By Adams Ihucha,
The Citizen Correspondent
Ngorongoro.
European holidaymakers have donated desks, chairs and tables worth over Sh 6 million to Ilimisigiyo Primary School in Ngorongoro in appreciation of the community’s conservation efforts.
The support included 60 desks to cater for 180 pupils, five teachers’ tables and chairs.
The group of European holidaymakers from Europe-based Petroleum Company - AS 24 - said they have been impressed by the Maasai’s efforts in conserving the wildlife and environment surrounding their communities and so they decided to do something on education.
“We are impressed by the Maasai indigenous conservation knowledge and we feel that we need to do something on education as a way of saying thank you to their efforts,” says chairman of AS 24 Company, Mr Brumo Daude Lagrave.
Mr Lagrave said a majority of tourists under his group were surprised to discover Tanzania’s richness in natural resources and the country’s lovely people.
“It is far from Europe but we are really happy to discover this wonderful country. We will definitely come back to enjoy these attractions,” he noted.
The tourists group was encouraged to contribute by the director of the Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club (MKSC), Mr Denis Lebouteux.
Mr Lebouteux says there is now a wealth of experience of encouraging travellers and holidaymakers to put back into destinations - to donate to the benefit of local communities and their natural and cultural heritage.
Ilimisigiyo Primary School head, Mr David Mziray, thanked MKSC for coordinating the donation as well as tourists for their willingness to contribute towards the welfare of the Maasai community.
It is understood MKSC has been in the forefront to persuade various tourist groups to extend a helping hand to the poor community in Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit.
MKSC Operations Manager, George Ole Meing’erai said his company saw the need to do something different to the community as an appreciation for their conservation efforts.
