Scholarship month

It's almost Scholarship Month!

Each November at Shepherd of the Valley, we raise funds for our Tanzania Scholarship Program.

Since 2001, Shepherd of the Valley has provided scholarship support for Tanzanian students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend secondary school or college. It is a blessing to watch these young people take that opportunity and step into lives of service and leadership in their communities. Here are a few of the lives your gifts have touched:

• ·        Joakim attended secondary school, overcame debilitating migraines, and graduated at the top of his class. In college, he studied medicine and then worked for several years as a clinical officer (equivalent to a physician’s assistant). Now he’s back in medical school, just one year away from his MD.
• ·        Asia is the first Maasai girl from the village of Mahove to complete all six years of secondary school, and she graduated first in her class. She has just begun a bachelor’s degree in education.
• ·        Fred was one of the first students we sent to college. He has used his math and economics degree in the banking industry, and now manages one of the largest banks in the region.
• ·        Consolata, a single mom, attended a course in tourism and office administration. For several years she managed the office of a local tour operator, and recently opened her own shop. She also formed an NGO that places European and American students in Tanzanian learning and service situations. She likes to say that SOTV’s support took her “from shame to fame.”
• ·        Children living at Huruma Center are orphans with not even extended family members left to care for them. They attend day schools and then enter secondary schools at age 16. Christian went from living on the streets, to being cared for at the orphanage, to attending one of the best secondary schools in the country, and is now finishing up medical school.

We have hundreds of stories like these and more opportunities to continue to bless our partners with the gift of education.

Thank you for your gifts to the SOTV Tanzania Scholarship & Education Fund. We are now collecting funds for the coming year’s scholarship support. We hope to continue to support 150 secondary and college students, and we need your generous contributions to keep these kids in school.

A secondary scholarship, including tuition, room and board, costs an average of $400 per year. College fees range from $1000 - $5000 depending on the institution and degree program. Contribute online at www.sotv.org/give or write a check to SOTV with “TZ Scholarship” in the memo line.

With deep gratitude,

SOTV Tanzania Steering Committee

Kirsten Levorson, Judy Anderson, Joan Dornfeld, Brenda Krueger, Ken Loher, Mollie & Lyn MacLean, Jim Odland, Kristen Pahl, Jeff Taphorn, Pastor Randy Brandt, Pastor Wendy Steger