A Pebble in a pond
On Monday, May 19, 2025, I received a message from a guide whom we supported in 2024. "Thank you so much," he messaged, “We had to have a (sic) surgery to deliver our baby. Without the insurance we were able to get last year, I am not sure we would have been able to pay the (sic) surgery option."
I am happy to report that mother and baby are doing well, and we are so grateful to have been a small part of their story.
When we started Project Rudisha just a year ago, we were focused on providing educational grants so that the guides we met could begin attending Guide school. We wanted to see these guides attend class, finish guide school, and give them the opportunity to secure employment opportunities beyond the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. All the statistics about guides and porters working on the mountain are clear - this is an often dangerous job and not one that is sustainable over time. https://kiliporters.org/our-impact/
We have realized the impact of the $800-$1000 USD grant extends beyond the school tuition it can cover - we just never realized how far that effect could reach.
Imagine a guide has been slowly saving (usually 3 or more years) for Safari guide school and they are then provided a grant from Project Rudisha to assist with their tuition.
They can now take a portion of their savings and support their families in various ways. Here are a few examples of how the grants have enabled these guides to improve their lives over the past year.
The purchase of insurance is one of the most impactful things each of the guides has been able to do. While the story above is one of the more scary examples of what could have happened without the insurance, having insurance has enabled the guides to maintain their health without the fear of not being able to afford treatment.
Many guides are also supporting their younger siblings. One guide has been able to pay for the tuition of their younger sister who can now concentrate on her studies near her school versus walking the six miles to and from school each day, taking away from valuable time to study for her national exams that will determine the high school she can attend.
Another guide has purchased enough chickens to support the needs of their family and also sell the remaining eggs to supplement his income. This supplemental income has allowed him to also purchase a motorcycle which he uses in the off-season to offer rides to people - a very common mode of transportation for people in Arusha and cities in Tanzania.
And several guides have been able to continue to save to allow them to purchase land in the surrounding areas of Arusha. The purchase of land is a game-changer as it allows the guide to save to build a home for them, their siblings and potentially extended family.
The donations we receive go directly to guides and porters working on Mount Kilimanjaro. These are just a few examples of the ripple effect one pebble in a pond can have - one small donation can set in motion positive change for generations.
If you are considering a donation, please note that we have submitted Form 1023 to apply for 501(c)(3) non-profit status. This submission allows Project Rudisha to operate as a non-profit entity and any donation will become tax-deductible once our approval is received. Thank you for considering donating to Project Rudisha.