Project Tembo

Longido (pop. 7,630) and Kimokouwa (pop. 3,600) are villages in rural northern Tanzania located in the heart of Maasailand, about three hours south of Nairobi, Kenya. A majority of the people are traditional Maasai engaged in herding cattle. Other inhabitants of this rural area grow small family gardens of maize (corn) and beans. With a per capita income of about $1.00 a day, the primary focus of families is on providing for the basic needs of food and shelter.

While the Tanzanian government funds primary school education, secondary school tuition and all school expenses and fees must be paid for by families. For most people, providing an education for their children is a ‘luxury’ they simply cannot afford. The situation is similar for post-secondary studies. The Tanzanian government is able to provide very few scholarships or grants.

Typically, the Maasai have not placed a high value on education but, as their lifestyle is changing, so too, is this attitude. Many traditional Maasai men still place a high importance on cattle and maintaining a structure that supports large herds. It is left to the women to find a way to raise money for all household expenses as well as for the education of their children.

Often referred to as the “backbone” of Africa, women have had little or no opportunity to receive formal education or training. Their responsibilities include bearing and raising children and performing household tasks including fetching water and collecting firewood, cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. Maasai women have limited ownership rights and few options for earning money.

In 1998 TEMBO founders Jo Marchant and Marian Roks travelled to Kimokouwa village in northern Tanzania to visit Kokoyai Paulo, a young girl they were sponsoring. Return visits were made in 1999 and 2003 to include visiting projects carried out by other non-governmental organizations (NGOs.) After meeting with community leaders, teachers and local residents in Longido and Kimokouwa, Marian and Jo formalized a commitment to the people in Longido and Kimokouwa by establishing the Tanzania Education and Micro-Business Opportunity (TEMBO.) They drew up the Mission Statement and appointed a Board of Directors. In July 2004, they applied to Revenue Canada for charitable status. In January 2005, TEMBO became a registered Canadian charity (#856825872RR0001.)