Olmoti Residents—Helping Themselves — Olmoti Clinic

From the seed of an idea to a mighty tree
Once in a while, an idea takes root that winds up having long-term effects beyond our wildest dreams. For me, that idea was the notion to accept Olmoti midwife YAYA’s challenge to help reduce the mortality rates for pregnant women and their babies in a remote area of Tanzania, where there were no medical facilities for many miles.
(If you’re a friend of Olmoti Clinic, you are familiar with our story, and if you’ve forgotten some of that story, you can refresh your memory here .)
But recently I’ve become aware that, after 13 years of support—building classrooms for 663 elementary students, building and staffing an award-winning health center, funding projects like fresh water, solar power, vaccinations, and much more, the village has grown, matured and taken ownership in ways we never could have anticipated.
A major shift is underway.
While still preserving the ancient Maasai customs and values, the villagers have successfully weathered a series of obstacles and learned some essential new skills in the process. Let me tell you some exciting news that reassures me that the residents of Olmoti are now better prepared to come together and participate in solutions to life’s problems than they’ve ever been before.
1. Meet our first elementary school graduating class!