by Dionel Rodriguez | Aug 3, 2026
In rural Kenya, education can change the course of a girl’s life, but for many, simply reaching school safely is a daily obstacle. Long distances between home and school, household responsibilities, poverty, and the risk of early marriage all contribute to high dropout rates among girls, particularly once they reach secondary school age.
At Ntimaru Secondary School, many students walk hours each day to attend class, arriving exhausted and leaving before dark out of concern for their safety. Maryknoll is helping construct a dormitory that will give 300 girls a safe, supportive place to live while they pursue their education. With secure housing on campus, students can devote their evenings to studying rather than travel.
Rooted in the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, this project affirms that every girl possesses inherent worth deserving of protection and the chance to flourish. It also reflects Rights and Responsibilities, particularly the right to education. Maryknoll’s century-old charism of accompanying the poor and marginalized finds direct expression here, as missioners stand beside young women too often overlooked by systems built without them in mind.
Gifts to this project help complete the construction of a dormitory that gives an entire generation of young women the security and stability they need to finish school, pursue their goals, and grow into leaders within their communities and the Church.
by Dionel Rodriguez | Feb 22, 2023
The future vitality of the Catholic Church in Tanzania depends significantly on the formation of a new generation of priests prepared to serve God’s people for decades to come. In the Diocese of Shinyanga, a meaningful number of young men are discerning and pursuing a vocation to the priesthood, a hopeful sign for the local Church, but one that comes with substantial financial demands.
Seminary formation is a lengthy and costly process, encompassing years of academic study, spiritual direction, pastoral training, and daily living expenses, costs that quickly outpace what many families or the diocese alone can sustain. Maryknoll helps bridge this gap, ensuring that seminarians in Shinyanga receive the spiritual, academic, and pastoral training necessary to become effective and faithful priests.
Forming future priests reflects the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the Call to Family, Community, and Participation, since ordained ministers serve as the primary shepherds of the parish communities that anchor Catholic life. This project is also a direct expression of Maryknoll’s founding charism as a missionary society dedicated to building up the local Church, investing in indigenous clergy who will carry the faith forward long after Maryknoll missioners have moved on.
Gifts to this project provide housing, education, and formation support for future priests of the Diocese of Shinyanga, helping ensure the Church in Tanzania continues to be served by well-prepared, faithful clergy.
by Dionel Rodriguez | Jul 30, 2020
For many young people in Tanzania, poverty is the single greatest obstacle to a stable future, regardless of their ability or ambition. Without the financial means to pursue further education or skills training, talented students often see their opportunities close off entirely once they finish secondary school, if they are able to complete it at all.
Maryknoll helps break this cycle by supporting scholarships and vocational training for young people who would otherwise be unable to continue their education. Programs include practical trade skills such as carpentry, electrical work, and culinary arts, alongside more traditional academic scholarships, giving students multiple pathways toward stable, marketable careers suited to their individual interests and strengths.
This project reflects the Catholic Social Teaching principles of the Dignity of Work and the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, affirming that every young person, regardless of family income, deserves the chance to develop skills that lead to meaningful, dignified employment. It also carries forward Maryknoll’s charism of integral human development, understanding that breaking cycles of poverty is itself a form of evangelization and hope made concrete.
Gifts to this project provide scholarships and vocational training that equip underprivileged youth in Tanzania with the tools to build stable careers, support their families, and contribute meaningfully to their communities’ economic future.
