Who we are. What we believe in. How we work.
Makuyuni e.V. is a Cologne-based association, founded in 2018. Five schools are completed, two more are under construction. 100 % of donations go into building.
A journey, an encounter, an idea.
Lalahe is Maasai, born in the Ngorongoro Crater. Back in 2009 he started building a first classroom together with the Lomiyon community, to finally bring education to his home region. For this goal he founded a small NGO with his then-wife Claire. In 2017 Jan joined as a volunteer, worked for exactly this NGO and got to know Lalahe that way.
2009
Lalahe starts the first school with the Lomiyon community.
2018
Founding of Makuyuni e.V. in Cologne, first school build under way.
2025
Five schools complete, two more under construction.
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A school grows with its children. Block by block.
We never build a whole school in one go. First block A, then B, then C, as soon as the community has the children for it. With five criteria we check whether we finance a school. Which criteria these are, you’ll find on our Mission page.
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Who is behind Makuyuni? A board in Cologne, Lalahe and Lazaro in Tanzania, and a network that carries it all.
Makuyuni is not carried by eight board members, but by around 90 people. Six on the Cologne board, Lalahe and Lazaro in Tanzania, plus a circle of crew members and supporters who make it all possible.
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Lalahe
Maasai, born in the Ngorongoro Crater. Historic heart of the project since 2009.
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Lazaro
Operational partner of Lalahe. Coordinates construction and community interfaces on site.
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Andy
Co-founder of Makuyuni e.V. Sponsoring, finance, tech.
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Jan
Co-founder of Makuyuni e.V. First contact for donations and projects. He met Lalahe in Tanzania in 2017.
100 % of your donation goes into construction.
Notary, domain and banking fees in Germany are paid by our members' crew contributions. So are the salaries of Lalahe and Lazaro on site, who coordinate every build. 2025 covered at 101.8 %, since 2022 cumulatively at 102.9 %. Verified by our financial reports and by Finanzamt Köln-Altstadt (Cologne tax office).
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Questions about Makuyuni? Write directly.
Jan answers anything about Makuyuni: history, mission, team or donation questions. Usually within 24 hours on weekdays.
Jan
Co-founder of Makuyuni e.V. First contact for donations and projects. He met Lalahe in Tanzania in 2017.
Write directly. No marketing department, no ticket system. Jan reads your mail himself and usually replies within a few days.
You can help carry Makuyuni.
A school grows from donations. An association grows from members. We need both, and both are possible.