Students Become Ambassadors
Posted by Julie Manuel
We are off on another African Adventure. This time I get to take with me not one, not two, but 4 former students! It is one of those things that you can only imagine and hope for when they are sitting in your […]
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Posted by Julie Manuel
Ronesa Academy Ngong Hills, Kenya From 5 kid going to school in a chicken coop, to 143 kids learning in a 7 classroom school……..we are changing lives! However, we couldn’t do it without the love, care, and giving from family and friends like you. We have buildings, an office, latrines, a soccer field, a new […]
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Ronesa Update (6/28/16)
Posted by Julie Manuel
It’s been an exciting 2 weeks so far here in Kenya, and especially wonderful being back “home” with Mama Sheila again. Our kids are thriving at Ronesa Academy and it’s been a lot of fun having my friend Andrea Graney and her two daughters with me. They were both former students of mine, so a […]
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Bore Hole for Ronesa and Namayiana Childrens Home (3/31/16)
Posted by Julie Manuel
It’s been an awesome year of fundraising to bring life, in the form of water, to our beloved Olosho-Oibor village in Kenya. Because of all of you, the dream has come true! Ronesa Academy&Namayiana Children’s home have water! The drilling started last month, there were a few hiccups (TIA ~ This is Africa:>), but we […]
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Drilling for Water (2/22/16)
Posted by Julie Manuel
The day has finally arrived…..Day one of drilling for water at our beloved Ronesa Academy/Namayiana Children’s Home in Kenya. They reached 48 meters in the first day! We are thrilled to see the fruit of so many donors who helped make this dream come true. Ashe Oleng (thank you in Maasai)!❤️?❤️ More photos to come […]
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Proof That Education Changes Lives (6/27/15)
Posted by Julie Manuel
The family of Paulina that my sister Katy Donohue sponsors. The older Maasai is the one we feared for years because he was trying to “sell,” his daughter Monica. Paulina kept her away at school, thanks to Katy’s support, but he surprised us by walking 3 hours to meet us and thank us for educating […]
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Mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro (6/10/15)
Posted by Julie Manuel
We made it to the rooftop of Africa! It is hard to put into words what this experience was like, but suffice to say, it was the hardest thing any of us have ever done in our entire lives. I’m not going to lie……there were a few tears when I finally saw the famous Kilimanjaro […]
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Started Kilimanjaro Walk for Water Fundraiser (4/15/15)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Today we launched the Kilimanjaro Walk for Water Fundraiser to raise $30,000 to drill a bore hole that will provide fresh water to the children of Ronesa Academy, Namayiana Children’s Home and the villagers of Olosho-Oibor, Kenya. To encourage support for our fundraiser, from June 4th through June 10, 2015, my husband Rod and I […]
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Two Worlds… One Community (7/31/14)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Jemimah: Is everyone in America rich? Teacha Juliet: No, not everyone, some are rich and some are poor. Jemimah: Does everyone have a flush toilet? Teacha Juliet: Yes, most everyone does. Jemimah: Then WHY teach, do you say they are not ALL rich?! Like so many conversations I’ve had in Africa, I am constantly reminded […]
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Ronesa goes to Kiisi (7/10/14)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Jambo Everyone, Well, I am back in Nairobi at George’s home in Dongoretti Slums, waiting to return to Ronesa tomorrow. It’s nice having light/plumbing/water, but I’m anxious to return to “my home.” Obviously it is a testament to the value of people that make a place your home. I just spent an amazing 3 days […]
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We Have Water!!!! (7/4/14)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Jambo Everyone! First, I want to wish you all a Happy 4th of July! I seem to have missed the last 5 years of this American Holiday, but I am happy knowing the fun and festivities you will all have. When I try to explain to my friends here what we do on the 4th […]
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Two Worlds Become One (7/12/13)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Hello Everyone, It is so good to be home again, but now we are all in the throes of trying to get our head and hearts in one place. I always tell those who join me to just try to take it all in, processing it all will come much later, long after you are […]
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It’s the Unexpected Things (7/12/13)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Hello Everyone, Sorry it’s been over a week since my last blog. It’s been tough getting service, let alone wifi…TIA (This is Africa:>) We have had another amazing week in our beloved Maasailand! The week started off with learning that all the teachers in Kenya hadgone on strike! Thankfully this didn’t affect our school, RONESA […]
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Just Drop The Good…..(6/24/13)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Hello Everyone, It’s been another busy week here in Maasailand, Kenya! It was tough saying goodbye to Molly and Brian as they left for Safari and their Mt. Kenya climb, and also to Kelsey and Abbey. I was so fortunate to be with such amazing friends the last few weeks. They made a huge impact […]
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Cows, goats, and more chickens! (6/16/13)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Supa Rafikis! (hello friends) I want to start first by wishing everyone a Happy Father’s Day! It’s never easy being away from home during holidays, but it also reminds us how fortunate we are to have so much to celebrate! Father’s Day is celebrated here, but certainly not in the same tradition as back home. […]
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First week at RONESA (6/12/13)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Supa (hello in Ma language) everyone! I have made it back down to Nairobi after our first week with our beloved Maasai friends! It has been an absolute whirlwind since getting here, and it’s hard to believe that each day seems to top the day before! Everyone is doing great adjusting to the culture, food, […]
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WE ARE OFF TO KENYA! (6/4/13)
Posted by Julie Manuel
JAMBO FRIENDS! The big day has finally arrived! The first team (myself, our kindergarden teacher and her husband, 2 Vision Photography employees and their friend) is heading to the airport soon with our 300 lbs of school supplies, uniform donations, as well as the many donations for goats/chickens/and cows! We are so fortunate to be […]
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Our newest Ronesa Students from Namayiana Orphanage (4/6/13)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Regina, Isaac, and Julius standing in their new home! Jambo Friends, Well, a lot has been happening this year with Ronesa, and the entire Olosho-Oibor Village for that matter. The photo above is the most recent picture of the orphanage that is coming along nicely. We hope to have it built by the time we […]
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Safari in the Maasai Mara! (7/30/12)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Safari in the Maasai Mara! Hello Everyone~ June 30, 2012 We are back in Nairobi tonight after a wonderful 3 day Safari in the Maasai Mara! It was a fantastic time and despite less animals this year, we had several unbelievable moments with some of the wildlife. We saw lots of elephants, gazelles, Water buffalo, […]
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Home at last………(7/20/12)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Home at last………July 20, 2012 A typical day in Nairobi….no traffic laws but NO rode rage either! Andrea posing with Solomon, the boy who is her son Jamie’s Pen Pal! On our way to deliver the goats and chickens to a Maasai widow….chickens in the bag!! The Phillips family resting at our favorite giraffe lookout…….yes, […]
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Philips Family in Maasailand (7/13/12)
Posted by Julie Manuel
I hope this posting finds you all happy, healthy, and enjoying your summer break! Can’t believe it’s already mid-July, but also thankful that I’ll be coming home soon! The Phillips family has just finished their time in wonderful Maasailand before heading off for Switzerland to finish up their world tour! I think I can speak for […]
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Zanzibar (7/10/12)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Zanzibar ~ July 10, 2012 Jambo Friends, I hope you are all doing well and especially hope the heat and fires in Colorado are starting to dissipate. It’s a very strange thing to see our state on the front cover of the news on the other side of the world. You’ve all been in my […]
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Teachers in Maasailand (6/27/12)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Teachers in Maasailand Hello Everyone~ June 28, 2012 I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy……..something we’ve learned here that we take for granted for sure. It’s been another amazing week here in Kenya. Andrea Bratis is now safely home and boy do the kids at Ronesa miss her! Deb Gardner and our […]
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First Week in Maasiland! (6/21/12)
Posted by Julie Manuel
First Week in Maasiland! Jambo Everyone! June 21, 2012 Well, Andrea and I have just completed our first amazing week here in Kenya. We are having an amazing time, but don’t pretend ourselves into thinking that our head and our hearts are in the same place. One can prepare themselves as much as possible for […]
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SHAFFER GOES TO KENYA 2012! (6/3/12)
Posted by Julie Manuel
Getting Ready to Go! SHAFFER GOES TO KENYA 2012!! Well, this is the beginning of a very exciting journey. Shaffer kids collected over 80 bags filled with school supplies, flip-flops, and t-shirts. Over $800 was collected to provide school uniforms for Ronesa’s children, and help pay their school fees. The team has all their shots, malaria […]
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