Friends around the world

Written by Alison Hofmeyer, Communications Consultant


I had the privilege this morning of looking through all of our files and pictures, a sort of "cleaning house" to start the year off organized.  I had more fun sorting through all of the pictures, thinking of our partners all over the world, and imaging the looks on their faces when their shipping container arrives and they begin construction on their very own Lifebox Container.

It's hard to imagine the impact these Lifebox Containers will have on a community.  Sure, you can check out our designs, you can read about our renewable energy source, and see the research we've done.  However, nothing speaks to the necessity of a project like a story of its successful use.  We know this.  

The Maasai Community, you can read more about our partnership here, welcomed an ACI team back in January of 2012.  We got to celebrate the grand opening of their new open air school and the beginning of their reforestation model.  Since then, we have received updates from them on how well the students are doing and how the school has united the community, creating an advisory board and motivating the elders.  Reading these updates and hearing stories about the grand opening fills my heart.  It allows me to look at these pictures and have hope for this community.

However, the Maasai community did not stop there.  They realized their potential for growth, for educating their children, for making community decisions.  After much discussion and assessment, the Maasai community decided they were ready for a Lifebox Container.

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The Maasai community is prepared to have a stake in their Lifebox Container.  They are not interested in being giving essentials so that their community will survive.  They are looking to work together to make their community thrive.  We are beyond excited to get to continue to partner with this community.  However, until we can purchase the design documents, we must continue to tell the Maasai community to wait.

The Maasai community has shown themselves to be diligent, hard working, and 100% committed to the success of their community.  To us, that is a success story.  For a community that is so remote and unable to access key resources to rise up, united, and do whatever it takes to bring hope and a future to their people, we are humbled to be their partner.

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These are beautiful people, with the same hopes and fears and dreams that we have.  They want their children to receive an education, just like you do.  They want their wives to receive the health care that she needs as she delivers a child or ages, just like you do.  They want their men and women to work and feel successful and provide for their families, just like you do.  We have the amazing opportunity to come alongside these people and help them realize these dreams.  Your involvement with our work goes directly to these faces and will contribute to their success.

A quote from one of our partners in Kenya that we read to keep us moving forward,
"My appreciation goes to the maasai community, elders and leaders who have shown their support by putting up a wonderful management team for the school. The 3 teachers for their dedication, parents for supporting the teachers up keep and to our 39 pupils, thanks for bringing a lot of joy to all of us through your progress and development."

We already see the way the community is growing together.  They are depending on one another, as it should be.  They are realizing their potential and fighting for more every day.  We are thrilled to call this community friends and partners.  And we would love to welcome you to it.

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