Southwestern Enhances Education for Masai Tribe

Debbie Battin, Director of Marketing and Public Relations (posted 2/21/04)

 

(Keene, Texas) -- Southwestern Adventist University chaplain, Lane Campbell, recently delivered ten large duffle bags of donated school supplies to the Masai tribe in Kenya, Africa. “We receive many more donations than we expected,” said Campbell. “And the Masai people were overwhelmed by the way our American community, here in Johnson County, has shown such interest in them.”

 

Campbell and Kwasi Ntim, a SWAU nursing student from Africa, traveled by Land Rover through dry river beds and pot holes three feet wide to reach the Masai villages. Masai homes are constructed in the middle of a thorny bramble of vines twisted to form protection for their sheep, goats, and other domestic cattle from leopards, lions, and other predators. This particular Masai tribe is located about a one hour drive from Maxwell Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist academy where Campbell presented a spiritual emphasis weekend during his time in Kenya.

 

“People ran over to meet us as we arrived at the village,” said Campbell. All the teachers from the Adventist school were there. The students were separated by class levels and each teacher had a bag of materials to give to specific students, with their name on them.  The names had been placed on each item by the Masai pastor, John Kiok, while he was visiting SWAU recently. “The children were especially excited to have their own box of glue, pencils, scissors, and markers,” said Campbell.

 

The relationship with the Masai people began three years ago when a mission trip group from Southwestern Adventist University visited Kenya, Africa to build a school for this Masai community. Six months later, several of the original builders were able to revisit the Masai tribe to give them a large amount of donated shoes. These shoes were collected from the students and the Keene community. “It was such a great privilege to go back to that building project, to see classes being taught there,” said Campbell. “There are good changes in the community, and young minds now have greater opportunities.”

 

SWAU and the Johnson County community are ultimately giving the Masai people the gift of knowledge by providing tools and resources for educational needs,” said Campbell. Special recognition should be given to Laursen’s Car Care and Wrecker Service, Keene State Bank, Texas Adventist Book Center, Brandom Manufacturing of Texas, Inc., the Keene SDA Church, and Town Hall Estates for their funding. Jose Gomez, the CEO of Helping Hands and Metro Charities also donated a box of t-shirts to be given to the teachers and adults.

 

“This Masai community greatly appreciates the generosity of these businesses here in Keene who have continued to support SWAU mission projects,” said Cambell.

 

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