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Background: Nelson Mgalla was a porter with us at Majestic Kilimanjaro. We sponsored his final two years of high school and then we fund 50% of his 3 year university fees and living expenses. His extended family funded the other 50%. We are very proud that Nelson has now graduate from Sokoine University in Arusha, Tanzania. We wish him all the best as he now seeks employment in his chosen field. Our sponsorship of Nelson ran from 2015 to 2020. In this blog, you can read of Nelson's ongoing progress and events in his life. (If you want the most complete picture start at the end of this blog and read up. You can also click on Categories - Nelson, in the right hand column to read all the stories on Nelson) Nelson Graduates Sokoine University29/12/2020 Dear Liana and Steve, I am doing fine with my family. I am gladly informing you that I've finished my graduations ceremony that was held in SOKOINE University🎓 and am excited to share with you my pictures📸. Officially, I am a degree holder major in Tourism Management and all thanks to you guys for making it happen🤝. I Am really grateful and appreciative🙌🏿 of your support given since 2015-2020 because i'ts a chance not everybody gets. Now am looking forward to use my education (degree) for the best future of my life. Again, thanks to Majestic Kilimanjaro🏔for they are positive impact in our society. My Life is Changing in Positive Ways25/5/2019 Dear Liana & Steve Thank you for congratulating me🙏🏿. For real I thank God for this chance of being in a university because where I come from there are a lot of people who wish to get a chance like this, but they can’t due to insufficient finance and other reasons. I really appreciate the support that you give me because if you had not given me this support through Majestic🏔Kilimanjaro, I would’ve never made it, my dream of studying has come true📚. Life at university is good because I receive your support for 60% of my fees and accommodation from you each semester and the other portion from my extended family. Lifestyle at university is a bit challenging because I lack some tools and materials like a laptop for studying, binoculars, camera, and books for field practical according to my course. I'm learning a lot because I'm away from home and I meet new people with different behaviours, experiences (such as different seminars, trips and other activities that we arrange ourselves as colleagues like charity events, planting trees) and cultures which has changed my life in positive ways🛣. Right now I’m focusing on my studies in order to get better results. Thank you Majestic🏔for making me smile😊, keep it up and May God bless you abundantly Nelson. Nelson Completes his 1st Year of University!4/10/2018 We are so happy to say that Nelson has completed his first of university (hasn't that flown) and he has done well for himself. He'll be returning to his mother for the holidays before recommencing 2nd year university on November 1, 2018.. We wish him a safe and fun holiday period, I'm sure his mother will be so happy to have him home! Following as his coursework and exam results.    Nelson attends 8 week field practical28/7/2018 "Hello! Steve & Liana How have you been! I'm happy that is now the end of the second semester. Recently I'm on my way to Iringa region for field practical for almost 8 weeks as is the university arrangement. Thanks Nelson"  Nelson Celebrates his Birthday24/6/2018 "Hi..! Liana & Steve I hope you are all fine On my side I am fine too and am glad to say that today is my Birthday🎂 and am grateful for that🙏🏿. Thanks for your support because it makes change and made a mark in my life. Say H!!👋 to your family and stay bless👐. Nelson🥂" Nelson enters Second Semester25/5/2018 "Hello..! Liana & Steve I hope you are doing well with your family. On my side, I am doing well too with my second semester studies. In this semester I have 7 courses which are Introduction to English language and culture, Spanish culture, Finance, Ecology, Fist Aid, Introduction to Mathematics and Statistics and Introduction in Computer information🖥. The Semester is very busy because most of courses like ecology and mathematics📚 as we have no good foundation, which leads to a bit challenge in this semester. All in all I am happy to say I am fine..😊 Say hi to your family👋 and be blessed..🙌 Nelson" 13/4/2018 "Hi Steve & Liana I'm doing well with my studies here, as the second semester started since 26th March 2018 and will end at the end of June. Then July the university will arrange field work for us. Big thanks again for your support I got through Tumaini! I really appreciate it and I have attached the payment receipt. Also the first semester exam results are out and are enclosed. Big thanks Regards Nelson" Below: 1st Semester exam results and 2nd semester University receipts paid by Majestic Kilimanjaro.  Nelson completes his first semester of university15/3/2018 "Dear Liana and Steve, the Semester exam has just ended on Friday 9th March 2018 and we have a break till 26th March 2918 . I have enclosed my results for coursework and assignments. Thank you for all your support. Regards Nelson" Click on each image to enlarge Nelson Starts University20/2/2018  At the beginning of October 2017, we were contacted by Nelson Mgalla, a young porter we had sponsored to finish his final 2 years of high school, to say that he had done well at his final exams and been accepted into many universities. Nelson wrote "I have been selected to all places where I applied and have decided to take Bachelor of Tourism Management which is a three years training (6 semester) at - Sokoine University of Agricultural." He explained that the course fees and expenses are very high at US$1,460 per year and he was asking for our assistance for 50% of the fees. His family would cover the other 50%. We agreed to the pay the 50% from the profits of Majestic Kilimanjaro Treks & Safaris, which would be US$365 per semester, on the basis that he do well in his studies each semester. We gave him a 1 year commitment to be reviewed each year based on his results. Nelson started his course on October 31st 2017. "Hi Liana and Steve I'm writing to you aiming to thank you for your big support on beginning of my university studies I really appreciate it. The lessons of the semester has began since 31/10/2017 and will end on February 2018. Please see the attached bank slip of the payment I made. Thanks, Nelson🙏🏿" We asked Nelson why he wanted to study this course: "Hi Steve and Liana I'm happy that I began my studies and I'm doing well on your support in Sokoine University of Agriculture. Since I work as the porter with Majestic Kilimanjaro with experience of years now, with the help i got from you guys with half of my high school payment, I got inspired to continue with high learning on the same field of studies. Then I decided to take bachelor of tourism management at Sokoine University of Agriculture which I believe will add me more experience : I'm taking different studies including Introduction to Resource Economics, introduction of tourism, tourism, environment and development, food and beverage, introduction to animal kingdom, english composition, introduction to english language and culture 1 and introduction to spanish language and culture 1 And I really appreciate the support I got from you Liana and Steve, I can't stop smiling. Thanks Nelson" Our latest update from Nelson: "On my side I am doing well too with my studies. On 26/2/2018 I will start my semester University Exam, then a break till March"
We wish Nelson every success and look forward to following his progress.  In mid August we transferred from Australia to Tanzania, the second amount of fund raising donations we received through our Go Fund Me fundraising campaign. Between 22nd - 25th August 2020, 39 crew members gathered together to receive their second donation. Each member received US$54.80. Their first donation was US$168.83 making the total of donations received per person US$223.63 - a great amount that will help them live while the climbing and safari industry is getting back on it's feet. Accounting Summary:
After the transfer on 13/8/2020 there are no remaining funds left in the Go Fund Me campaign account.  Thank you to all our of our clients and friends who made this campaign so successful. We are extremely grateful for your kindness and generosity!
Liana, Steve, Tumaini and our entire Majestic Crew We're very pleased that we have now raised Aus$12,402.00! Thank you so much to the people who donated since our last post. The 38 crew members have now received their donation of US$168.83 each. Tumaini organised to meet with groups of members and handed them cash, in an envelope, in Tanzanian Shillings to the value of US$168.83. They then each signed a register for receipt of the money. Each crew member will receive another donation in the first half of August, 2020. The following are photos of the crew members receiving their donation and the signed register.   We are pleased to say that we have now raised Aus$11,572! We are so grateful for everyone's support. During this time we've been working to clarify the number of crew members that will not be receiving support through another trekking company (the nature of the industry is that people work for more than one company). This way ensuring that the most number of people in the industry are getting support during this huge downturn. This now means that 38 Majestic crew members will receive funds through this campaign (with the other 12 on our original list of 50 receiving support from other companies). 1ST TRANSFER OF FUNDS: In order to show complete transparency and accountability we are detailing specifics and attaching images of transfers etc. - As of 30th June 2020, I received in my Australian account a total of Aus$9,228.39. Please see Image below of deposits from Adyen Australia (Go Fund Me) into my account. - On 2nd July, I transferred Aus$9,228.39 to Tumaini's US$ account in Tanzania. The Amount in US currency sent was US$6,045.51. Please see the image below of the transfer transaction which also shows the fees and rate. - On Monday 6th July 2020, Tumaini received US$6,030.51 - $6.00 bank fees = $6,24.51 in his account. Other fees were taken by the banks which is why US$6,045.51. left Australia and US$6,030.51 arrived in Tanzania. See image below of Tumaini's receipt. DONATIONS RECEIVED OUTSIDE OF 'GO FUND ME': Tumaini also directly received 2 donations for a total of US$391.40 . AMOUNT FOR DISTRIBUTION: This makes the total amount for our 1st distribution to our Crew: US$6,024.51 + US$391.40 = US$6,415.91 . Each of the 38 crew members will receive a generous $168.83 per person with this first distribution. HOW WILL CREW RECEIVE THE FUNDS: The cheapest way to give each person their donation is in cash in Tanzanian shillings. Starting today, Tumaini is meeting members to give them their cash and have them sign a receipt. I will post updates as this occurs. NEXT: Donations made after 30th June, will be distributed shortly after the end of July, 2020. This way we can continue to raise funds and minimise transfer costs. Again, thank you so much! Liana, Tumaini, Steve and Majestic Crew    We are excited to say that we have now past the half way mark! Thank you again to the latest group of donors who responded to our emails and Facebook post. In order to reduce the cost of transfer and banking fees, we are aiming to make the first distribution of money to crew members at the end of June. The money will be moved from Australia (where Steve and I live, and the campaign is based) to Tanzania - Go Fund Me do not operate in Tanzania. From Tanzania the best way to distribute the funds to each crew member is through Mobile Money/Wallet. SIMPLE, FREE WAYS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING our campaign so we can receive the most money before the end of June are to: 1. Share the email to any people who might have climbed Kilimanjaro in your group but we at Majestic don't have their email addresses. 2. Share our Facebook and Instagram post with your friends, or tag them in the comments section. Thank you again, the support we have received is truly inspiring! Liana, Tumaini and Steve on behalf of our Crew Members.  We are so grateful that in just 2 weeks, by the generosity of our clients and friends, we have reached over 25% of our goal! Thank you to everyone for your generosity and support. It means a lot to us that our team has held a special place in your hearts. Asante sana, Tumaini, Liana & Steve Majestic Kilimanjaro   Covid-19 has meant that our clients postponed trips in March, April & May and the climbing and safari season will not open in June. Therefore the 50 crew members (and their families) that rely on Majestic Kilimanjaro will still not be able to earn an income in June, and at this stage we do not know when international travel will restart. Fortunately two of our clients generously donated some money and suggested that others might also be willing to help. We understand that this is a difficult and unprecedented time for everyone, but any support you can offer will help these families get through this period in a country where no government support is given, not even medical. The money you donate will go directly to the 50 crew members and will be equally distributed. On average for a family of 4, for one month it costs: - US$95 for food - US$35 for rent - US$7 for water & electricity. This fundraiser is in Australian Dollars as 'Go Fund Me' doesn't operate in Tanzania and Liana & Steve live in Australia. Therefore we have set the target at Aus$15,000 because by the time we do the transfer to Tanzania in US dollars it will equal just under US$9,800. Please contact us if you have any further questions. We appreciate any support you can give. Thank you/ Asante sana! Liana, Tumaini, Steve and the entire Majestic crew  As part of our Porters' Scholarship Program we were very happy to be able to sponsor Beny Satu Nkussa and Swibert Zenno to attend the one year Professional Tour Guiding & Leadership Advanced Certificate Course at The Professional Tour Guide School (PROTS), that Tumaini originally attended. The two men started the course in May/June 2017.
As part of the scholarship, Beny & Swibert received: - 1 field trip paid for each - 3 wildlife books for sharing - stationery $25 per person - the 1 year certificate course - a loan of US$150 each. To encourage them to work hard at their studies, if Beny and Swibert get 'A' and 'B' grades for their courses we will pay for their 2nd field trip. If they get 'A' and 'B' grades all year until the completion of their course they will not have to repay their loan of US$150. In their application forms for the scholarship they both wrote that the reason they wanted to be guides was so that they could improve their own lives and the lives of their families.  
We wish Swibert and Beny all the best and hope they make the most of this opportunity.
Great news: Nelson's Graduation was in April which he shared with his beloved Mother. Then in June 2017, Nelson passed his A level high school exams and scored division 2! We first met Nelson when he worked as a porter with Majestic to earn money for his high school fees. We helped him out by paying for half his fees for his final two years of school. You can read our original post here We are so very proud of you Nelson and we wish you all the best for your future!  Nelson and his Mother on Graduation Day
Long time Porters with us, James and Amani, were part of our initial scholarship launch and went on to complete a three months beginners English course followed by a one month driving course. As part of their scholarship, we also gave them a monthly allowance so they could continue to look after their families while studying and not working. For the next step in their advancement both James and Amani decided they would like to train as cooks. Cooks working in trekking teams on Kilimanjaro make considerably more than Porters so they saw this as a wise choice, and it allowed them to work while learning. Our wonderful Cook, Rashid, one of the best on the mountain (just ask our clients) was their trainer. He taught them on the mountain as well as for a full two weeks in his own home. It was a real win/win as Majestic Foundation paid Rashid extra money to teach James and Amani and they got to learn from the best. Learning to cook on the mountainLearning at Rashid's home |
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PARTNERS
We are proud partners of Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) and Partner for Responsible Travel Program. TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
We are the proud winners of the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence Award four years in a row! ABOUT MAJESTIC KILIMANJARO
Incorporated in Tanzania and Co-founded by Tumaini Sandi, born and living in Tanzania and Steve & Liana from Australia. Steve & Liana take no income from this business and all their share of profits go to community projects in Tanzania & East Africa, through our Foundation. |
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