Message from Board of Trustee, Dr. Amin Mery
Working in healthcare all these years I have witnessed the ravages of human suffering and the beauty that can blossom when one gives to others. I have taken care of indigent populations and recognized that through education and a little help they can overcome their individual challenges and flourish.
Recognizing this passion and life mission, I began to get involved with many charities throughout the world. It was important to me to understand NGO and charity operations in order to one day help to operate one myself. My colleagues and I have built schools and community centers in South Africa and Nicaragua. These projects and second jobs fulfill my love of philanthropy, travel, empathy and enable me to enjoy the almost selfish fulfilment of giving.
Donna Gunn from Africa Promise Village, approached our organization and requested that we build a school for a project she has been working on for over ten years for the Maasai Tribe in Tanzania. A school consists of not only bricks and mortar but more importantly land, water, teachers, books, curriculum and community participation and ownership. Ms. Gunn had all the components except for the brick and mortar. This seemed to be an opportunity too good to be true.
Last March, we travelled to Tanzania, verified the land, water source, community ownership and began our design and development with a local architect/engineer. The Maasai people recognize the need to educate their youth because due to climate change, living only off the land is not feasible anymore.