A year in review: 2025
Project Rudisha had a tremendous year! In 2025, we achieved our 501(c)(3) status, launched our website, and provided grants to four additional individuals—bringing our total to 10 educational grants since 2024. Here’s a look at this year’s journey.
Laying the Groundwork
Late last year, We returned to Tanzania and met with the team at KPAP (https://kiliporters.org/) to deepen our knowledge of how Project Rudisha could best help the porters and guides working on Mount Kilimanjaro. These trips ensure we assist in the most effective way. For 2025, we were committed to providing additional educational grants and donating gear.
In early 2025, we launched the website, www.projectrudisha.org. Like playing with a new toy, we eagerly tracked page views and celebrated our first online donation. We are so grateful for all the support and guidance we have received!
A key goal in 2025 was securing our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. After months of review, we submitted our application in April and received approval in September! This was a huge accomplishment for us, and we are excited to now operate as an official nonprofit.
Meeting Our Grant Recipients
July brought us back to Tanzania. On this trip, we spoke with George and Nick (two guides we are working with and supported in 2024) about our grant strategy, and then spent time meeting with each of the grant recipients.
It was wonderful to speak with Joshua, Bahariki, Ester, and Asnati about their hopes for guiding and safari school. These meetings helped us finalize our 2025 educational grant plans:
2025 mountain guide training class at Mweka College in Tanzania
Joshua and Bahariki: We provided each with a grant to attend the mountain guide certification course at Mweka College. They both completed the course in November and will enter the next season as mountain guides on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Asnati: We provided her with an educational grant for a series of English lessons. After completion, she plans to attend mountain guide training at Mweka College during the next term. It has been wonderful watching her English language skills grow.
Ester: We provided her with three months of English lessons and a grant to attend safari guide school in Arusha. This grant covers the training necessary for her to begin working in the safari touring industry. We are excited to support her as she joins the growing number of women training to become safari guides.
Ending the Year Strong
We are ending the year with a gear drive! Each board member is collecting new and gently used gear to donate to KPAP and provide to porters and guides and our plan is to bring this gear to Tanzania next July.
It has been a tremendous year for Project Rudisha. What began as an idea in 2024 is now an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has funded grants for additional recipients, bringing our total to 10 educational grants since 2024!
As we look to 2026, we are excited by the opportunity to provide educational grants to the next group of porters and guides and are grateful for the chance to help make a difference in this world.
Thank you for your support, and please consider making a donation that can help send another porter and guide to school.