Updates
News & Updates from GPFD

In Memoriam: Willard “Bill” Harris, Jr.
On March 14, 2022, a very great man, friend and ally to our communities in East Africa passed away. Bill Harris was generous beyond measure and wholeheartedly committed to helping elevate some of the most

Welcome to the Board, Rosemary Chengson!
Global Partners is pleased to announce that Rosemary Chengson has joined our board of directors and is currently serving as board treasurer. Rosemary brings years of experience and leadership to the board, and her expertise

Global Partners for Development Golf Tournament
We are pleased to announce that we are hosting a Golf Tournament on Monday, October 18th at the Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club. All proceeds from this event will go toward supporting Global Partner’s

Update from the Field: Adjusting to Pandemic Life in Kenya
It is sixteen months since we had the first nationwide lockdown in Kenya due to COVID-19. If you would have asked me how long this pandemic would last for, I would have told you just

Technical Advancements at Obalwanda Primary School
Engineers are problem solvers, and when it comes to water projects in rural areas of East Africa, problem solvers are invaluable. When Global Partners was approached for partnership by Obalwanda Primary School in Kenya and

Introducing New Board Member Robert Demler
Robert Demler, is currently retired from a 46 year career as an International Banker and a Diplomat-Advisor with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He received a Meritorious Honor Award from the U.S. State Department

Toilets: A Simple Intervention
Global Partners has implemented A LOT of toilet (latrine) projects lately. As a matter of fact, almost half of the projects we’ve funded in the last year have included toilets. So why are we focusing

Arkaria Community Center: Building a Better Future
We often say that our focus is partnership rather than charity, and Global Partners has developed many long-lasting friendships and partnerships during our 40-plus year history. Alais Morindat, a local leader of a Maasai community

A Special Shout Out for Team Engineer
Although everyone on the Global Partners team has an important role to play, the members of our technical team deserve special recognition. Our core technical team, affectionately called “Team Engineer” by the rest of the

COVID-19 Cases Surge in Kenya: Our Response
Like much of the world, Kenya is currently experiencing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. Many healthcare workers have contracted the virus, largely due to an inadequate supply of personal protective equipment. Healthcare facilities, especially

Long Before Glasnost by George Rainier Weiner: Recounting the days of World Runners
Check out Long Before Glasnost by George Rainier Weiner. All proceeds from this book go to Global Partners for Development. To purchase the book, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Before-Glasnost-George-Rainier-Weiner-ebook/dp/B08HS57KYL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=long+before+glasnost&qid=1606338517&s=books&sr=1-1 To donate, visit: Donate During the cold war years

Advancing Community-led Initiatives in an Uncertain World: 2020 Annual Report
Global Partners’ 2019-2020 fiscal year ended in the midst of a global pandemic. As the world changed, we began collaborating with local staff, partners, and leaders to determine how to best support East African communities.

Modern Challenges in a Traditional Pastoral Community
Marisa Mazria Katz, a Syrian-American Journalist and founding editor of Creative Time Reports, traveled to Tanzania to explore the intersection of Christianity, modernity and climate change. With support from Global Partners for Development, Marisa visited

WomenSave: Pilot Launched!
In spite of the global challenges presented by COVID-19, the pilot for WomenSave, a new program offering financial services to women in Uganda, continues! Who We Are Vision: a world where every woman has the

Flattening the Curve in East Africa
The spread of COVID-19 in Africa is increasing, and there is global concern surrounding Africa’s relatively weak health systems’ abilities to respond to the pandemic. With a lack of clean water in many communities and

Onwards and Upwards
Global Partners had another successful and productive year in 2019, and we look forward to continuing to increase our impact in 2020! As you might already know, we’ve spent the last couple of years analyzing

Introducing the 2020 BCF Fellows!
Global Partners believes that local people have the right to drive change in their schools and communities, and we are privileged to be able to share our methodology with students at Whittier College. Now in

Staff Spotlight: Dora Okeyo
Over one-fifth of children between the ages of 6 to 11 and over one-third of children between the ages of 12 and 14 in Africa are out of school. We are working to right this

Educate a Girl and Change the World
Half of the women over the age of 15 around the world can’t read or write, yet educated females are greater contributors to their communities, are healthier, and are more likely to educate their own

Growing Impact through Partnership from Sonoma County to Africa
In June 2019, a nonprofit and a certified B Corporation, both based in Rohnert Park, Ca., partnered to improve the lives of 1,437 children in rural Tanzania. Global Partners for Development and World Centric are

Highlights from the 2019 GPFD/BCF Community-Driven Development Forum
The 2019 Global Partners for Development / Brethren Community Foundation Community-Driven Development Forum took place from June 26th – 27th in Arusha, Tanzania hosting over 40 development practitioners from across four different countries – Tanzania,

Celebrating Over a Decade of Rainwater Harvest
Back in 2007, GPFD partnered with a then young, non-profit organization named charity: water to install 15 rainwater harvest tanks at homes in the village of Arkaria, in Northern Tanzania. These days, charity: water is

Discovering the Impact of Investing in Education in Rural Areas: Reflections from a BCF Fellow
While completing my research and fellowship in Tanzania, it was often hard to escape the feeling of being a “Mzungu” [white foreigner] in a place where I might not belong. Traveling can be difficult on

Forum Keynote Address: A Tribute to Juma Sulle
In recognition of thirty years of significant contributions towards sustainable development in Tanzania and the success of Global Partners, Juma Sulle was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Community-Driven Development Forum held in