Two months in America, College in Africa, and running water all came about from a small question like "How can I help?"

HOW IT BEGAN?
In 2001 upon descending with a group of 10 people from Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa, I was talking with Yusuf, our guide from town. It was a very successful climb in many ways. It is hard to explain what life is like in many places in the world until you have been there. Yusuf was an honest, hardworking, sincere man with a son and a wife. He lived in a cement blockhouse without running water on the edge of the dusty town tucked into a quiet glade of green. He was fortunate, thrifty and wise to have been able to save the money to build his two-room house. For $60 we put his two assistants through English school for 3 months. (Later one ran to me when I was in town with a huge hug and declared how much that had changed his life and he would never forget me, but that is another story.) Yusuf wanted to attend a computer class. For another $60 he was signed up during the slow season. As the years have gone by the relationship between Yusuf and his friends that help us on the mountain has grown.

AN AIRPLANE TO AMERICA
The story goes on with more visits to Kilimanjaro. Each time that same small question was asked. "How can I help you?" The answers got bigger as the relationship grew. One time the answer came back "I want to go to America, I need work". I explained to Yusuf we could not give him work in America due to political reasons. Given the complexity of the world, and the fact Yusuf's experience of travel was only to Dar Es Salaam, I could see the rational for careful immigration control was lost. When $50/week guiding is a good salary, the wealth of America seems limitless. I told Yusuf to let me know if he could get a visa. Well he did. That is also a long story resulting in calls to the embassy, Africa and a $2000 plane ticket we bought for Yusuf. He arrived in America from a dusty hot town in Africa. He had a 5th grade education. It was early winter here. An African lives on about $5/week for food. Here he was part of a culture where a cup of coffee can cost $5. He told me at one point, "Yes you have food, but you don't have time to eat it." He spoke to over 17 groups ranging from jails to Corporations. The largest group was over 380 people. He missed his family and friends and a saner pace of life. He was superb at bridging the gap between our cultures. And the gap was huge!

COLLEGE
So, the last time on the mountain when I asked that little "How can I help you?" I was not too surprised to hear he wanted to go to College. He believed in Education. He had wanted to be a doctor but a guide on the mountain made more money more easily. Also when time came to continue school in 5th grade there was no money for the paper and pens needed in classes. With College he believed he could get a better job and provide for education for his son and soon to be daughter. College was a $6000 commitment on our part including one and one half years and two hundred dollars per month to support his family, as he would not be able to work.
In January 2007, Yusuf graduates. To get there over 40 people have contributed to his college and family fund. His schooling has touched his family and everyone else around him.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
When we hire people in Africa, we commit to paying livable wages. The fierce competition for business has resulted in the people at the bottom suffering the most. While standing outside the gates before the trek, it is not uncommon to see 100 Africans waiting for a $25/week job and experience the guards beating them back with sticks because they want to be in line first for the job. After seeing such things it is hard to justify some of the financial decisions we make in our lives. For many who have made the trip to Africa it has provided a powerful time to reflect and to make positive choices. Many have considered "matters that matter" and chosen to act in whatever way they can.

Click here to learn a little more about Yusuf.