The Next Step

The brick-maker was funded and working.  Men were learning new skills.  The site of the brick-maker had become a gathering place for the community.  We felt we wanted to do more, take on another project, but what?  There was talk back and forth about a clean water system -- that sounded reasonable to us.  The question was; one big system for the whole community or individual small systems that could be installed for each family.

Clamian met with the other Maasai Elders and they discussed it.  In fact, it seemed to us like they discussed it "pole pole" (slowly, slowly).  And while we waited we continued to raise money, knowing that it was important that we partner on a project that they determined was their top priority.  And finally they decided.  The first priority was a kindergarten school, the second priority was a medical clinic and the third was a leadership centre.  We had no argument with those priorities!  I can only imagine the process of discussion, commiseration, consensus that likely took days and numerous cups of tea.  It was a partnership made in heaven -- we raised the money and halfway around the world they found the land and made bricks every day, knowing that one day we would have enough of both to build a school.

We had the vision for the school and uniforms from a school that Clamian went to see in Kenya.  It was great to see what we were working toward.