Dear
Friends and Donors:
On behalf of the human and wildlife populations of the Lake Tanganyika Region of western Tanzania who are benefiting from the work of GOSESO, I am pleased that you can be with us to learn more about our exciting vision of bridging human prosperity and wildlife conservation in Africa.
Our business model of slow, yet steady growth is starting to improve local livelihoods and generate international interest. Providing proactive ideas aimed at curbing the downward spiral of human and wildlife populations, we have become a model to affect national and international aspects of wildlife conservation and poverty mitigation. We are demonstrating a responsible, sustainable use of resources that can be replicated throughout Tanzania, the balance of Africa, and indeed, worldwide.
I was extremely humbled in the fall of 2008 when the Ashoka Foundation recognized me to be among leading international social entrepreneurs. I went through Ashoka’s interview process, which was long and arduous. I was judged based on creativity, problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, trustworthiness in the community, and commitment to real social change. This award is a great honor not only to me personally, but also to everyone who has and continues to support our exciting educational, research, conservation, and economic efforts in Tanzania.
GOSESO has been incorporated in both Tanzania, as a non-governmental Trust Deed, and the United States of America, as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are happy to build the first serious regional indigenous organization outside Gombe Stream National Park.
Since the idea for GOSESO was conceived in 2005, we have walked a long journey together to achieve the success we enjoy today. It was my early life experiences growing up in a small village outside Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, that fueled my interest in community-based conservation. I was no more than five years old when my village hired a group of hunters to kill the ‘enemy’ baboons. Many of my friends were jubilant to see dead wild animals, but I never felt that way. What I saw were heads of baboons that bore remarkable similarities to humans. Their dark eyes had the color of my own.
In time, my vision has grown to a view of conservation that not only focuses on wildlife but one that includes a holistic framework designed to foster a sustainable future for humans as well. I now believe that building human and social capital is the best way to promote sustainable rural livelihoods and protect local natural resources. GOSESO is setting a worldwide example that ensures that local people benefit from the land and the local resources through participation in environmental decision-making.
Implementing our vision still requires considerable investment and support from generous and committed people like you. This summer GOSESO welcomed its first class of 22 students which consists of 12 young women and 10 young men between ages 16 and 19. These students are taught by a wonderful team of three full-time teachers and two part-time teachers, myself included. Students spend the entire day on campus from 8am to 5pm, so they get breakfast and lunch each day. We don’t have student housing on campus as of yet, therefore students walk back to their respective villages.
We are asking people to support our scholarship fund to enable students from poor families to receive a world-class education at GOSESO. Only $1,000 per year provides full funding for each student, including room and board.
We are currently refining and implementing our business plan. We will draw funding from tuition paid by students, support from the people of Tanzania, wildlife and cultural tourism programs, a study-abroad program, sales of seedlings from tree nurseries, sustainable farming, palm oil, and coffe production. Combined with donations from friends like you, these sources will meet the operating needs of the school and fund the expansion required to meet our goals for years to come. We remain focused on building one of the finest residential schools in Tanzania and Africa at large.
Our long-term goal is to become self-sustainable; however, your continued support is vital especially at this early stage of school development. It is your support that will help us build our capacity to mobilize domestic support within Tanzania. We feel strongly that our achievements so far have been the result of collective efforts of our supporters. No one person can support the GOSESO vision alone. The vision will only be realized through our number, structure, and scale. A famous Swahili phrase says: “Little by little we will fill the cup.” I thank you in advance for your continuous time and consideration in helping to fill this cup. You may want to visit our updated project website, http://www.goseso.org, to learn more about our progress report in photos.
Sincerely,
___________
Yared Fubusa (Ashoka Fellow, Ph.D. Candidate)
Founder and Executive Director
The Gombe School of Environment & Society
Utah State University
5215 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322 (USA)
Website: http://www.goseso.org, E-mail: yared@goseso.org
Cell Phone: +435 764 3092 (U.S.A.)
+255 764 574 761 (Tanzania)