OBA (Opportunity Builds Africa) has been a ministry partner of Saint Andrew’s for many years. It is the organization behind the MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) that we support in a number of ways.
For more than 60 years, OBA has worked alongside African communities to expand access to education, create pathways to opportunity and support initiatives that help individuals and families build stronger futures. As of June 1st, OBA has changed their name from Operation Bootstrap Africa to Opportunity Builds Africa.
While their name has changed, the heart of their work has not. In many ways this new name better reflects who they have become over the years. They are deeply committed to expanding access to education and opportunity, especially for women, children and marginalized communities.
They continue investing in education, healthcare and leadership opportunities that create lasting impact for generations to come. Their mission is rooted in the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to build a better future for themselves, their family and their community.
You may recognize their old name and logo that they have had for more than 60 years. At the time that Lutheran missionary Rev. David Simonson founded OBA to finance the building of schools and clinics in northern Tanzania, the name made sense.
With the name change comes a change in their website: www.opportunitybuildsafrica.org .
Today, Opportunity Builds Africa works across Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Madagascar alongside schools, healthcare institutions, and community-based partners to invest in education, leadership development, healthcare access, and opportunity for people with disabilities and underserved communities.
The name, Opportunity Builds Africa, reflects an organization rooted in faith-inspired compassion, grounded in collaboration, and committed to building lasting change alongside local leaders. They believe sustainable transformation happens from the inside out—when communities have the resources, relationships, and opportunities to shape their own future. It is about what becomes possible when opportunity is placed in the hands of those closest to the challenge—and the solution.