Passersby may have wondered why a handful of Grosse Pointers have been shouldering heavy backpacks through town in recent weeks.

The answer is simple: Practice.

This weekend, June 23 and 24, more than a dozen Grosse Pointers will climb Mount Hood in support of Red Sweater Project, which in turn supports children seeking education in rural East Africa.

Origins

Red Sweater Project was founded in 2011 by Grosse Pointe native Ashley Holmer, who recognized a need during time spent in Tanzania.

“Only 10 percent of Tanzanian children finish high school,” she said. “Families don’t have the money to pay for it. Education beyond sixth grade is not funded by the government. Through Red Sweater Project, we’re constructing schools and providing resources.”

Following her sister’s wish to find opportunities to coach soccer abroad — the two became certified coaches after graduating college — an opportunity to coach opened in 2005 at a community school in rural Tanzania, Holmer said. She taught English and her sister taught science.

Living among the Maasai people for a year, with no running water or electricity, Holmer became fluent in Swahili.

“Toward the end of our time there, the government said, we’ll give you land if you build a school. I said yes. I was 25 and I just said OK. Since then, we’ve built two schools.”

The first school, Orkeeswa, was the first secondary school in Lashaine Village. It was built in 2008 and the challenge was so successful, Red Sweater Project was formed in 2011. A short time later, the village of Mungere donated 15 acres for a secondary school.

Mungere School opened in 2012.

“We have sustainable campuses,” Holmer said, noting the schools use composting toilets, solar-powered classrooms and pocket-sized solar-powered lanterns so students can study at night. “We grow our own food on campus. We have a 21,000-square-foot farm and the kids work in the garden. We also have a basketball court and football pitch.”

According to redsweaterproject.org, every year more than 200 families apply for one of the 30 to 40 available spots in the incoming class. When it’s completed, Mungere School will serve more than 300 students each year.

“Part of the efforts of this climb will support the current student body and expand it,” Holmer said.

The climb

Grosse Pointe Farms resident John Nicholson remembers Holmer from their days at Kerby Elementary School and “playing competitive Neighborhood Club soccer,” he said.

A twist of fate reconnected the two.

“My father ran into her father and they caught up,” Nicholson said. “My dad was going on safari and he saw Ashley’s school and told me about it. I hadn’t seen her in 25 years. … She told me what’s going on with this organization, what’s happening.”

An experienced climber — Nicholson and his brother climbed Mount Kilimanjaro — he decided he’d like to get back into it, “but I figured I’d do it for a cause this time around,” he said, adding he then climbed to fundraise for Red Sweater Project.

“After we had the first climb, Ashley said, ‘That was kind, but you must do more,’” he said. “So I joined the board.”

The Mount Hood climb will be Nicholson’s third for Red Sweater Project. The two-year board member, along with his wife, Alicia, and several of their friends, have been collecting donations to support the climb.

“Mount Hood is around 11,125 feet,” Holmer said. “Each climber is trying to raise 10 cents per foot, so $1,125.”

Each climber has their own fundraising page, Holmer said, and their progress during the climb will be posted on social media — the Red Sweater Project Facebook and Twitter pages.

“There’s going to be communication,” Holmer said. “People can follow what’s happening. … We’ll also have a follow-up event at Eastern Market at 6 p.m. Oct. 11, where climbers will be sharing their stories.”

The project

Holmer, who splits her time between Tanzania and Portland, Ore., has received tremendous support from Nicholson’s parents, Jim and Ann Nicholson, since she started Red Sweater Project. Through their efforts, as well as Holmer’s visits to Grosse Pointe where she shares the project’s mission with service organizations, that support has spread.

Holmer and Nicholson hope the climb also will help garner support.

“My goal with this climb is to fundraise for the school, get tuition paid for these kids,” Nicholson said. “For $1,000 per kid … you can do so much with so little. There are capital projects around school that need to be completed, too. My goal is to finish the school and see the rest of the village have opportunities to go to school.”

“It really helps give life perspective,” Holmer said of her work. “We are the exception to the rule for most of the world — this feeling of being blessed in a place where women are given options and choices versus having others make them for you. It’s often taken for granted. In the meantime, there’s such a vast difference between children growing up in Grosse Pointe or the United States in general and in the African bush. I like seeing results. Every year I get to watch hundreds of kids who would not be in school progress to the next grade … because a group of concerned people got together and decided this shouldn’t be the status quo anymore.

“We’re really actively changing percentages of (school) completion rates,” she continued. “It’s exciting to see you can have that impact.”

Added Nicholson, “This is a true challenge. Raising money for schools in Africa is not an easy thing. … These kids don’t have any options besides the path of agriculture. To help give them a chance at something else is powerful. … And I’m just meeting them halfway. They’re willing to do the work and perform.”

Other ways to help

On the social side of Holmer’s organization are service project opportunities that include campus visits wrapped in with safaris and other excursions. After all, Tanzania is “one of the most amazing safari destinations on the planet,” Holmer said.

Red Rhino Tours is Red Sweater Project’s private tour company. In addition to offering 7-, 12-, 15- and 21-day itineraries, participants may sign up for volunteer projects and meet their sponsored student at Mungere School.

“People come, spend time on campus, learn more about us and then go play on safari,” Holmer said. “When you book with us, all the profits go back to the school.”

Added Nicholson, “It’s a great way to fundraise for the school. … Anyone can book tours online, but this gives you a unique aspect.”

For more information or to donate, visit redsweaterproject.org.