College Tuition for Future Scientist
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BACKGROUND
I was completely unprepared for the phone call from Tanzania. It was from my old friend, Godfrey Olle Moita, who I met there thirty years ago at a famous fossil site.
We had stayed in touch through letters, Christmas cards and enclosed photos, but he had never called me.
So when I heard his voice from so far away, I was surprised and delighted.
“Hello, my dear friend Linda, I much wanted to talk to you because I have important news to tell you. You know my son, Leken.”
“Of course, Godfrey, I’ve known him since his baby pictures.”
“Yes, please. And now Leken had been accepted to studies of geology in Dodoma University.”
“Hey, that’s great! Congratulations,” I said, “you told me he was applying when I came to your country last year.”
"Yes, I think this is true."
But then he said,
“I am also calling to tell you some very bad news. My younger son had a bad headache and on the way to the hospital he died.”
“Oh my God, Godfrey! No! I am so sorry. And so sorry to hear this! “Oh my God, what happened?"
“They think something pressed blood into his brain. This is such a very bad news thing.”
"Godfrey! This is much more than very bad news. This is the absolute worst news any parent can get! I don’t know what to say.
How are you doing? How is your wife? Please tell her my prayers are with you both. Is there anything I can do for your family?”
We talked for a long time. And though he said their community was taking care of them and many relatives were coming from all across the country, I could hear the grief in his voice. His boy was eleven years old.
I sent the family a long condolence letter, with my heartfelt sympathy.
MY FUNDRAISING GOAL -
Tuition and supplies for Godfrey's living son
With the sudden death of the younger son, the news of his older son's acceptance to the university was a happy surprise for the whole family.
It's a wonderful opportunity for a young man from a herding tribe to be given the chance to go to college and earn a degree.
This Go Fund Me is to raise the needed money for Godfrey’s older son, Leken’s, college tuition and scientific laptop.
I'm hoping to bring something positive into my dear friend’s life.
Leken hopes to start the program in Earth Sciences at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania.
Both his community and his country will be so proud of him.
They will also benefit from the increasing number of their own scientific leaders.
Why I am so passionate about this cause.
As a paleontologist, I know that we often lack the knowledge or perspective that local scientists could provide.
Tanzania needs more ‘home-grown’ professionals, especially in the sciences.
Currently most of the earth-scientists working famous fossil sites in Africa are from foreign countries.
Scientific research is about collaboration and exchanging ideas.
It is critically important for all countries to work together, and it's high time for the end of Western arrogance.
I feel strongly about supporting Leken.
He plans to work with paleontologists at Olduvai Gorge and other fossil sites in Tanzania. Olduvai is the most famous site for early stone tools and associated fossils.
Leken will be a professional geologist.
He will have a professional uniform like his father's.
(Leken is far right, pointing out geologic layers.)
UPDATED INFORMATION AND COST SUMMARY
The Olle Moita family is always warm and kind, but quite poor. In the 30 years we have exchanged letters and cards, most of Godfrey's mail arrives with U.S. stamps: he has to wait for an American tourist to stamp and mail his cards to me once they get home.
Godfrey has never asked me for money.
Last year I got to go back to the Gorge to study recent finds and rendezvous with Godfrey. It was a wonderful reunion!
(Below at Olduvai he's giving a talk to tourists.)
(Note the far background area where his family lives.)
I was sad to see that Godfrey's family still lives in a corrugated metal 2-room dwelling (see earlier picture) and his elderly parents still live in a very small 'house' of mud and straw nearby. They have no utility services.
(The photo shows their small 'pen' for goats.)
So I am hoping our funds (through your donations) will help Leken pursue his dreams, and bring some joy to Godfrey and family
COSTS:
1. Tuition for Dodoma University = $2,000 US Dollars per year X 3 year program = $6,000
"TUITION FEES PER YEAR
CLUSTERS DISCIPLINE/PROGRAMMES CLUSTER"
Programmes in the College of Earth Sciences Tanzanian Shillings 11,500,000 = USD $2,000"
2. Laptop computer = $850 - 870 (depending on the exchange rate) = Tanzanian Shillings 1,900,000
(RAM-8GB., HDD-1TB., Intel core i7. for his geological work)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recently wrote to Godfrey to tell him what a Go Fund Me site was and that I was trying to start one for Leken.
To paraphrase his reply, he wrote a 'thank you very much,' and quoted a Swahili saying about how someone who helps you during your needs or problems is your true friend.
He wrote "you are always my true friend!!!!"
I was completely unprepared for the phone call from Tanzania. It was from my old friend, Godfrey Olle Moita, who I met there thirty years ago at a famous fossil site.
We had stayed in touch through letters, Christmas cards and enclosed photos, but he had never called me.
So when I heard his voice from so far away, I was surprised and delighted.
“Hello, my dear friend Linda, I much wanted to talk to you because I have important news to tell you. You know my son, Leken.”
“Of course, Godfrey, I’ve known him since his baby pictures.”
“Yes, please. And now Leken had been accepted to studies of geology in Dodoma University.”
“Hey, that’s great! Congratulations,” I said, “you told me he was applying when I came to your country last year.”
"Yes, I think this is true."
But then he said,
“I am also calling to tell you some very bad news. My younger son had a bad headache and on the way to the hospital he died.”
“Oh my God, Godfrey! No! I am so sorry. And so sorry to hear this! “Oh my God, what happened?"
“They think something pressed blood into his brain. This is such a very bad news thing.”
"Godfrey! This is much more than very bad news. This is the absolute worst news any parent can get! I don’t know what to say.
How are you doing? How is your wife? Please tell her my prayers are with you both. Is there anything I can do for your family?”
We talked for a long time. And though he said their community was taking care of them and many relatives were coming from all across the country, I could hear the grief in his voice. His boy was eleven years old.
I sent the family a long condolence letter, with my heartfelt sympathy.
MY FUNDRAISING GOAL -
Tuition and supplies for Godfrey's living son
With the sudden death of the younger son, the news of his older son's acceptance to the university was a happy surprise for the whole family.
It's a wonderful opportunity for a young man from a herding tribe to be given the chance to go to college and earn a degree.
This Go Fund Me is to raise the needed money for Godfrey’s older son, Leken’s, college tuition and scientific laptop.
I'm hoping to bring something positive into my dear friend’s life.
Leken hopes to start the program in Earth Sciences at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania.
Both his community and his country will be so proud of him.
They will also benefit from the increasing number of their own scientific leaders.
Why I am so passionate about this cause.
As a paleontologist, I know that we often lack the knowledge or perspective that local scientists could provide.
Tanzania needs more ‘home-grown’ professionals, especially in the sciences.
Currently most of the earth-scientists working famous fossil sites in Africa are from foreign countries.
Scientific research is about collaboration and exchanging ideas.
It is critically important for all countries to work together, and it's high time for the end of Western arrogance.
I feel strongly about supporting Leken.
He plans to work with paleontologists at Olduvai Gorge and other fossil sites in Tanzania. Olduvai is the most famous site for early stone tools and associated fossils.
Leken will be a professional geologist.
He will have a professional uniform like his father's.
(Leken is far right, pointing out geologic layers.)
UPDATED INFORMATION AND COST SUMMARY
The Olle Moita family is always warm and kind, but quite poor. In the 30 years we have exchanged letters and cards, most of Godfrey's mail arrives with U.S. stamps: he has to wait for an American tourist to stamp and mail his cards to me once they get home.
Godfrey has never asked me for money.
Last year I got to go back to the Gorge to study recent finds and rendezvous with Godfrey. It was a wonderful reunion!
(Below at Olduvai he's giving a talk to tourists.)
(Note the far background area where his family lives.) I was sad to see that Godfrey's family still lives in a corrugated metal 2-room dwelling (see earlier picture) and his elderly parents still live in a very small 'house' of mud and straw nearby. They have no utility services.
(The photo shows their small 'pen' for goats.)
So I am hoping our funds (through your donations) will help Leken pursue his dreams, and bring some joy to Godfrey and family
COSTS:
1. Tuition for Dodoma University = $2,000 US Dollars per year X 3 year program = $6,000
"TUITION FEES PER YEAR
CLUSTERS DISCIPLINE/PROGRAMMES CLUSTER"
Programmes in the College of Earth Sciences Tanzanian Shillings 11,500,000 = USD $2,000"
2. Laptop computer = $850 - 870 (depending on the exchange rate) = Tanzanian Shillings 1,900,000
(RAM-8GB., HDD-1TB., Intel core i7. for his geological work)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recently wrote to Godfrey to tell him what a Go Fund Me site was and that I was trying to start one for Leken.
To paraphrase his reply, he wrote a 'thank you very much,' and quoted a Swahili saying about how someone who helps you during your needs or problems is your true friend.
He wrote "you are always my true friend!!!!"
Organizer
Linda Duchin
Organizer
Seattle, WA