Hope this blog post title at least sort of conveys that this week has been an adventurous one ! Since we’ve had such a great turnout for English classes ( close to ninety kids have come!) some of our classes have been held outdoors. While they learned the difference between “my” and “your”, I learned the importance of putting sunscreen on the tops of my toes. Despite that slight blonde moment on my part, I think all the kids have been sufficiently entertained by my renditions of “The Hokey Pokey” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”. Florah also wanted them to learn formal and informal greetings, and the expression “What’s up?” was met with lots of giggles. Personally, I was pretty pleased when the kids went from calling me “mzungu” (foreigner) to Kate. It’s the little things,
really.
While I have really enjoyed getting to know the kids and helping with the classes, there have been some sad moments as well. Turns out, there is a pretty good chance that some of the kids I’m working with did not pass their end of primary school test. For those students, school is done, and it is time to get a job. Potentially even more tragic than having to be an adult at thirteen years old, are the students who pass the test, but will sell their names to kids from richer families who did not pass the test. The richer kid will be able to continue schooling, and the kid who actually passed the test will have helped keep food on the table for his or her family. But, their time in school will also be done. It’s just unfair, all around. Since I can’t change the government in the time I have here, I figured I’d do my part to raise awareness. Jifundishe is making an even bigger difference than my blog rant by having these English classes and sponsoring students, so they can stay in school. Progress is slow, but it is happening. And, this trip is teaching me ( or at least trying to) patience in a very humbling way.
On a much more positive note, I had a chance to learn about two more of Jifundishe’s programs this week. On Tuesday, I had lunch with the other volunteers in the home of one of the women who is in the microloaning program. Mama Balozi was a gracious host, and she fixed us two traditional Tanzanian dishes, makande and ndizi. Makande is a sort of stew, made from corn that has had the hull removed. Ndizi is a dish made with bananas and a type of meat. With her microloan, Mama Balozi opened a small shop selling vegetables that allows her to support her family. “Balozi” actually refers to her title in the community. If there is a problem between neighbors or within a household itself, Mama Balozi is called in to help resolve the problem. She also helps determine when the problem needs to be taken to a higher authority. It was really neat to hear her describe this local justice system and the role she plays in it. Interestingly, Mama Balozi is one of the few female balozis in this area. It is an elected position, and her community has kept her in office for quite awhile now!
On Friday, I had the chance to meet some of the women who participate in the women’s cooperative. Several years ago, a volunteer offered a workshop on making paper beads. These women attended the class and really enjoyed what they learned. So, they organized a group, and they started making the beads into jewelry to sell. Jifundishe helped them expand their market, and the little business is thriving. Plus, the beads are beautiful! It was a fun afternoon looking at the different beads and learning how the group came about.
Much of Tanzania’s economy depends on tourism. Treks to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro or week long safaris represent an industry that employs many Tanzanians. Yesterday, Meg (one of the other volunteers) and I had the chance to go on a walking safari in Arusha National Park. While not quite on the scale of a week long safari, it was lots of fun! About five minutes into the walk, our guide pointed out several giraffes and African buffaloes. We were also able to see warthogs, zebras, water bucks, dik diks, and a lake full of flamingos. As we were making our way back to the car, a group of baboons strolled out into the middle of the path. We stopped and watched as they casually made their way across, stopping to stare at us along the way. Never a dull moment here in Tanzania!
Later this week, I will head out to my next organization, Shika. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Jifundishe, and I’m excited to see how the two groups compare.