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This project is led by Jen Bruen and Roberta Smith from the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs and educator Shamus Bruen, in collaboration with a strong network of local and international partners, including Faraja Eliezer - Director of Njombe Enterprise- Days for Girls International, Victoria Koda- Director of Nia Hope for Youth, Yampa Valley Days for Girls, Hayden Valley Schools, and the headmasters of Mbaga and Gonja schools in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. The work is centered in Manka Village in the South Pare Mountains, serving the Pare people, a Bantu ethnic group known for strong cultural traditions, including historic iron working, and livelihoods rooted in farming coffee and crops on terraced mountain slopes. The community also maintains a deep connection to holistic medicine and wellbeing drawn from the natural environment.
Together, this team brings expertise in public health, education, and community development,
grounded in trusted, on-the-ground leadership and local partnership.
The project focuses on improving educational environments and student well-being through targeted school-based investments, while also integrating meaningful community health efforts. Planned activities include upgrading and remodeling teacher offices, installing electricity and WiFi where needed, and expanding access to hands-on learning opportunities. Reusable menstruation kits will be provided through Days for Girls partnerships to support girls' health, dignity, and consistent school attendance.
Gonja school is a priority within this project. It is the childhood school of Victoria Koda's mother, Professor Berta Koda (University of Dar es Salaam), who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease last year and has expressed a strong desire to be part of this effort. In recognition of her lifelong connection to education and community, and her wish to contribute, the team is prioritizing improvements at Gonja, including infrastructure upgrades and the delivery of an interactive STEAM workshop for teachers and students. This work is intended to honor her legacy, engage her meaningfully, and create a lasting impact on current and future students.
-This project is part of a sustainable legacy of Rotary Club of Steamboat springs to these schools and this region.
-This project will offer an opportunity for club members to engage in an international service project.
-This project will be showcased in the Yampa Valley at the upcoming Women's Health Forum to be held in Hayden, Colorado in September, 2026.
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