IMPACT
Since 2014, The Taaluma Project has raised over $83,000 to fund educational projects in Eastern Africa.
In addition to the specific fundraising projects shown below, The Taaluma Project has received over $35,000 in individual donations. If you would like to start a fundraiser for a project check out our Crowdrise Site and Contact us. If you would like to make a donation select the project you would like to donate to below or make a general donation through our Donation Page.
One Cow Per Family
Spring 2020
During the month of November, we had the pleasure of traveling to Rilima, Rwanda where we taught English and technology to primary and secondary students. While in Rilima, we were welcomed into the community by everyone we met. It truly began to feel like our home away from home.
FMO purchases cows for families in Rilima to increase their quality of life and family income. An addition of a cow allows for more opportunity for every member of the family.
If you would like to learn more about the organization we worked with check out their website, www.fmorwanda.org.
Raised:
$1,379
Lip Sync for LEGOS
Fall 2019
As a group, we have been working on a semester long project to start LEGO Leagues in Rwanda and Ethiopia. These LEGO Leagues will help teach STEM Education, gender equity, and entrepreneurship. These are all valuable skills that both the Rwandan and Ethiopian governments are trying to develop, but are not currently taught in their local school curriculum.
We will be raising money to start the first LEGO League in Adigrat, Ethiopia at Bruh Tesfa. Bruh Tesfa is a youth development center which provides a safe after school place for children with sports and educational clubs, including a science club. This science club will be the home of the first LEGO League from our project! With your help, the money we raise will go towards purchasing the LEGO kits needed to start this program.
Raised:
$4,666
Lip Sync for Benches
Fall 2019
Butterfly Onlus is an Italian nonprofit whose goal is to help meet the primary needs of underdeveloped regions. They focus on access to water, education, health care and support of families and children in need. The Butterfly Onlus has built over 300 wells and 25 schools throughout Ethiopia, Madagascar, Nepal, and Myanmar.
Currently, many students in Ethiopia have to stand or sit on the ground in their classes due to lack of seating. With your help, the money we raise will go towards building benches in primary and secondary schools. Just the small amount of $25.00 will provide an entire bench for an Ethiopian school to create a more comfortable and effective learning environment!
Raised:
$2,500
Spring 2019
Azeb Academy is a private primary school in Adigrat, Ethiopia. The school has 24 classes from kindergarten to 8th grade with around 1200 students. Azeb Academy wants to grow the technology classes and resources they offer to students.
The funds raised will go towards wiring the school to provide internet access so they are able to obtain more information and apps on the tablets, purchasing more tablets and expanding the new technology and robotics program.
Raised:
$4,472
Walk for Wifi
Spring 2019
OPDE, located in Huye, Rwanda, provides support for children facing abandonment with programs to combat malnutrition, improve child literacy, and ensure protection of children against all forms of neglect, cruelty, exploitation, sexual abuse, and discrimination. For more information on the programs they provide, please visit their website, www.opderwanda.org.
Raised:
$3,871
Hokies for Huye
Spring 2017
Bruh Tesfa is a youth development center located in Adigrat, Ethiopia. It to live up to its namesake and provide opportunity for a “bright hope” for the youth of Adigrat. With no secondary schools in the remote villages around Adigrat, students from these villages must walk up to 3 hours to school. The hostel program provides 27 students with a home and the resources to be successful in their final year of secondary school in preparation for higher education. With the support the students receive, many go on to university. Bruh Tesfa’s goal is to continue supporting them through their first year of university to ensure that no student can use poverty as an excuse to keep them from starting their higher education journey. We’ve set a team fundraising goal of $5,000, which will financially support 5 students for an entire year.
Raised:
$8,110
Miracle Miles
Fall 2016
This year, we are partnering with EarthEnable to provide new floors for families in Eastern Rwanda. Currently, 80% of Rwandans live in homes with dirt floors. These dirt floors are breeding grounds for insects, parasites and are a leading cause of diarrhea and other health issues for children. EarthEnable has created a new flooring product made of locally sourced materials that is 75% cheaper than the concrete alternative. It costs only $100 to replace the floors in a 30 sq meter single family home! These floors last 10 – 20 years and can be washed to maintain a clean living environment.
Raised:
$10,815
Earth Enable
Kids Play International
Fall 2015
This year we are fundraising for Kids Play International (KPI). Founded in 2008 by 3-time Olympian Tracy Evans, KPI uses sports activities grounded in the Olympic Values of Fair Play to promote gender equity in communities impacted by genocide. KPI’s unique approach is based on an understanding that in order to empower girls, boys much also play a meaningful role in the process. Through sports activities and interactive discussion, Let’s Play Fair teaches boys and girls important life lessons and values embodied in the Olympic ideals, such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, fair play, gender equity, respect, and problem-solving.
Right now we are raising funds to create a new field house and sports field to ensure a "Safe Space" for the children to participate in the program. Providing an emotionally safe space to have sensitive and empowering conversations, as well as a physically safe space to conduct these activities, is critical to the success of Let's Play Fair.
Raised:
$6,674
Spring 2015
We are proud to announce that we raised over $4,500 through the Trot 4 Taaluma fundraiser. We organized a 5k run all the way over in Lugano, Switzerland. The students studying here created Crowdrise fundraising pages in order to raise money leading up to their big run. We had the Virginia Tech students back in the United States as extra support. The run was a great success... and the Swiss Alps as a back drop didn't hurt to motivate us. We hope to continue the Trot 4 Taaluma fundraiser annually. Thank you to all those who donated.
In addition, Co-founder Valerie Hengemuhle is challenging herself to see if she can stick her to New Year's resolution by running/walking 2,015 miles in 2015. She raised over $1,250. Check out her campaign by clicking the "Donate Now" button below.
Raised:
$4,500
