Meet Maria, affectionately known as “Teacher Mary,” a trailblazing Maasai girl born and raised in the humble Lesiraa Village, nestled on the outskirts of Arusha, Tanzania’s renowned northern tourism hub. Growing up in a community where formal education for girls was once an unattainable dream, Maria defied the odds to become a shining example of what determination and opportunity can achieve.

 Maria’s love for children ignited her passion for teaching. She firmly believes that education is the most powerful tool to drive community transformation. This belief inspired her to establish Ereto Community Initiative (ECI), a registered non-governmental organization dedicated to helping children access education and empowering youth and women economically.

 Her journey in community development is nothing short of extraordinary. Maria has worked  with notable organizations like the Centre for Women, Youth, Elderly, and Children Development (CWCD) and Global Orphanage in Arusha, where her innovative projects impacted over 200 children, women, and youth. As a volunteer teacher at Ilboru Visiwani Center, she nurtured kids with essential skills in language, computers, and soft skills, working hand-in-hand with more than 500 international volunteers from across the globe.

Through Ereto Community Initiative, Maria has spearheaded transformative projects, including school support for over 100 students across primary and secondary schools, classroom construction, food distribution, and water well projects. Her mission is clear: to create opportunities where none existed before and to inspire others to shape a brighter future for her community.

Maria welcomes you to join this story of change. Through education and empowerment, we can build a better tomorrow.

Call or text me now