Help Keep Project Create Moving: A $3,000 Next Step

12 hours ago

3 min read

The art supplies are there, packed in bins.

Teachers are willing, and a school is ready to welcome the program. But the next step needs more support than we originally anticipated.

We need to raise $3,000 to keep Project Create moving forward over the next year.

Project Create has a goal close to my heart: to bring Godly teachings and creative expression through arts and crafts to 5,000 children each month in Tanzania’s public schools.

We want children to have opportunities to create, explore, and learn while hearing lessons that encourage faith, kindness, and character. Getting there means giving the teachers who will lead these activities the training and support they need.

Learning as We Go

When we began Project Create, we envisioned a five-year journey, starting with introducing the project and moving into implementation.

That introduction revealed a much bigger learning curve than we had expected. Activities and materials that seemed straightforward to us were unfamiliar to teachers who had never led this kind of program before.

We have extended our timeline from five years to seven, allowing more time for training, practice, and support.

Starting something new takes courage. Being willing to try does not mean someone immediately feels confident leading a classroom through an unfamiliar activity. We are listening to what our teachers need and adjusting the project so they can succeed.

The Support We Need on the Ground

Giving people time between stages is wise, but distance has made it difficult to provide consistent help when questions arise.

We have realized that we need someone in Tanzania who can support the teachers during implementation, initially one or two days each month. I have already identified the teacher we plan to hire, and meetings are taking place.

As Project Create grows, this support may remain an ongoing part of the program. Our hope is that it could eventually develop into a full-time art teacher position.

For now, we need to build confidence through practical, hands-on help.

Why I Need to Go

I need to travel to Tanzania for a week of training, meetings, and work alongside the people who will carry this project forward.

During that visit, I will help train our local teacher, work through activities with the team, and reorganize the supply bins to make each lesson easier to prepare and lead.

We thought we had made the materials simple to use. Now we understand that we need to take that preparation a step further.

The supplies are waiting. The willingness is there. What is missing is enough confidence and support to put those materials into children’s hands consistently.

That is something we can work on together.

Will You Help Us Take This Next Step?

Our immediate fundraising goal is $3,000 to help make this training visit and the next stage of implementation possible, keeping Project Create going over the coming year.

The vision of reaching 5,000 children monthly is our long-term goal. This is the practical next step toward it: helping a willing team gain the experience to lead, learn, and grow.

After so many years in Tanzania, I know that meaningful work often asks us to listen carefully and adjust our plans. This is one of those moments.

I still believe deeply in Project Create and the opportunities it can offer children. We have learned what needs more attention, found someone who can help locally, and begun making those changes.

Would you consider giving toward our $3,000 goal?

Your gift will help us move the supplies out of the bins and into the classrooms where they belong.

To give, visit the giving page on our website and include “Project Create” with your donation.