Colleen Hanley
Initiative Co-Lead, MamaPower and Tanzania Education for All Initiatives
Colleen lives on the ancestral and traditional lands of the K’omoks people in Courtenay, British Columbia. She has been a member of ICO since 2020. She has travelled extensively in the Americas, Asia and in Northern Europe. And, as a student of culture, coupled with her desire to explore and understand other ways of knowing, she was honoured to accept Karen’s invitation to volunteer with Nashipay Maasai Initiatives.

She began working as a volunteer with the Maasai people of Makuyuni in 2018 supporting Nashipay Maasai School in developing a strategic plan. Since then she has supported the quarterly Nashipay News and volunteers developing sources of funding to support the school and social enterprises in the community. Colleen and her co-lead Karen Schrey meet with the Makuyuni team, lead by Clamian, weekly on What’s App; using the time together to discuss current projects and to develop strategies for growing the social enterprises.

“I so appreciate the opportunity to work with my friends in Makuyuni, doing all we can to ensure the children are able to learn. The Maasai are in a huge transition due to climate change and loss of land base. Our work together to help the Mamas create viable businesses and to enhance health in the community is critical during this massive change”.

 

Karen Schrey
Initiative Co-Lead, MamaPower and Tanzania Education for All Initiatives

Karen lives in Victoria, BC on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Esquimalt and Songhees people. She is a retired entrepreneur who is choosing to put her time and energy into partnering with Colleen and Clamian and indirectly with the Council of Elders at Makuyuni Boma in beautiful Tanzania. She loves to share the joy that this endeavor brings with others who are looking for a meaningful way to be of service in the world.

Karen has a place in her heart for people of the Global South.  She lived in Honduras for five years and during that time taught English in a small public school there. It became clear that fostering education and social enterprise are the most valuable contributions she could make.  To this end, she meets weekly with Colleen and Clamian and other Tanzanian volunteers to fully understand the needs of the school and community as expressed and guided by the local people. She has visited the village 5 times since 2012.

“The challenges faced by the Maasai community are exacerbated by extreme poverty, climate change and lack of educational opportunities. I am very grateful to ICO for the willingness to support our efforts to fund infrastructure, social enterprise and capacity building in this community of incredible people.”