Our story did not begin with a plan, but with an encounter.
In 2017, Jan traveled as a volunteer to Tanzania. He worked for the small nonprofit organization that Lalahe had founded with his then-wife Claire. Their express purpose: to bring education to Lalahe's home region. Through this work, Jan and Lalahe met. Lalahe, a Maasai, born in the Ngorongoro Crater, had already equipped the Lomiyon community with a first improvised classroom in 2009.
A meeting became a friendship. One year later, on July 12, 2018, nine friends from Cologne signed the articles of association of Makuyuni e.V. The 100%-model applied from the beginning: donations go directly into construction, administration is covered by our crew contributions.
Since then, we have been working with Lalahe and Lazaro. They run their own organization on site, coordinate each construction, and are full-time involved in the projects. We finance, they build with the communities.
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Year by year: how we have grown.
From a meeting in 2017, to the first articles of association in 2018, to five handed over schools, a well for 3,200 people, and two other schools under construction.
- 2009Lalahe and the Lomiyon community start with Idimayii
The first improvised school made of clay walls and corrugated iron roof is created in Lalahe's home region. Without us. With the people on the ground.
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- 2017Jan travels as a volunteer to Tanzania
Jan works as a volunteer for the small nonprofit organization founded by Lalahe with his then-wife Claire. He meets Lalahe personally. A meeting becomes a friendship.
- 2018Founding of Makuyuni e.V. in Cologne
July 12: Articles of association signed. 9 founding members, the 100%-model from the beginning. First project: Expanding Idimayii, together with Lalahe and the Lomiyon community.
- 2019Orkisima: Start of construction of the second school
In Lalahe's home region. Seven classrooms, a teacher's house, later a well for 3,000+ people. Lalahe and Lazaro take over the construction management on site.
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- 2020Orkisima well completed
Clean drinking water according to WHO standards for 3,200 people. External drilling company, Lalahe and Lazaro coordinate.
- 2021Selela: Start of construction of the third school
A community that had already built a classroom from sticks and clay themselves. Today the largest school in the network.
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- 2022Orkisima handed over. Makuyuni Juu: Start of construction of the fourth school
Handover of the first complete school to the Tanzanian government. At the same time, entry into Makuyuni Juu, a community initiative from 2006, which we are expanding.
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- 2023Selela handed over. Zaburi: Start of construction of the fifth school
Selela becomes an official government school. Construction in Zaburi begins. A family from Germany supports the project.
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- 2025Makuyuni Juu handed over. Lolera: Start of construction of the sixth school
Handover to the government. At the same time the sixth school: Lolera, financed by Bücherbörse Köln, the well by Bücherbörse Stuttgart.
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- 2026Zaburi handed over. Lolera grows. Meleleki is being prepared.
Handover of the fifth school to the government. Well, teacher's house and toilet blocks in Lolera are expanding.
Next stop: Meleleki. Block A has already been built by the community. The main sponsor is Bücherbörse Stuttgart. The preliminary examination according to our criteria is completed.
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Who is actually doing this?
Six heads on the board. Two supervisors in Tanzania. And a network that supports everything.
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Questions about the story? Write to us directly.
If you want to know how a volunteer trip became an association, or why we had the 100%-model from the start: Jan will tell you.
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Jan
Jan Grandisch. Co-founder, involved since 2018. First point of contact for donations and projects. He met Lalahe in Tanzania in 2017.