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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhile bringing true change to the local communities, we at WEbuilding also would like to highlight similar works by other organizations close to us, thereby building a wider ecosystem of like-minded organizations to help build a better world.
\u201cOn April 1st, 2015, I arrived in Nairobi believing it is just another trip, and Uganda is my next destination. And as you might imagine, I never made it to Uganda\u201d recalls Mariana Fischer, who is now heading Hai Africa, a non-profit organization aimed at providing high-quality education to underprivileged children in Kenya.
Mariana is originally from S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, where she studied advertising and education. In 2015, she went to Kenya to do volunteering work and ended up starting an organization called Hai Africa.
She has spent the past 6 years building an organization capable of providing free education and food to kids in the Kabiria community, in Nairobi, Kenya. Mariana passionately believes that education can change the world and hence so far she has raised money to bring food and education to more than 100 families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMariana primarily resides in Brazil where she raises funds and often travels to Kenya to oversee Hai Africa\u2019s activities. \u201cOn May 4th, 2015, I took the $4,000 that I raised through a crowdfunding campaign to help social projects and used it to rent a small house, hire a teacher, and open Hai Africa’s doors to provide meals and creative activities for 13 children in the community\u201d, Mariana recalls, while we asked about her early days with the organization.
\u201cWe are more than just a school,\u201d Mariana says. In their center, Hai Africa supports 15 women who act as the caretakers of the children. With Hai Africa\u2019s support, these women have also become artisans and now they play an essential role in providing livelihood for their families. Fondly the center is called \u201cMamas Company\u201d, signifying the roles of the mothers who play dual roles in taking care of the children and their families.
According to Mariana, Hai Africa is committed to providing a sustainable community-focused solution. \u201c We don’t just look at one piece of the poverty puzzle. Instead, we address the challenge from different sides by providing education, nutrition, healthcare, and economic opportunities\u201d, says Mariana when we asked about the sustainability of her projects.
\u201cHai Africa’s main goal is to offer a space where kids would receive an education based on the Waldorf values. i.e, An education full of love, freedom, and independence\u201d says Mariana. Hai Africa aims to measure the impact of her organization over three pillars: education, emotional development, and health. Their tools for impact measurement include surveys on BMI, Waldorf principles on grading and physical observation from the teachers. They aim to implement it once the children are back from COVID lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked about the challenges she faces in running this organization, she says \u201c Our biggest challenges are working in a culturally different country and maintaining all the fundraising money in REAL (Brazilian currency)\u201d, and that she aims to bring Hai Africa to Brazil someday in future.
Since Mariana\u2019s organization is aimed at uplifting the community in a sustainable way, she says \u201csocial impact and sustainability happen when you care about the effect and impact you cause in people’s lives\u201d. She also insists that one should always question their choices and connect their lives to nature for sustainability.
When we asked her for a tip for our readers, Mariana said that one should think about the impact that they are causing on society. Mariana insists on putting oneself in someone else\u2019s shoes and starting doing one\u2019s part to change the world.
For more information on Mariana and Hai Africa, please refer to her social media and show her your support:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Website<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | LinkedIn<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n