Today, we are excited to share an important milestone in our organization's journey.
After more than 60 years as Operation Bootstrap Africa, we are proud to introduce our new name:
Opportunity Builds Africa.
While our name has changed, our mission remains the same.
For decades, we have worked alongside African communities to expand access to education, create pathways to opportunity, and support initiatives that help individuals and families build stronger futures. Our work has always centered on partnership, local leadership, and sustainable change—especially for women, children, and historically marginalized groups.
As our organization has evolved, we recognized the need for a name that more clearly reflects who we are and how we work.
The name Opportunity Builds Africa captures a truth we have witnessed time and again: meaningful progress is not something that can be delivered from the outside. Lasting change is built from within communities by the people who know their challenges, strengths, and aspirations best.
Our role is to help create the conditions where opportunity can grow.
This new chapter honors our history while embracing our future. It reflects our belief that when communities have access to education, resources, and support, they can build lasting solutions that transform lives for generations.
We are deeply grateful to the partners, supporters, volunteers, and community leaders who have been part of our journey over the past six decades. Your commitment has helped make this work possible.
As Opportunity Builds Africa, we look forward to continuing this mission together and expanding the impact we can create in the years ahead.
Real change is not delivered. It is built from within, together.
Thank you for being part of the story.
Watch the video below to learn more about our new name and the vision behind Opportunity Builds Africa.
OBA is pleased to announce the addition of our new Administrative Associate, Aaron Bartholomew! Aaron brings many years of experience in education and a passion for development. He has held numerous roles in education throughout MN, having worked as a Reading Tutor, Special Education Paraprofessional, Substitute Teacher, Behavior Intervention Specialist, and Math Teacher. Aaron also has international experience living in East Africa, where he taught English in the countryside of Madagascar from 2015 -17 as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Along with teaching in Malagasy, he also worked to increase the capacities of English Libraries and School Lunch Garden Programs, facilitated Youth Development through sports and female leadership camps, as well as supported local health initiatives. When he isn’t at OBA, you can catch him outside biking and swimming in the summer, and ice skating and skiing all winter long.
Our Executive Director, Jason Bergmann was interviewed by TAL radio recently to talk about what Operation Bootstrap Africa does for East Africa. TAL's vision is to make this world a better place to live. They wish to make it a reality by spreading positivity and promoting kindness through the power of word.
It is with a very heavy heart that we share this Caring Bridge post. Shortly after retiring from lifelong service as a Medical Missionary in Tanzania, Dr. Mark Jacobson was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Over the course of their life in Africa, Mark and his loving wife Linda have touched thousands, perhaps millions with their mission. In addition to those they healed in Africa, they also touched people from all over the world by hosting and empowering people to make a difference through their hospitals, clinics, and grass-root development projects. Some of those who worked with Mark and Linda include some very talented doctors. This provided him access to some of the best cancer treatments possible. Although Mark hasn’t had much pain, the cancer has come back.
Mark and Linda have made such an incredible impact throughout Africa and specifically in Northern Tanzania. After all, they have given to others, let us come together for them in love and prayer asking God to envelop them in peace and healing light.
In honor of Bob Zapolski, Operation Bootstrap Africa is dedicating all the meals served at our five Madagascar Schools in loving memory of Bob. Over the week of February 7-11th approximately 1,300 children will receive 6,500 nutritious meals honoring Bob. In addition, a prayer will be said giving thanks for Bob’s life and asking God to embrace Bob’s loved ones with grace and peace during this time of mourning.
As many of you know in January of 2020 we moved our offices. Due to the pandemic, we all experienced far less in-person interactions. It was so nice of CCX Media to ask us if they could come to the office to learn more about what we do. They made us feel truly welcome in our new location!
None of this would be possible without the incredible support you all have shown us for over fifty years. Thank you for helping us share the needs of our African brothers and sisters with our community!
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