Mary. And me.

This story starts as early as 2001, when I visited Moshi in Tanzania for my first time. Together with fellow students from Skagerak International School, we got to know the people quite well through a school we were building in Langoni, a rural area outside the city. 

We quickly got to know the locals, but one meeting would make a bigger impact. On a visit with a family, we were introduced to a wonderful girl, 4 yeas old at the time. Her name was Mary. To put it short, Mary was born with defects that gave her a very short life expectancy. I stayed in touch, and against all odds Mary was now 7 years old – and it was time to take action. I raised the necessary funds, booked flights and operation in India. But Mary died at the hospital in Moshi in preparations for the flight.

The story stuck to me, and there was always a desire to go back and do something to honor Mary. In 2013, I started looking for a project to fund – going back empty handed was never an option.

Finding a project is one thing, but finding a project that is well run to start with, and can ensure that both the funds are used correct and wisely, and also ensures the future of the project is not that easy to come by.

Organizations and partners was found, and the project started; building a day care centre for intellectual disabled children in Moshi. The name gave itself – Mary’s House, which opened in 2015 thanks to so many amazing people who made it possible.

Working with children and societies that deserves a better life is not a single project with an end date. Marys House is the first project - and with help from dedicated people who wants to make a better life for those in need, we have many projects to come.

Mary died at the age of 9, but she lives on in our hearts and in the choices we make to help others.