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On March 17th, 2019, tropical cyclone Idai hit Africa, causing high winds, widespread flooding and destruction. The small aluminum classroom the children of Taru had been meeting in was torn to pieces and thrown by the high winds into a nearby tree. Sharon Warner, Merit Academy’s Head Chef, reports “Our ‘Meal for Mtulu and Taru’ event was perfectly timed to provide reconstruction.”Warner continued, “We raised $5,600 dollars this year for the school children in Kenya, Africa, to build a new school. A generous couple from Orem, Utah, then matched the amount raised by Merit Academy. The school needed $10,000 to build a classroom, but now we can send just over $11,000 to build a solid structure for them to meet in. We are so grateful that the money was already on its way when the storm hit. Now they can go to school and soon have a real roof over their heads.”
Ninety miles from any urban center, Mtulu and Taru, village schools for young children, lie in the driest, poorest region of Kenya. Students walk between four and eight miles to school, often on empty stomachs. Due to the recent famine, many of the students are without adequate nutrition.
Kristi Gilbert, English Department Chair, explains that since Merit Academy adopted Mtulu, annual fundraising has built desperately needed bathroom facilities, purchased books and supplies, and provided essentials for Mtulu students. “The new classrooms we built for Mtulu made it through the storm just fine, so our recent fundraising will be used to help Taru, our second sister school.”
Since 2010, Merit Academy has worked to improve the lives of the students at Mtulu Primary School in rural Kenya, Africa. Dr. Jesse Meeks, Merit’s Director, reports, “We started with an annual 5K fun-run fundraiser. Now, years later, our students, teachers, and staff contribute time, money and resources to build an epic evening--our Meal for Mtulu and now Taru! We hope that this event will continue to grow every year with support from friends and local businesses in the community.”
About Merit College Preparatory Academy:
Merit Academy is a free public charter school for grades 7-12. The school provides an outstanding educational experience designed to instill excellence, build a love of learning and service, and create principled leaders, who will engage in real world challenges and opportunities.
Contact Info:
Name: Dr. Jesse Meeks
Email: Send Email
Organization: Merit College Preparatory Academy, LLC
Address: 1440 W Center St., Springville, UT 84663
Phone: 801-492-7600
Website: https://meritprepacademy.org/
Release ID: 504174
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