where we serve

Current Projects

STEP-BY STEP- LEARNING CENTER

An Inclusive school for special needs children….and all children

Step by Step Learning Center opened September 2005 with its first special needs student, Ruth Kenyi. With limited access to educational facilities for special needs students in Tanzania, Ruth's mother, Margaret, envisioned an educational facility where children with a wide variety of special needs, together with mainstream students, could receive a quality education and reach their highest potential.

Currently 12 students are receiving services at Step by Step learning Center, with disabilities including hearing impaired, mentally and physically impaired autism, and Down’s syndrome.

Through SSLC’s involvement with OMEGA, land has been purchased, and the first 2 classrooms are near completion. These 2 classrooms are the cornerstone for what will one day be Grace Academy, where special needs children will be taught alongside mainstream primary and secondary students. The master plan for this facility will provide classrooms for over 50 special needs students, and over 300 students ranging from pre-primary through secondary school. This school will be a unique model to teach disabled and non-disabled children side-by-side.

OMEGA team projects could include assistance in completing construction of classrooms and outlying grounds, in addition to continued teacher training and student involvement.

Immediate needs for SSLC include:

Completion of 2 classrooms $19,000
School mini-bus to transport students: $11,600
4 additional classrooms for mainstream students, grades 1-3: $60,000
Sponsorship of student: $58/month

To achieve the vision for Grace Academy, the following facilities are included in the master plan:

11 classrooms, library/media center, music room, sports facilities, vocational training block, administrative block, kitchen and cafeteria.
Additional 6 classrooms for the secondary block, 2 laboratories, and a multi-purpose room.

If you are interested in this project and would like more information on supporting or adopting Step by Step Learning Center, please contact Jerry Hale at jhale@omegamission.org.

MSWAKINI PRIMARY SCHOOL

Where Poverty Reigns

Mswakini is located adjacent to the famous Tarangire National Park and is home to a large Maasai population. The Mswakini School was started in 2001 as a pre-primary school serving the Maasai of the area. The school was originally made of mud and sticks; however, through community and government efforts, along with involvement with OMEGA, the school now consists of six cement block classrooms and three offices, serving over 400 students from pre-primary through grade 7. The government supplies one textbook for every three students, but does not provide any school supplies, such as uniforms, stationery or writing utensils.

Because the school is located in such a remote area, finances from the community are limited. Rain accumulations have been below normal in recent years and often crops are destroyed by elephants in the area. Water is scarce. OMEGA has partnered with other organizations to help identify a remedy for water sources for the school and community.

Immediate needs for the school include:

Completion of 2 classrooms (floor/wall finishing, windows, doors): $15,000
Construction of 75 desks: $2,000
Text books: $50/student

OMEGA teams have built 2 of the 6 classrooms, relieving a need for additional space. The administration and community envision developing a complete pre–primary and primary school with sufficient classroom space. Additions to the current facility would include:

2 additional latrines
Kitchen/cook area
Dining facility/community room
Sports grounds

If you are interested in this project and would like more information on supporting or adopting Mswakini Primary School, please contact Jerry Hale at jhale@omegamission.org.

WARI SECONDARY SCHOOL

A community-based secondary school

Wari Secondary School is in Machame nestled in the hills ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro. Under the direction of Florence Sawe, Wari is a community based school, organized by local parents in an effort to provide quality education to area secondary students. Currently 200 students are enrolled and educated in 6 classrooms. Approximately 150 students live in 2 dormitories on the campus.

The Machame area gets more rainfall than other areas in Tanzania. When rain comes or temperatures drop, students are limited to taking their meals in classrooms or dormitories and have no place to congregate as a group.

OMEGA teams have provided work through general maintenance of the school and grounds, including fresh paint on all the classrooms. The students enjoyed having OMEGA teams participate in their recreational sports and assist with conversational English. The local community benefited from first aid training offered after school hours.

Immediate needs for Wari Secondary School include:

Dining/Community Facility—roofed and open-sided - $7,000
50 Desks (team constructed) - $1,500
Text Books— $50/student

Envisioning longer-term needs, the staff at Wari would like to see a science laboratory and computer lab.

If you are interested in this project and would like more information on supporting or adopting Wari Secondary School, please contact Jerry Hale at jhale@omegamission.org.

SAFINA STREET NETWORK

Serving children living on the streets of Dodoma

Safina Street Network is a ministry started in Dodoma in 2004 which focuses on children living on the streets. Children live on the streets as a result of a parent’s death; parent’s divorcing and leaving children, abuse, or problems with step-parents. Often these children run away because of poverty in the home. Approximately 250, ages 4 to 23 are served through Safina. Services include a daily meal, counseling, medical treatment, drug rehab, school fees, and assistance with legal matters. Bible teaching and worship is a part of their daily meal.

Director, Andrea Helleman and the Safina team make every effort to locate family members to re-integrate these children into the home of a relative. Even though some children are placed with a relative or one of the 2 foster homes, the majority of these children remain on the streets. Locating and ministering to these children at the dump, bus stand, market place, or even in police custody is part of the team’s weekly routine.

Of the 250 children identified, 79 are in school and 6 in vocational school.

The program is operated as a “drop-in” center and is open 7 days a week for meals, counseling, and medical attention. Recently the center re-located to a larger facility which is in need of refurbishing.

Current needs for Safina Street Network include:

Supplies for new children’s shelters
School Fees
Financial support for daily meals and foster home subsidy

HELP FOR THE MAASAI

A mission to the Maasai people of East Africa

The Maasai live in Northern Tanzania and are semi-nomadic, constantly in search for water and pastureland for their herds of cows. They are well known for their colorful blue and red clothing and can be seen when traveling across the plains where they live. Help for the Maasai, under the direction of Angelika Wohlenberg ministers to the Maasai tribe through evangelism, education, health clinics, family life seminars and assistance to the handicapped. Providing opportunities for education, Help for the Maasai has built and administers an English medium primary school in Malambo, as well as boarding young Maasai girls while attending school in the Arusha area. Basic health care needs are met using a mobile clinic.

Immediate needs for Help for the Maasai:

Additional classroom construction at Malambo school
School fees for Maasai children

SHEKINAH MIRACLE CENTER

Providing a solid educational foundation

Providing a solid foundation for children in pre-primary school can make a difference in their future academic success. Pastor Erasto Mwambeje is a firm believer in this statement and has seen many children and parents walk away from educational opportunities because their children were able to enroll in pre-school. Mr. Mwambeje and supporters from Ireland built a 2 room pre-school in Ipagala, focusing on children in this village on the fringes of Dodoma. The school has been open and running successfully for 3 years. On Sundays, the doors are open once again as the building serves as a place of worship for villagers. Recently, with the displacement of the village of Nghong’onha, Mr. Mwambeje has a vision of bringing pre-school education to this community. The Beroya Church has been planted, and a building started. Once the walls are up, then the doors will be opened to start yet another pre-school.

Immediate needs:

Construction of brick walls
Installation of windows and doors
Painting

SAMBASHA BAPTIST CHURCH

A Church Serving the Community

Sambasha Baptist Church, located in the foothills of Mt. Meru, near Arusha, is a Maasai community. Under the leadership of Pastor Saitoti Mollell, the people of this congregation are serving the needs of their village through a number of different programs. Four years ago, Pastor Saitoti requested assistance from OMEGA in building classrooms to house a Compassion International after-school program. The completed classrooms not only serve as space for the Compassion program in the afternoon, but classes are conducted for the Timbolo Nursery School during the first half of the day. Most recently, adults are receiving adult literacy classes in the same space. Near completion and adjacent to the classrooms stands the newly dedicated church building. OMEGA teams have invested time and energy to assist the people of this community as they seek to serve others.

A man of vision, Pastor Saitoti has a dream of building a secondary school on 7 acres next to the church. Secondary school students now walk approximately 8 miles to the nearest school.
Immediate needs:

Seating for the church: $3,465
Desks and supplies for new secondary school

East Coast Fever (ECF)

Its Time

OMEGA Mission International is assisting Dr. Lieve Lynen, a Belgium born lady veterinarian in the fight against East Coast Fever (ECF) on behalf of the Maasai pastoralist herdsman in Tanzania. Funds are needed in support of Dr. Lieve’s efforts to establish a delivery system for East Coast Fever vaccinations needed by the Maasai cattle.

Dr. Lieve, along with Dr. Honest Ndanu, have aided in the field testing and distribution and delivery of the ECF vaccine. As of May, 2010, the vaccine has been approved by the Tanzanian government.

Our group is attempting to raise monies to fund a delivery system for the East Coast Fever Vaccine to the Maasai pastoralist herdsman. The vaccination will cost about $10 per calf. Once vaccinated, the animal remains immune from ECF for life. Our informational videos can be viewed on Facebook and also on YouTube.

Donations can be made to “ECF” through:

OMEGA Mission International
15219 Joliet Ave.
Lubbock, Texas 79423
806-787-9958

Mission Opportunities

2011 Mission Trips

OMEGA is currently building teams for trips into Tanzania. Are you interested in joining or forming a team? Call 806-787-9958 or Learn more.

Photo Gallery

See the impact OMEGA volunteers have had across various projects in Tanzania.
View the Photo Gallery.