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Maasai Girls’ ecoVillage Update: Catching Up on the Last 4 Months

Journal Entry by Rick Morro This year has been flying by and there are so many things to catch up on. Here’s what’s been happening the last 4 months. Community celebration At the very end of December, we held our annual community celebration. It was a wonderful time to share…...

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2023 Year in Review, Part Two: Education and Development

In our last post we talked about how 2023 brought the huge blessing of completing and moving to our new location. There is something special about finally being home and we are delighted to report that the girls are doing exceptionally well! We remain committed to our goal of equipping…...

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2023 Year in Review Part One: Our New Home 

We couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and gratitude for all that we have achieved together. Your unwavering support gave the girls of MGRC their best year yet! And so we want to take a moment to reflect on all of the amazing things that happened in 2023.…...

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Neema’s story – A holiday reflection

As Christmas approaches, we find ourselves reflecting on stories that remind us of the power of love, compassion, and the incredible impact a single act of kindness can have on someone’s life. One such story is that of Neema, an 18-year-old girl who came to MGRC in 2021. Neema’s history…...

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How the MGRC ecoLodge supports the growth and well-being of Maasai girls

A successful ecoLodge is not only essential for the financial stability of the girls currently residing at MGRC, but it also guarantees that MGRC can continue to support a greater number of girls in the future. However, in addition to financial security, a thriving ecoLodge will have numerous other positive…...

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Our Incredible Experience at MGRC 

Guest post by: Judy and Dave Clouse Recently, we had the incredible opportunity to visit Maasai Girls Rescue Center in Tanzania, an organization we have been supporting for over four years. We’re originally from Wisconsin but retired to Arizona where one of our passions is actively volunteering at our church.…...

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Finding joy in serving others

One of the best parts about this mission is seeing the transformation that takes place once the girls are able to start unlocking their true potential. In a remarkably short period of time, these girls have gone from struggling for basic survival in the bush to actively contributing to their…...

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Life-changing trip reveals sustainable practices creating a brighter future

Guest post by: Greg Scheu I just returned from a life-changing trip to Tanzania. This wasn’t my first trip to Africa. I had visited in past years, both with my previous multi-national employer, and with the U.S. Federal Government on U.S. to Africa trade missions. I had seen the beauty…...

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A story of inspiration and success in vocational training

Celebrating Yeyolai There are certain moments that stand out from the rest, and today, we are celebrating one of those milestones. Yeyolai, our inaugural graduate, has successfully reached the end of her journey with us, fearlessly stepping into a future that once appeared out of reach. Her story goes beyond…...

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Cultivating hope and success through vocational training

Hope. Hope holds immense power. It serves as the catalyst for determination, and at the Center, it forms the core of our purpose. We envision a future that extends beyond conventional education—a future where each girl’s unique abilities chart her path to success. Education is important for development, but it…...

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Recognized for sustainable strategy with individual focus for girls’ future

Word is out in Tanzania about MGRC. We are being recognized for our unique sustainable strategy, and keen individual focus for each of our girls’ future. Our innovative social enterprise business model is setting an example for other social enterprises to follow in achieving sustainable social impact. A model for…...

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ecoVillage update: Maasai girls settle into their new homes

The girls have now moved into their new homes! The journey hasn’t been easy, but the joy of the girls makes it all worth it. Back in July 2022, we were informed that we had to leave the hotel we were occupying by January 2023, which was a much shorter…...

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Maasai Girls Rescue Center needs a few good sponsors. Are you one of them?

A big part of the girls’ lives at MGRC is their sponsors. It means so much to know that someone on the other side of the world loves and cares about them....

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The importance of birthdays at MGRC

Most of the girls who come to MGRC have no knowledge of their birth dates. They don’t have birth certificates and have never had the chance to celebrate their birthdays. A lot of them were born in their bomas, enduring the tough conditions in which they entered the world. To…...

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Saying goodbye to water shortages with new clean water system

Having access to water is something we all take for granted.  You turn on the tap and you expect water to come out: cold water, hot water, clean water....

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Press Release: Rescuing, Empowering, and Building a Sustainable Future for Abused and Abandoned Girls

The Maasai Girls Rescue Center is proud to share its remarkable achievements in rescuing and developing over 60 abused and abandoned girls from the Maasai community....

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Moving to a new school

One of the biggest blessings of the move to our permanent location is the new school the girls are attending. It is significantly better than the last, with teachers that are more engaged and more opportunities for growth and leadership. And the girls are thriving. ...

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Happy Spring!

It is a season of change, and here at MGRC we are seeing great change, as well. Though we are not yet where we want to be, we are better than where we were. Life here is rarely linear, but often a series of two steps forward and one step…...

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2022 in review

The girls’ health and well-being is the best measure of our success at Maasai Girls Rescue Center. And by this standard, we had an awesome in year! The girls continue to thrive and surprise us in wonderful ways. That said, we faced several unanticipated challenges and disappointments in 2022; but with…...

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Happy Holidays and Happy New Year

The girls had a great Christmas and are enjoying their winter break! We hosted a Christmas celebration that was attended by the local government officials, neighbors, our staff and, of course, our girls....

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From Poverty and Despair to Hope and Independance

One of our volunteers and long-time supporters, Cammy West, has just returned from the her 10th trip to Africa, and her 3rd visit to the Center in Tanzania. When Cammy isn't working at her day job as a sales representative in the golf industry, she is focused on volunteering and…...

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Have Tractor Will Travel

One of my earliest memories of Christmas was the year my big sister and I received a pedal tractor. In my mind, receiving a pedal tractor was THE best gift ever! It was a shiny red and it looked just like my Dad’s Farmall....

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Hunting for Christmas

When I think about Christmas I have so many wonderful family memories. We always hosted a Christmas party for our extended family. And the highlight of that party was when Santa would visit....

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Baby or bike?

One of my favorite Christmas memories is the year our second daughter was born…exactly one week before Christmas. Our oldest daughter loved “her” early Christmas gift of a baby sister!...

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Life in Tanzania is never dull

Life in Tanzania is never dull, but some times are harder than others. Currently Northern Tanzania is in a serious drought. Our electricity comes from a hydro dam and the water level has been very low this year....

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Catching up with the MGRC girls

Time is moving quickly in Tanzania, and somehow two months have passed since my last journal entry! But so many great things are happening here that I'm excited to tell you about....

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Impact comes from action

Life in Africa, much like the rest of the world, is beginning to return to “normal” post pandemic. Tourism is on the rise and hotels in Karatu are filling up....

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An entrepreneurial approach transforming African aid

Generous people around the world (with the U.S. being the largest donor) provide billions in aid to countries and causes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Much of that aid fails to effectively address long-term problems, and in many cases creates negative unintended consequences....

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Baby Nosim

Recently, I received a call from a local social worker about a mother who had died in childbirth. He asked if we could help because the father was unable to care for the baby....

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New career center expands options for MGRC girls’ future

If you ever wondered how much a life can be transformed with loving intervention by caring strangers, consider the remarkable journey of Momoi....

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Challenges are what make life interesting

I am thrilled to share with you that the security wall is complete! Thank you to everyone who generously contributed to this crucial first step towards completing the ecoVillage....

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Inaugural Maasai Girls Rescue Center Raleigh Hub

Nearly 40 people came together April 26th for the inaugural Maasai Girls Rescue Center Raleigh Hub....

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Education is key at MGRC

Rainy season has begun in Tanzania, and we are already seeing new growth on the fruit trees we planted last fall. The girls are also growing and changing on what seems like a daily basis....

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Eco farm produces better nutrition than the traditional Maasai diet at lower cost

This month we are celebrating the one-year anniversary of our ecoFarm. A three-acre parcel that grew from undeveloped land to lush crops, a livestock barn and a bio-gas fuel source capable of sustaining 70 people....

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2022 is shaping up to be a big year!

Elisante and I have been keeping busy with the wall construction, adding new staff members and planning for future projects here at MGRC....

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Environmental sustainability roots MGRC

Living in one of the world’s most scenic places, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the natural beauty....

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Social sustainability starts with well-being

I met Mary and her older sister Momoi in an impoverished area near the Kenyan border, where their grandmother was raising them because their parents were too poor to care for them....

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Stitching our way toward economic sustainability  

Sayuni came to Maasai Girls Rescue Center three years ago when she was 10. Her mother brought her, saying she could no longer support her child. Then the mother left and hasn’t been back. ...

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2021: A year of miraculous transformation for MGRC

A year ago this month, we began a seven-hour journey from our old home in Longido to our new home near Karatu....

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First Annual Community Thanks Celebration

On December 18, Maasai Girls Rescue Center hosted our first annual Community Thanks celebration. Over 200 people gathered on the land that will become our ecoVillage....

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A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas in Tanzania is celebrated differently. It's much more subdued than an American or westernized Christmas....

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A Grassroots Alternative to Failed African Aid

Generous people around the world (with the US being the largest donor) provide billions in aid to countries and causes in Sub-Saharan Africa....

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Giving and receiving: the importance of community

A crucial part of our work at MGRC is connecting with our local community. Since our move to Karatu earlier this year, we have been building relationships with community members and government officials....

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Moving beyond survival: Namelock’s story

In 2014, before MGRC was founded, the village chief of where I was living asked me to help a girl with skeletal fluorosis, a condition that caused deformation of her legs....

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Kindness, Life, Hope

It’s been a few weeks since I returned from the states and wrote a journal entry. Karatu continues to be good to MGRC....

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Meanwhile… back on the farm

While I was in the States, the farm moved even closer to completion. Since we broke ground in March, we have cleared the land, planted crops, built homes for farm staff, built barns, and installed a boiler for pasteurizing milk....

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My Stateside Visit: Food, Fundraisers, Family and Friends

Well, after two years and a global pandemic, I finally made it back to visit my family and friends. I did not realize how much I missed while living in Tanzania....

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Why support MGRC’s ecovillage?

The Maasai Girls Rescue Center’s ecoVillage is founded on the premise that the only lasting way to help people is to teach them how to help themselves....

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Rabbits, pigs, chickens and cows, oh my!

Well, another week has gone by, and I cannot believe how fast this year is moving. We met with the Regional Executive Commissioner in Arusha to introduce MGRC to him....

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Africa captured my heart

In the fall of 2019 Africa captured my heart. My Dad and I were fortunate enough to travel to Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya, a trip we had been dreaming of for more than a decade....

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MGRC Girls, Sustainable Food Projects, Outreach

Our MGRC volunteers from the States are on Safari in the Serengeti National Park and have been sending me messages about their experience....

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Volunteers Help MGRC Girls

Volunteers help MGRC girls learn new talents, build their self-confidence, and set goals for their future...

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Volunteers at MGRC, Chickens, ecoFarm Updates

It has been a very busy time here at MGRC. The girls are on school break, and we have four recent high school graduates from the States visiting....

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Scottsdale man, 71, hikes Grand Canyon in one day to benefit girls in Africa

Hugh Illsley goes the extra mile for others – hiking the 24-mile Grand Canyon rim-to-rim in one day to raise upwards of $25,000 for Maasai Girls Rescue Center, a nonprofit that cares for vulnerable girls in Tanzania, Africa....

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New van, new dresses, new visitors

Well, it has been an interesting week or so. First, we received our new (used) van from Japan. First time I ever bought a vehicle without test driving or having my mechanic inspect it, but that is how one does it here in Tanzania....

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School desk donation generates smiles, speeches and a goat!

Maasai Girls Rescue Center recently donated 30 wooden desks to the local primary school our girls will attend when we move to our permanent site at the ecoVillage....

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Get back to where you once belonged

Guest post by Makayla Henwood  Two years ago, I had the life-changing experience of volunteering at the Maasai Girls Rescue Center, which was founded by my grandfather, Rick Morro.  Now I get to go back!  I graduate this month from Apache Junction High School east of Phoenix, Arizona. Next month I…...

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From Aspen to Africa: A time for exploration

Guest post by Hunter Love After a year and a half of pandemic restrictions, I’m taking a gap year to have the time to tour the top art schools that I have been interested in attending since I was in preschool, and see as much of the world as I can.   I graduate…...

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MGRC visitor, happy cows, ecoFarm updates

It was a very good week for us at MGRC. One of our girl’s sponsors visited us during the week. It is always great to have the girls meet and spend time with the people who make it possible for them to live here. The sponsored girl is not the…...

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New rescued girl, ecoFarm update, dedication ceremony delayed

I’ve been told that some people might be interested in knowing how I spend my time while “vacationing” for the last 9 years in Africa. 😉 So, I thought I would keep a weekly journal of my day-to-day activities here at the Center and share them with you. Last week…...

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Why volunteering is important to the girls of MGRC

Volunteering is a chance for you to give back to the world. When you volunteer for the rescued girls at the Maasai Girls Rescue Center, you open an entirely new world to them. You will have a huge impact on the girls’ attitudes and their future. When volunteering at the…...

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Meet Elisante Loi Laizer, MGRC’s new on-site manager!

I have been working on finding the right person for this position for quite some time and it hasn’t been easy. This new position would include handing off management of the staff which, as you may know, would be one of the hardest things for me to let go. But…...

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MGRC ecoVillage teaches girls to “fish”

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. –Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, 4th century, BC What they don’t say is, “And it would be nice if you gave him a fishing rod.” ― Trevor Noah, Born a…...

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An extraordinary journey to a sustainable future

52 girls. 14 adults. 6 cows. 70 mattresses and 30 bunkbeds. Furniture, hundreds of boxes of clothing, kitchen goods and other belongings.  On January 30, the precious people, animals and cargo of the Maasai Girls Rescue Center made our way over rutted, muddy roads and steep mountain passes on a seven-hour journey from our old home in Longido to…...

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Threads of Hope – Dresses for the Girls at MGRC

If you regularly check out the MGRC Facebook page and the MGRC website, you’ve undoubtly noticed pictures of the girls wearing colorful dresses. Recently, a photograph of Susan from MGRC was featured on a Facebook post wearing a beautiful dress with an embroidered pocket.  The dress was made by Mary, one of the…...

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Send with Love

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, send a note of encouragement to a MGRC girl. *I understand that by participating I agree to allow Maasai Girls Rescue Center to contact me by email. I can update these preferences and opt out at a later time. What to write about Here are some…...

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2020 Year in Review

2020 was a watershed year for MGRC After going through tremendous growth in 2019, we shifted our focus last year to sustainability. We did a lot of work behind-the-scenes putting processes in place to make us more efficient to ensure our high quality of care for the girls for many…...

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More than a safari

MGRC is located within reasonable driving distance to several world famous National Parks. While people on the other side of the globe dream of one day visiting these amazing places, the girls here at the center never felt like this was an obtainable ambition for them. Even though the admission for…...

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A Christmas to remember

In Tanzania, Christmas is more about celebrating the birth of Jesus and less about exchanging gifts or Santa Claus. This year was no different. We attended church, sang hymns, and enjoyed a special holiday meal together. What was different was when a couple of donors asked me if they could…...

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Education empowers girls to determine their own path in life

Education is a cornerstone of our work here at the Center. Our mission is to adopt the most at-risk girls – victims of abuse, poverty and starvation – and give them a foundation for a new life. We believe that education is a way to break this cycle of abuse…...

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Nemoipo’s Continuing Education Journey

Before Nemoipo joined MGRC, she would walk six kilometers to school, one-way. Often her primary intention for attending class was to receive a single meal — a bowl of porridge — that was provided at the school most days. Her family was very poor, and sometimes there simply was not…...

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Feeling thankful even in a challenging year

2020 has been a difficult year, no further explanation necessary on that topic. When everything you see is negative, I would like to take a moment to share a few things I am thankful for… 1) Proof the Program is working: Words cannot describe how thankful, grateful, and overwhelming proud…...

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Upendo’s fight for her education: Overcoming oppression and handicaps

Upendo came into our lives several years ago, when one of my coordinators told me about an albino girl who lived with her family in a small boma about 3 hours from the center. Being albino is extremely dangerous here. There is a belief among witch doctors that the body…...

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To our “Prayer Warriors”

With God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37 NKJV We are truly blessed at MGRC to have prayers coming from all around the world. Some of our girls are facing severe challenges or are in situations that could use extra support and encouragement. After we wrote about Bahati’s progress with…...

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Regaining her vision: Bahati’s Story

Bahati came into our lives back in April when her father brought her to the Center asking for help. She was a sweet 5-year-old with a severe eye problem. I could tell right away something was wrong by the way her eyes “floated” in different directions. She was unable to focus on anything and wouldn’t be able to…...

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MGRC featured in The Red Book Magazine

MGRC featured in The Red Book Magazine, March 2020Text by Beverly Medlyn – Photos courtesy Maasai Girls Rescue Center Moved by the Maasai A trip to Tanzania becomes a life-changing experience When Rick Morro retired nine years ago, he envisioned a life of travel, golf and fishing. During his career…...

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Thanks for an amazing 2019!

First, I would like to personally thank all of our behind-the-scenes and in-person volunteers for their time and support to the Maasai Girls Rescue Center. Because of their generosity and the generosity of so many new and faithful supporters, we were able to surpass our critical year-end fundraising goal and…...

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How MGRC helps to curb starvation

Many of the new girls that we take in at MGRC are suffering from starvation. Our waiting list is so long that I can only take in the most at-risk girls, so each case is extreme. This creates a unique challenge, because in order to accomplish our main goals of…...

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How volunteering at MGRC impacted my daily life

MGRC’s founder, Rick Morro’s 16 year old granddaughter spent two unforgettable weeks volunteering at MGRC. These are her words on how the experience has changed her life. Now that I am home in Arizona and back to my usual routine of living a blessed life, I cannot stop thinking about…...

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Returning from my Trip to the States

I have been back in Longido, Tanzania for a couple weeks now. During my trip to the States, we received commitment to sponsor 8 more girls. We also raised some funds to cover our short-term care of the unsponsored girls. We still have 13 more sponsorships to cover, and have…...

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Life-changing experience, looking to the future, and my upcoming trip to the US

It is hard to believe that 2019 is half over. Many things have happened at MGRC, too many to list them all here. We now have 36 full time girls living at the Center, plus one girl who is here for protection during school break. She is not allowed to…...

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The most surprising things about my trip to MGRC

When I first came to Tanzania, Africa for my trip to MGRC, I was expecting most of it to be just like America.  After being here for a week, I learned it was nothing like being in America. People in Africa have life so much harder than me or anyone I…...

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And then there were 33

I am sitting here wanting to share many activities that have been going on in the life of MGRC.  I always state that I am not the best writer in the world. I have been asked to do video messages as my gift for gab is better than my writing…...

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Why I have to turn people away every week and how I plan to overcome it

It has been a very busy and interesting couple of weeks. MGRC is currently at capacity renting the LOOCIP hostel and facilities. The government brought four girls last week to us who they are protecting from forced marriage. Even though we are full, Sayuni who just had thyroid surgery is…...

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Sayuni’s Story, Staying Busy & Planning for the Future

I am behind in writing my blog. I could use the excuse that I have been extremely busy but there is always time to send information and keep people informed. It has been a very exciting year so far. We had several successful projects that will help our girls now…...

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2019 is Starting off Great

I was reminded that I have not blogged in a while. It is because we have been so busy with the girls’ school break, the Christmas holidays and school shopping for the girls. 2019 is starting off great with many good things happening at MGRC. We now have 23 girls…...

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With your help, our journey continues

2018 has been a year of tremendous growth for MGRC, and a lot of great things are happening. My goal for this project is to offer Maasai girls and the Maasai village a path to break a debilitating cycle of child-mortality, extreme poverty, FGM, and abuses of child-marriage. Your support…...

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Why I’m asking for goats for Christmas

Raising goats at our center will provide sustainable food source for our girls. I believe in this sustainable project and as with everything I do I weigh the short and long term benefits – this project will make a lasting impact.  Goats thrive very well in our climate and our…...

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Upon My Return

I returned from my annual visit to the States. It was a great time visiting family and friends. Everyone back home is doing well. It is great to see how grown-up my grandchildren are getting. My daughter’s oldest is now 16. Time really does fly by. It is a reminder…...

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The luxury of storing food

The Luxury of Storing Food Whenever I visit the states it always reminds me of just how fortunate and blessed we are to have so many varieties of fresh meat and produce readily available to us. In the remote areas of Tanzania, meat especially is very hard to come by…...

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Our First Year’s Accomplishments & Help from Unexpected Places

Our first year’s accomplishments MGRC is gaining traction and with any growth it is not always smooth sailing but the rewards are worth it. MGRC has just celebrated its official one year anniversary and we have learned a lot. Our first year’s accomplishments started with two girls last year and…...

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It is Good

It is good yet challenging at times My friend’s deaf son was a passenger on a motorcycle when it was run off the road into a deep ditch. There were three people on the motorcycle. The driver lost a foot, my friend’s son has a broken leg and the third…...

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The New Beginning

The New Beginning The girls have just finished with a month-long school break. Each girl got a chance to visit with their families during the break. There was a few tears when some of the younger ones returned after being with their families. The girls all have adjusted to being…...

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It is all in how it is said

It is all in how it is said Communication is critical when trying to work with people. A team member must be able to communicate effectively if the work or project is to be completed successfully. I am a problem in this area. I have been in Tanzania living in…...

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It Takes Time To Understand

It Takes Time to Understand Well things are moving ever so slowly but they are moving. I am constantly learning how much I do not know about the Tanzanian, African, and Maasai cultures. I am trying but some days are easier than others. The biggest problem I have is language,…...

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It is Just a Little Different

It it just a little different Well, it is just a little different. I have been here for over two years and I sometimes think I understand the differences in mine and the Tanzanian culture. If I learned anything, it is that I really don’t appreciate the real differences. I…...

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One Day at a Time

I have been back in Tanzania for over four weeks now. It is a bit stunning that in some ways it seems I never left and in another way, as if I just got here. I really enjoyed my visit with family and friends. This was my second trip back…...

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Returned from Much Needed Vacation

Returned from much needed vacation I returned from a much needed vacation on the 3rd of April, a 30 day vacation in the States. It was great seeing family and friends. I was getting burned out with the constant grind of trying to help a people who have been conditioned…...

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Visiting Family and Friends back in the States

I am back in the States visiting family and friends. It is great to see my children and grandchildren. A hot shower has been the other highlight of this trip. My daughter is feeding me too much but says I can diet when I return to Tanzania. I will need…...

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Preparing for the Trip Back to the States

I am in Arusha making final preparations for my trip back home. I have had the privilege of meeting and working with an NGO in Arusha that takes at risk babies and cares for them until they can find suitable parents to adopt them. The organization is called Neema House (Arusha).…...

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