ADEA – My Introduction Blog Post
[vc_row type=”vc_default” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”5″][vc_column][dt_carousel][/dt_carousel][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1474099857231{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-2 vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8 vc_col-sm-offset-2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]ADEA Blog#1
Welcome to the first of many (maybe hundreds) of very very short blogs from Africa drawn from my more than two decades of working, living, socializing, exploring, and experiencing life in East Africa. These blogs will be diverse in their content drawn from past and present developments of my ADEA project (African Development though Economics and the Arts). There will also be history lessons about the regions where I lived and visited, funny and tragic situation I encountered, and any other memories triggered by photos, reports, or recollections. Not only will I be authoring posts, but I intend to eventually invite guest bloggers from my Tanzanian and Kenyan friends and colleagues to give alternative perspective on whatever topic they may wish to share. In these blog postings, you, as the reader will gain a window into small points of activity on a large continent. Mostly, but not limited to, the Mtwara regions in southeastern Tanzania where I co-founded the Center for African Development through Economics and the Arts with Philipo Lulale to support local artisans; and on the eastern face of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Rombo in southeastern Kenya where ADEA partnered with the community based organization PMD (Pillar of Maasai Development) to launch the Maasai Boma Schools. Some of these posts will be used to fill content of our MaKuYa Museum website (www.MaKuYaMuseum.org) to enhance the learning experience of visitors to the site, with the intent that it will be a valuable resource to educators of all types. This blog will contain photos, images, and videos on which the text is based.
For a bit of background, my introduction to East Africa began in December of 1999 when I made a two-week visit to Mtwara, Tanzania through Park Street Church in Boston. Since then ADEA was legally established as a non-profit (NGO) in Tanzania in 2003, and the USA (as a 501(c)3) in 2006. In 2003 I relocated to Tanzania. Fifteen years later the project continues, having gone through many twists and turns, and ups and downs. It is very different from what my initial 28 page uniformed business plan laid out, it is something I could have never imagined.
I am writing this blog for three reasons: For me to get a chance to recall and share my diverse experiences in Africa, to give interested followers small windows into a world and place they many never have experienced, and, most importantly, to gain contributions from willing followers to allow us to keep our projects going and growing. So as you enjoy these posts, please keep this later purpose in mind.
So welcome to all of you who wish to join on this safari through many very very short stories from Africa and to enjoy a diversity of accounts from small points on a large continent.
Thank You – Asante Sana – Ashe Oleng
Douglas –
Kupikita (My Makonde name meaning busy-bee)
Oloikurrkurr (My Maasai name meaning waterfall or the roar of a lion)
Reminder: The foundational purpose to these blogs is to invite financial support that will allow ADEA to keep our team paid, and our programs going and improving. Please consider a one time or monthly gifts.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][interactive_banner][/vc_column][/vc_row]