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"The
power of education is seen first on an individual level – but there
is a ripple effect throughout the community." |
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SCHOLARSHIP |
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Launched in 2003, the Indigenous Heartland Organization scholarship programme offers partial funding to students from rural indigenous communities bordering conservation areas in Tanzania. The broad objective of the programme is to develop natural leadership potential by offering deserving students the opportunity to improve their career opportunities by studying at tertiary level. Students are required to “give back” to their community during their holidays, by conducting an activity that involves and uplifts their community. e.g. Career guidance at high schools, community clean-up campaigns, or helping at local clinics.
Below is one of our student story paraphrased My name is Pendo Olekand'eri aged to 2I years old and from Malambo Village in Ngorongoro District Tanzania. I am in the second year of secondary studies in Embarway secondary Located at the Ngorongoro Conservation. I am sponsored by the Indigenous Heartland Organization (IHO). I am from a predominantly Pastoral Maasai Community that is entirely depended on livestock for virtually all their needs-food, clothing and shelter.But that is when times were good. My mother lives and my father passed away in 1994 leaving a family of 2 wife's. Death has cut the other wife away from the crowed leaving 4 children socio-economically unstable poor and destitute. My mother being a widow and with 5 more children to cater for their needs, supported my 7 years primary education that I undertook at Malambo primary. My mother support was limited to clothing and the world Food Program (WFP) and the Ngorongoro Local Government Authority provided food and the necessary stationeries my schooling. As I grew, I learned misunderstanding between my parents and seen 5 cattle to cater the family needs.
The four children whose mother has passed away were taken care by the uncle (brother to the dead) and all did not attended primary education accept the older. I learned that my father died of chronic diarrhea and that made him completely dehydrated at the remotely Maasai Village. It was so shocking that gentlemen demanding payment amounting 3 cows for the burial brought my father’s death report. I was by then young with little knowledge on the customs and formal education.
Being a child of the widow and with the order of the government to take all the kids to school I was then send to Malambo primary school against my parents wishes who thought the knowledge of animal husbandry will be forgone by education. All girls in Masai land are married to the husband not of their own choice but given to them by their parents. I then become a skept-goat of the major relics-marriage in exchange to bride-wealth. I apparently know the husband of my father1s choice who had to become my husband
After the completion of my primary, My Mother Talked with the Indigenous Heartland Executive Director who provide me all the necessary for schooling. Pocket money, medical and school fees. I am happy to work for the future of indigenous
Pendo Olekand'eri Embarway Secondary school February 2007
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