Pulling up to Tanzania's Mgutwa secondary school five years ago, Yolande Bruno was confronted with an unfinished brick building with no windows or doors.
Housing three students and one teacher, it wasn't much to look at but it was the beginning of a realization of a dream for its leaders, the school's director Rev. Kedmon Mlemeta and wife Monica, the principal.
The school - located one hour's drive from Mt. Kilimanjaro and more than 65 kilometres from Arusha, northern Tanzania's nearest major city - is the only secondary school in the area for the five surrounding Maasai villages.
Primary schools in the villages are government funded, but a lack of access to secondary education means the majority don't attend school past Grade 7.
"I saw the school, I saw the corrugated latrine with the drop hole, I saw the outdoor kitchen," said Bruno. "I came back and I shared the dream with the Prince George Ladies Group."
It was the beginning of an ongoing commitment and connection between the two communities.
Since 2008, the group has raised $18,000. enough money to transform the school site into something that now includes a teachers' house, an office for teachers, school toilets, a boy's dormitory, science lab building and a 40,000-litre reserve water tank.
"We piddled around and puddled around with garage sales and clothing sales and sent over $700 here and $1,200 there," said Bruno, who met Mlemeta by chance on a bus ride with friend Connie Trammel.
This is in addition to the contributions the Prince George Ladies Group makes locally with their monthly food hampers, and Christmas food and gift hampers.
Group member Helen Matson and her husband Dennis visited the school in 2010, and already there was a marked improvement over what Bruno had seen two years prior. This time there were 60 students enrolled, with two teachers, the classroom building was plastered and fitted with windows and doors and there was also a co-ed dormitory.
The school doesn't turn away any students who can't afford to pay the $360 Cdn annual tuition, and many students are orphans and impoverished young people who couldn't otherwise afford to continue their education.
"If they can finish high school, then possibly go on to university and make a real difference in their country," said Matson. "And that's what they want to do... It's amazing, when you see them, they've got these smiles on their faces and they're just so happy to be able to go to school."
In January, the school's population will almost double with the enrolment of 120 new Grade 8 students.
On Sunday, the Prince George Ladies Group is hosting another fundraiser, this time with the goal of raising the necessary funds to build new classrooms - a $20,000, six-phase project. The event, held at The Hub (1553 Third Ave.), will feature dessert, coffee/tea, a silent auction and presentation of the work that has been done in Tanzania over the time of the group's involvement. It begins at 7 p.m.
Among the items up for auction are drawings and letters from Mgutwa students.
"We are so blessed to have education - it's there for us. They're reaching out for it. We can help them receive what we take for granted," said Bruno. "That's a difference I think our whole group want to help make that difference. Because they're the ones that can stand up and help their community."
It's a cause easy to get behind because they have such a clear view that everything raised is going to the school, said Bruno. The group receives regular updates from Mlemeta, including pictures and videos of the progress made or of donated equipment being handed out.
"What comes in goes right to them. Every dollar," Bruno said. "Nothing gets put into administrative costs."
To reserve a $10 ticket for Sunday night's fundraiser, contact Jeanette at 250-563-0727. For more information about Mgutwa secondary school, contact Bruno or Matson via email at [email protected] or [email protected].
