The Buffalo Tanzania Education Project (BTEP) is a multifaceted and informal engagement model that is based on a simple yet profound premise: by focusing our individual engagement on a common vision, namely improving opportunities for women and their families in Kitenga Village and the surround Mara Region, we can leverage and expand our impact while at the same time creating meaningful engagement opportunities within our own community. We have worked from the core principle that everyone has something of value to offer, and that by getting close to the community of focus, building mutual trust and understanding while continuing to clarify and support shared goals, we can achieve amazing outcomes that extend well beyond what we could accomplish alone.
While it is difficult to fully appreciate or capture the significance of our collective efforts since BTEP began in 2009, we offer the following highlights as examples of what can be achieved.
- Over $20,000.00 in funds to support targeted projects and construction raised through BTEP fundraisers and related efforts. Our fundraisers were hosted as informal gatherings designed to build capacity and support for BTEP projects while fostering collaboration and sense of community.
- Four BTEP members have completed doctoral research dissertations all focusing on specific aspects of education or community development policies within and across Tanzania (Godfrey Telli, Fortidas Bakuza, Katie Biggie (BTEP co-founder), and Jessica Essary). Both Godfrey Telli and Fortidas Bakuza returned to Tanzania following completion of their degrees to contribute to the development of higher education within their country while strengthening the BTEP community from abroad.
- Design and construction of a playground made possible by a team of architects, students, faculty, and community members under the leadership of Dr. James Hoot, Professor of Early Childhood Education at UB.In addition to championing the playground, Dr. Hoot was able to leverage his presidency of the Association of Childhood Education International to raise funds for construction of the Early Childhood building within the Kitenga campus, while engaging various students and colleagues in aspects of the project.
- Development and administration of semester-long field placements for UB Social Work students under the leadership of Dr. Kathleen Kost, Associate Professor, UB School of Social Work. Dr. Kost made several trips to Tanzania, developing a formalized relationship with the Institute of Social Work that has led to participation in a SUNY-wide COIL initiative, and engagement in research that has since been presented at an international conference in Uganda.
- Donation and shipment of off-grid solar electrification and cookers by Solar Liberty Foundation to support the school and associated community needs within Kitenga, led by Executive Director, Paige Mecca. Due to deforestation throughout the Mara Region and rural Tanzania, solar cooking and electrification have emerged as important yet still expensive options for safe and sustainable energy.
- A deep bore well and plans to construct latrines and second well through the leadership of Buffalo Sunrise Rotary Club and other contributing clubs within District 7090 (led by Dr. Barbara Ochterski and Dr. Kevin Crosby, District Governor). The Rotary connection has emerged as a valuable network of humanitarians and resources that continue to contribute significantly to the evolving Kitenga campus and other development projects throughout the world.
- Development of the Girls Education Collaborative (GEC) and stewarding of associated fundraising efforts to support the construction of the Kitenga school campus under the leadership of Founding Executive Director, Anne Wadsworth. In recognition that a public research university was inherently limited in its ability to fund raise, the creation of a nonprofit proved pivotal in raising the scale of support necessary to complete construction of required school structures.
- Contributions of medical equipment and community donations made through the leadership of BTEP co-founder Dr. Katie Biggie. Katie was instrumental in helping to develop the BTEP model, leading trips and fundraisers while creating and facilitating initial study abroad offerings. As an active Rotarian and Club President, she also successfully leveraged available funds and support, serving as a champion and steward for the project.
- Various research, writing projects, and conference papers presented by respective BTEP members including a recent article titled “Bringing International Engagement to Scale: Lessons from the Buffalo Tanzania Education Project,” featured in Metropolitan Universities Journal (Huber & Nyaronga, March 2015), and “Socio-cultural Practices and Women’s Health in Tanzania” featured in the International Journal of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Nyaronga & Toma, 2015)
In addition to these outcomes we consider our Tanzania study abroad course to be an important outgrowth of BTEP. By offering students (both graduate and undergraduate) opportunities to experience the Mara Region while exploring the complexities of poverty and community development, we invite them to become advocates, change agents, and citizens of the world.
Buffalo Tanzania Education Project 