's Children, who have gathered books for schools around the world through their "Books for Africa" program, raised the funds to ship 25,000 books to Ruaha. These books were also distributed to 23 schools in the area.
2004 Computers
In winter of 2004 the 40 computers for the new lab were shipped! The Ruaha School has received them and put the new computer lab in place. The school sends the warmest thanks and appreciation. The recent shipments of computers and books has been overwhelming! Students and staff alike were thrilled with this latest addition to their school. We look forward to internet connectivity in the coming year.
2004 $10,000 High Tea!
In 2004 a need was expressed for an additonal computer Lab. A High Tea was held in the Los Angeles area. $10,000 was contributed, providing the complete sum desired! A semi-formal afternoon in the tradition of tea at grand English hotels was held in honor of Ruaha. It was a ladies-only catered luncheon with a couture fashion show made by the company of one of Mona Foundation's Board members, Diane Samandi, as well as infant formal wear. A group of young women served the meal. All proceeds of this event, as well as additional straight contributions, met the goal.
