A Glimpse Behind the Scenes

    I am often asked how we are able to do what we do. How on earth do we build schools for vulnerable children living halfway around the world? From the beginning, we’ve made it no secret that we collaborate and rely heavily upon our field partners. Specifically, we partner with what is called a “Non-Governmental Organization,” or NGO. (Think of an NGO like you would think of a 501c3 charity in the United States. They’ve been vetted by the government. They have a Board, bylaws, a mission, vision, a strategy on how to accomplish their goals, etc.)

    Let me back up. I knew I was going to Tanzania in 2007 because I had agreed to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with a friend. I thought, Well, as long as I’m there, why don’t I volunteer for something? So I searched online for charities working in Tanzania. But as I scrolled through these inspiring websites, with photo after photo of happy kids, dressed in their perfect uniforms, in their perfect classrooms, smiling with their beautiful white teeth, something bothered me. These kids have already hit the jackpot. But what about all the other kids? Kids who have nothing, who struggle to even stay alive? These were the kids I longed to help. I grew frustrated. None of the organizations offered what I yearned for.

    Months passed. Our time of departure was soon approaching, and I had yet to connect with the “right” organization. Then something miraculous happened. I remember taking a bath and resting my head back. I prayed that God would help me find the perfect place to volunteer, a place where I could use my knowledge, my time, and my resources. At the exact same time I said, “Amen,” from the next room my husband, Carl, called out, “Hey Michele! I think I’ve found the perfect place for us to volunteer!” Now, this may not seem miraculous, but this was the first time Carl had ever searched for a place to go.

   My hair in a towel, wrapped in my robe, I studied the website Carl had found. The “Marilynn Orphans Projects Foundation,” or MOP, was founded by Zambians and Tanzanians for the purpose of educating orphans. And the photos? Honestly, their school looked pretty ragged. The children a little desperate. But I could see the hope there. It shone from the eyes of the adults in the photo. As if they were saying, we’re doing it. We came from nothing, we have nothing, and yet we’re doing it. At the bottom of this one-page website, there was a simple plea for international visitors to please “come and help.”

    A few weeks later found us in Tanzania, in the living room of the founder of MOP, whose name was Mr. Filli Raphael Mwaji. We were to live with him and his family for the two weeks. It was our first evening, and the only light came from the kerosene lantern on the table. Insects buzzed and slapped against the window screens. It was hot and humid, and I was sticky with sweat. I sat in a chair while Raphael handed me the MOP Constitution, a 10-page document, then sat opposite us. “So tell me,” he rasped, his face looking even more gaunt in the pale light of the lantern, “what are you going to do for us?”

    I distinctly remember feeling like a deer in the headlights. I thought, This is it. There is no instruction booklet. No tour guide to shepherd us forward. . . . But isn’t that what you asked for? . . . Still, I felt in over my head. Fortunately, Carl, Liza, and I had agreed prior to our trip to not make any promises. “We will go home and talk about it,” became our response to the many questions and demands made upon us that trip.

    What we came away with was a deep understanding of the grave need, the many orphans, and the vast debilitating poverty. We came away understanding the passion of the people in MOP, and how much they wanted to help these children, and yet how little they had themselves. We came away knowing that together we could make a difference.

    We returned to Washington State. In December 2007, we created Orphans Africa, a 501c3 charity. Our purpose was to educate orphans in Africa by partnering with MOP.

    None of us could have predicted how things have grown. From one small, shabby school with a few books, one toilet, and no clean water, to six campuses across the nation—schools that have won awards for excellence, with thousands of children healthy, fed, and educated.

    Of course, now you know we don’t do it by ourselves. Our two partner NGOs operate a vast network of both volunteers and paid staff. They construct the buildings with funds we send, providing receipts and photos. They give the care and the love that the children need. They feed them, clothe them, teach them, and cheer them on, before finally ushering them into a future filled with hope. Truly, they are the real heroes, and I am always humbled by their Herculean efforts.

    I feel honored to be able to share this story, this “behind the scenes” saga with you. (And thank you to Sue Ann for asking me this question once again!)