TravelStream™ news feed for member jrshepherd on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/jrshepherd en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:43:19 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1220520060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1220520060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1220520060/tpod.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:43:19 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Arusha, Tanzania

While its still fresh in my memory I'll tell the tale of my Kilimanjaro adventure.

The Crew: Tupo Pamoja (We are together)
Mental Marko, Jazzy Jessy, Elias in his element, Ba ba ba baba J, A Juma Juma ... Juma Juma ..., Zed, Danny, Gabriel, Mohammed, Ras B, Ras Omi and Shakey Jake.

Day 1: Like always in Tanzania we were running late, and our team didnt get started till the afternoon, the fact that the Rasta's (our guides) had forgot their 'Permits' and therefore had to pay through the backdoor didnt help with the timing. But then we were off with our cool guides walking through the most beautiful jungle scenery. We were lucky enough to get really close to a lot of blue monkeys which we wernt really expecting and our guides started up quite a few conversations witht the tropical birds. The first camp was really pretty set in the jungle and we soon cracked on with all the porters and cooks using our now huge vocabulary of Tanzanian slang. Haina kwi kwi and Nteda weda added to the list. Our group were really close and we caused quite a stir in the porters when we got ourn hands into helping cook the Ugali. When we sat down after all the treckers had finished their lunch and ate together as a full team, pamoja, the porters were so happy as we lauched ourselves into huge plate of Ugali. Tutakula pamoja (we will eat together), tutatembea pamoja (we will walk together), tutaoga ... pamoja (we will shower together), tutapiga punyeto......pamoja (I wont translate this one). Wicked fun.

Day 2: We started the next day on a high, whipping out the marker pen we wrote the team name across all of our faces and went on our way. We swarmed onto all the passing Tanzanians with all the greetings we could muster. YeahYo, Sema mkumbwa, Vipi Kaka, Poa kichizi kama ndizi indani ya fridgi au Sio etc... Our Rasta guides were so much fun and one break they brought out the Reggae music as we danced to 'Peace, Love and Harmony' on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. The food was great and the walking wasnt difficult yet so we just kept on with our happy mood. We arrived to the next huts, Horombo, in the mist as the temperature startedto get really cold. That night the ugali flowed again as we ate together again, the whole crew loving the atmosphere.

Day 3: Sickness started to set in for myself as couldnt muster myself to eat my usual quantity and a headache set in. It didnt look good that morning with the summit attempt the next morning after a full days walking that day. I started to see why people have a rest day at Horombo but after a couple of paracetamol and the Diamox we went on our way and my sickness fortunatley passed. We headed past Mawenzi the smaller peak on Kilimanjaro and headed our way into the cold and up towards Kibo huts. Now after making our way out of moorland we headed into the alpine desert. We reached Kibo huts in the early afternoon, which timidly looks up at the steep slope up to Gilmans point. There we tried to rest and sleep in preperation for the midnight start...the summit attempt. I forgot Marko also drank his piss, due to being intrigued.

Day 4: Wakening to chai after an unsuccessful attempt of sleep we started wrapping every spare piece of clothing around ourselves and grimaced ourselves for the cold climb. Feeling like an eskimo in all my gear (9 layers on top) we got into line and started the ever so climb up to the top. Pole pole each hour ran into the next as I had to stop myself from falling asleep, my mind wandered as I thought about the past 8 months. We stopped only four times for a quick 2 minutes before moving on to stop from freezing. We were the last group to set off and when the beautiful morning light started seaping into the clear sky we were still a long way to the top. After over 6 hours of slowly marching towards Gilmans, Jess and Elias legs started to go as they decreased their pace and slowly trudged on. Me and Marko still bursting with energy and quite bored from the sloth pace we stupidly took one look at each other and bursted into a sprint up the steep slope...we lasted 5 metres and slumped into a heap clutching for breath, idiots I know. From that point on Marko struggled with a terrible headache. Jessy was so determined and although completely shattered she struggled on step by step concentrating completely on making the top, Elias also kept his feet tired feet moving as he muttered one sentance to me, "Nitafika au nitakufa" (I will arrive or die, uh-oh i thought). Ras omi our main guide was an absoulute legend and kept us going with his gentle hums and his wide smiles. We were lucky with the weather as the sun stopped thawed our frozen feet and the view spanned out infront of us. We finally clawed our way up to Gilmans point after 8 hours of steady walking up the winding scree path. From there we saw the peak and there was no stopping us from there despite the fatigue in Jessy and Elias and the bursting pain in Markos self-inflicted head. I took to photo duty as we slowly crawled on past the amazing glaciers looked on the expansive views. After another gruelling two and a half hours there stood Uhuru peak as we collapsed under the sign, tulifika Pamoja as we stood on the top of Africa baby. We made a flag with all the SPW volunteers names on and proudly stamped it into the ground. It was such a brilliant feeling and I think the best possible way to finish my eight month adventure in Tanzania. I whipped out the old Diablo for a spin just to say that I had before me Marko and Danny went on our way after chilling on the top for a good while. We were the last ones to arrive so we had the top to ourselves.
The trip down was also so much fun, after taking ten and a half hours to get to the top it took us one and a half to get down. Due to the slope being scree and spo steep we were able to practically sky down at an almighty pace. It was wicked fun! After a quick rest at Kibo we had to steady our tired legs and force our way back down to Horombo that afternoon. And then I slept write untill the late the next morning.

Day 5: Coming down was a lot easier then coming back up and after our good last Kili breakfast it took us a while to all realise that we had already climbed the 5895m mountain and were now on our last day. We strode back down to the gate beaming all the way, pamoja and hopped back on our hired daladala to rest our weary heads in Moshi. Unfortunately the last night, pay day, with all the porters was now how we had imagined. Basically money and alcohol does not go well and when we distributed the pay and tips arguments flaredin the normal Tanzanian fashion as they blared at one another for whatever reason. But Id prefer to wipe out that night from my memory and remember the kili trip as it was Brilliant!

So here I am one day before leaving Tanzania for a long time, maybe Ill return maybe a wont but it has been an unforgetable experience that I will funnily enough never forget. Ive been chilling in Dar with the other vols for tyhe past few days on the beaches and in the bars. Im going to miss every aspect of life here bar the bland food... bring on some curry. But the welcoming nature of this country is awesome and the vols are going to be difficult to replace now we are all so close.
Ive forgot to mention the closing cermony which was really special. Dressed in my full Kitengae suit the day ran really smooth, everyone high as a kite and loving everyone elses company, it felt great to of got to that point after many an adventure in village. We boogied on down shaking our wowowo's that night in our rented greek church and the late night twisters bar (a place I will miss). Iringa my home in Tanzania will stick in my memory for many a year. I am now an x-volunteer!
One more night out in Dar as I am preparing myself to say my good-byes to my great friends and Tanzania and then on the plane I will panda.

One last thiong to say, Tanzania Nakupenda!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1219060740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1219060740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1219060740/tpod.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:15:26 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Iringa, Tanzania

Rocking back to Masimbwe on a late bus, I got into Masimbwe Secoundary in the pitch black to do some late minute preperations for our Secoundary festival. Lucky for me I had Chief, an extroverted talent of a teacher, who basically sorted out the whole thing for us, all I had to do was arrange all the performances and sort out the food at the mhagahawa(cafe)the next day. Piece of cake!!!
We'd managed to fit in the dance 4 life tour with our festival so late, as everythng in Tanzania, the big Lorry pulled on up along with 11 volunteers and all the talents. After speedly getting everyone fed and watered/soda'ed we started the show, with good old (he's actually really young) Chief M.Cing throughout. The day was great success apart from the coke fight, with students punching each other up for a coke! The students did plays, a songing competition and a dancing competition, which was a bit too raunchy, but I suppose it cant be helped with WOWOWO's here(big bums). Dance 4 life also did there usual stuff: teaching the dance, embarassing the sudents, the lads dressing up as girls and miming songs and the drill. With it all combined the students got really into it and it was a good way to finish off our time at Masimbwe Secoundary.
So with the next few days free, I took Jessy on a tour of my village and hills, she now being my secound wife to all the villages after Jazmine visited in April! She met my favourite Mama's and students and I made her a fine lunch of Banana's and peanuts... Oh Yeah! The other days we took to our old habits in Makete and joined the Dance 4 Life tour, I swear I cant get enough, We started to get involved in the skits, teaching the dance and I even got into the dj'ing (DJ-Milkshake). We also prepared Ulayasi Secoundary where we were about to make SPW's grand entrance with the show.
Getting the crew up and about nice and early we managed to get an early start, arriving at the conservative school with time to set up and speak to the hostile 2nd master. When the students came out, although we already knew there were a lot, we were all taken aback when they flooded out. We lined up on the bank and did one of the best shows yet and my God didnt these kids need some health education. When we lined up as normal and asked the students if they could tell who was living with HIV, no less then 7 students picked out indivuals before a girl finally said that you cannot tell if someone has HIV by the way they look. They asked numerous questions and the plays all went brilliantly. Me and Inno were therefore surpreised when the 2nd master called into our office at the end and said that SPW were not allowed to work there next year!!!.....something about worries of realationships between students and teachers, but we are no different to half the teachers there who are only 6 monthes older then the students. After such a good performance it was a shame that the teachers cannot except the need for volunteers at the school, but least we got to teach the next weekend as planned.
We continued on with the dance 4 life team to Lugarawa, where me and Jessy got even more involved with the show, starting to join in with the kiswahili plays and teaching the dance....im still yet to be Anita though (dressing up as a girl and miming a famous Tanzanian pop song), but I think my time will come. So we chilled out with the volunteers the next day in Lugarawa before heading on back to Ulayasi school for our weekend to be, but what an eventful journey it would turn out to be.
Sitting right in the middle of the already banged up daladala, I found myself conscious of the steady increase of speed, trees blurred and the car started to feel out of control. Quick glances at Inno and Goddy and I knew something was wrong. Knowing the road bended at the bottom at the steep hill, I readied myself with my sleeping bag on my lap. Im not sure what I was thinking right at that moment, but it was probabley a state of complete fear. Reaching the bottom at a terrific speed the inevitable happened when we swerved round the corner, as we all rocked to side. Then it happened so quick, shoving my sleeping bag over my neck I thrusted my head down and braced as the car turned into the swerve and toppled over with ferocious speed, sending us flying on top of each other as we crashed and skidded along the dusty road. Eyes quickly opened as if waking up for the first time as I tried to take in the situation, could I move my legs? Was the car on fire? Where are Inno and Goddy? Luckily we were all so fortunate and as we clambered out of the car in panick we started taking stock of the situation. People rushed down from the mountainside as we all checked how we all were. An experience I would definately not like to repeat. The three of us had a very strange, emotional walk up to Ulayasi school as we started to realise what we had just been through.
Despite the shock of the experience work followed on as planned the following day as we prepared ourself for teaching at the big secoundary school. 250 students turned up for our teaching and the day went swimmingly well, with both Inno and Goddy seasoned perfomers in the class room now. I jazzed up the lessons with a few drawings, a few creative activities and prepared a few students for a couple of short plays. The students were great, bursting with questions and enthused by Goddy's excellent teaching style, that guy is going to be a world speaker Im sure of it, he makes them roar with laughter and nod in agreement to his points. That day we taught for about five hours in total and finished with preparing the students for the next days VCT.
Heading back to Mlangali that night we prepared the nurses and the transport for the next day. Despite difficulties with a graduation ceremony on, 64 pupils tested for HIV and unfortunately our thoughts about the need for volunteers at the school were further confirmed with up to 9 students being HIV +. Terrible, I know. That day I tried my hand at taking bloods for the first time, getting a head start on the medical front. With a quick demonstration from the nurse they set me on my way experimenting with the students. As wrong as it sounds it was a great an experience for me, if not so good for the students, but I got better throughout the day with up to 25 bloods taken. Doctor Jake.
The next day we headed on back to what had become our 2nd placement , Masimbwe, after a fair while of being away. We were greeted with quizzicle looks and bright smiles, people had actually thought we had already left due to being away at the secoundary schools and the Makete tour. Over the next few days we started packing thiungs up, having final meeting and cooking a very good pilau. It felt very weird as the house started to get emptier and emptier as we packed things away, stored stuff for next years vols and gave things away.
Still fazed by the crash we were further messed around as we arrived back to yet again a broken in house! The forth time since arriving and I suddenly started to feel glad that I was packing my things and getting out there. After advertising the ward festival and the weekends VCT's we said some goodbyes and headed on up to Mlangali with all our belongings and headed to the police station to hand in a report. when we did finally get into the station the next morning I had the most disturbing experience yet. Surprised initially by the fact that they had a sack full of our possesions I was even more surprised to find that they had caught the robbers and when they were brought in front of us and stripped to find my missing clothes, I started to feel really sick. The three dirty, scared looking youthes in front of me were people we thought we knew as freinds. 1. a youth who often borrowns our football. 2. a lad who had just recently spent a couple of hours in my house with me teaching him English and often coming over to make stories. 3. and worst of all the mnain member of our post-test groups husband! I bet you can see how we felt, here we are trying to help these people and there they are trying to steal from us...I felt really shit. But what was almost worst for me was seeing how these men were going to be treated, beaten to shreads and what was more sentanced to jail for four years in a pit hole of a prison, for what stealing a couple of horrendous bikes, food, my boxers and shoes. I tried to get the police to reduce the sentence and I was happy to here that only 1 of them was being put away and it would most likely be reduced to a couple of years, but still.....We later learned the lad escaped on his way to prison, well that or he payed the corrupt police off. All the same after two not the most friendly experiences that week I was starting to feel ready to leave.
My mood soon picked up though with a quick and excellent teaching of Maji-Salama at Ulayasi secoundary school with our left over bottles, and futhermore as we headed over to Lugarawa for festivities. Our last time to help out in the festival, watch Marko play football, eat like a Tanzanian and talk about my eventful week to the girls. We all headed back to Mlangali for our Ward festival, our last big event! The day went really nice, although it wasnt quite the spectacle of the community festival it was such good fun for the hyped up Primary kids. I had a brilliant day listening for the last time to the amazing voices of the African school quoirs and dancing away with the kids. I felt quite upset about leaving the students I'd got to know so well and see their confidence's gradually build. We did the Dance 4 Life drill without the crew and thew kids had suddenly become experts dancing away with us time and time again. Like usual 10 volunteers were out and about with, like our May festival tour and the teaching went really well. It was topped off with some sport matches and beautiful setting sun.
The next day we chilled and celebrated one of the vol's holiday with a lemon tastilicous cake and lots of grub. That night we hired out a sound system and danced the night away in the bizarre empty rooms of the M.T.C having our own minny Ludewa celebration for the end of the programme (minus the last day).
So our last day in village and another day for Doctor Jake to whip out the syringes. After such a large demand for a testing service during our community festival, we thought it would be a good way to finish off our programme with a VCT. 53 people got tested bringing up our total to 200 people tested, 5 were positive, the average in Tanzania. We had some last moments with our close friends in village the amazing Godfrey, Tecla, Dennis, Neema and mama Mariam of course and made a quick circuit of Matenga saying our goodbye's. As we rode out of Masimbwe on the back of the truck, the sun seand wind in mine and Innocents face we took our last glances of the village and waved to the children running behind us. Emotional stuff!!! Goodbye Masimbwe.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1217422620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1217422620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1217422620/tpod.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:20:21 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Iringa, Tanzania

After sorting everything out in village before the monthly meeting we managed to get a few days to visit Makete. The place where HIV rates are 16%, the mountains are huge and the roads are extremely bumpy. We couldnt of picked a better time to go as we managed to hitch a lift with the Heart connection tour doing Dance 4 Life at all the Makate SPW placements.
So waking up a 4am me, Jazz, Innocent and Godfrey the Ludewa Volunteers along with the Makete volunteers piled into the back of the truck with all tha Dance 4 Life talents. One hour later, I was lurched right into the air, slumbering from my sleep as I performed summersaults in the air I luckily managed to move my head from smashing into a big metal bar before slamming back onto the various luggages that I was sprawled across. Rumbing my eyes after awakening so abruptly I saw clouds of smoke in the truck hovering over the masses, oh-no. However as I looked closer I realised it was actually dust and lots of it, and that was only an hour in. 4 hours later, after flying around like we were in some kung-fu movie in the back of the truck we finally crawled out of the dust into the sunshine and what a pretty sight we were. It seemed like a truck full of Tanzanians and two mzungus had suddenly turned into a a truck of mzungus, everyone was head to toe in mud, grime and DUST! When we blew our noses there was no mucus just pure mud. Lovely jumbly. It was class crack.
We arrived at Jessy's village Bulongwa in the afternoon after the eventful ride and a lazy chai stop. A pretty, well funded village (due to many NGO's based there) set in a a dramatic landscape and a smiling Jessy is what greeted us. Then Dance 4 Life rocked out their show, using drama's, games, songs and of course dancing they teach all about HIV in a great way, the kids loved it and so did I! Im now a learned dancer and join in on the performance, its wicked fun.
We stayed that night at Jessy's village, staying in her mama's Lutheran guest house, which was pretty swish and eating a good pork and plantane stew. The next day we saw the sights of Bulongwa checking out her favourite places and her favourite mgahawa (Cafe) before setting off in search of Asha's village. After a quick ride down to Makete town we managed to then hitch a lift with a truck carrying wood. Pleased with our quick process the truck was immedietley flagged down by the police and fined for having passengers, dissapointed we hopped off to see moments later, 50m further on the truck picking up about 20 passengers again. We ourselves managed to hitch down a similar truck again after about an hours walk. You never have an uneventful journey in Tanzania, never!
Asha's placement was not the best, with only a total of 300 people in her school and a tiny village who didnt allow her to do semina's it was bit of a crap place (to be frank). She had however managed to get through over 30 books since arriving in Tanzania which compared to my total of 8 its pretty good going, even with a lot of time on her hands. They also managed to get a chicken for me to slaughter, an experience which you cant get away not doing here. I can still see that chicken winking at me as I sliced its throat but we eat a fine chicken curry that night. We hitched back to Njombe with Dance 4 life the next day. A wicked short trip into the mountains for the Ludewa crew.
Landing back into Njombe for the Regional festival, me and Inno received some bad news. Our kids who we had prepared to sing, dance and draw in the festival. It was all due to some poncy guy, Educational Co-ordinator of the ward, who wanted a letter off SPW asking if they could go, despite us sending letters to the Head-teachers and Village leader. I was really gutted for the kids, but it did make the weekend very easy for myself having no one to organise or look after. I sat and enjoyed the festivities the rapping and a few games of basketball with the secoundary students, I also got to perform the drill with Dance 4 Life which was a wicked adrenaline rush and probably quite funny for the people watching. I think Ive decided that Im going to do Dance 4 Life in England!
Chow + Pow!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1217077440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1217077440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1217077440/tpod.html Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:37:55 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Iringa, Tanzania

Back in dirty, dusty Njombe on a slow internet again..... but hey its town and Ive just gorged myself on a big greasy chips kuku (chicken) and caught up on volunteer crack so Im feeling all good in the hood right now.
After some crazily good party nights and the most amazing jam-packed holiday, it felt pretty wierd to walk back over the hills i know off by heart, back into village. As i had expected, nothing had changed in the village, despite being away for 4 weeks, when I asked people the news they just reply salama/nzuri (peaceful/good) and that was that. With nothing planned for the first week, school not started and Innocent helping out in a neighbouring village life was pretty polepole. I tried to start off some english lessons after the big demand before we left, but a big church meeting was on all week so I didnt get much look there.
So I did something I had wanted to do since arriving, climb the big mountain which perch's temptingly over our house. Taking a few school kids up with me we climbed the magnificent mountain on three consecutive days, them teaching me about the village stories and bongo flavor songs and me teaching them English and about the world as we scrabbled up on the non-existant paths. We roasted cones and ate sugary roots as we went. I also took up reading and found myself stuck to Nelson Mandela's autobiography that week, reading about his heroic struggle to freedom. I chilled out with some of the elders in the evening, exhausting my knowledge of Kipangwa greetings and ordering the best honey-ever. Life was slow but nice, I felt that week I got to look at the culture in a closer way without being preoccupied. I saw the extent of the poverty, how much tiny kids have to look after themselves and how little actually happens in the village......which is probabley why everyone sleeps with everyone else and HIV spreads so easily. I definately think I became a bit more culturally aware that week and enjoyed seeing the village in a new light, however I knew that from that week on we were going to be so busy right till the end so lapped up chilling out a bit. And so far my prediction has definately been right.
When Innocent returned, we set about with our planning: school lessons, football league (on a limited budget), creative competitions for primary school, how to get into Ulayasi secondary school, Video show and a VCT. And since that day we have not stopped and minus the VCT which we have delayed until next month everything has ran smoothly as crunchy peanut butter but we have manged to get it all done. Thats why Im back to the familiar look of a sweaty, dirty, smelly, blistery volunteer....but I love it.
My attitude to work has changed in a fair way since beginning, I now keep African time and think about every meeting/ event an hour and a half later then it should occur. If we are late I dont hurry Innocent up I just chill, If we go to a meeting I bring a book and my diary and maybe a letter or two. With food if there is a lot of it in front of me I just keep eating but if there is none I just let it go. If people dont turn up then hamna shida (no problem) and life has just worked a lot better with no stress's or strains but work has surprisingly still worked out really well.
Ive become a bit of a Dr Shepherd myself due to the sports league, people coming to me with their scrtaches and scars....luckily no broken legs (or no complaints of broken legs at least). During the Final however, 1 minute in and a bash of heads and I mean a real bash of heads, blood was everywhere. I ran on full pelt with my little first aid kit meeting the pretty site with a fury of activity slapping on pressure to the streaming cuts on their heads. It was quite an adrenaline rush, but I did feel a bit under pressure with all eyes on me....but Im sure no one in the crowd would be a critical medic so I dont think Ill have any letters of complaints handed to me. I recommended one of the guys to go to hospital to get stictches, not only did he ignore my complaint but went straight back on the field and scored the winning goal, I shouted "Well, dont head the ball at least!".
luckily for myself I didnt have any self first aid to do despite playing for Masimbwe in the sports league. The first game was great being held at in Masimbwe and all the school kids sang away throughout the whole of the game despite loosing. When I scored a disallowed goal, which they didnt realise was disallowed it was probabley one of the high points of my whole African experience so far. Before realising it was disallowed I ran straight into the exstatic kids being crushed by the masses and deafened my their screams it was so full on. I picked up a little kid lika a trophy and the kids roared and cheered, it took ten minutes to calm it all down. The secound game away however was not so fun, with what I expected an African game to be like....get the mzungu, I was clattered and smashed for a full ninety minutes but it was all fronted with friendly smiles and pats on the back, a game I was certainly lucky enough to get through still in tack.
Throughout our manic past few weeks we walked many miles, from village to village and certainly clocked up many miles. Often we had to set out early morning or arrive back late in the dark and on one such night, walking the 5km stretch to Mlangali we had a close call. With often the moon the better source of light I rarely use my wind up torch but what looked distinctly like a big huge lump of cow turd suddenly curled up dangerously. A footstep away me and Innocent lurched ourselves into the bushes as a darkly coloured (well it was pitch black so could be any colour really) fat snake hissed fiercly ready to pounce, ahhhhhhh (or something to that extent was all we could muster up as we ran knees up style down the path)! Reflecting on it the rest of the journey we realised that we truly would be screwed if we got bit and I now force myself to winde away wherever I go now.
The best outcome of this month was something we have been fighting for for a long time, ever since we arrived. Although delayed again and again with the help of peace-corp volunteer Gregor our meeting with all the teachers at Ulayasi Secondary school finally came. Ulayasi is a huge secondary school with over 900 students in this un-populated region living in the most prestine school I have ever seen. A famous German priest in the area built the school and due to strict religous teachings it was difficult for them to allow SPW teachings to go on. However we finally got our chance and instead of presenting them with arguments for condom teaching or controversial topics we gave them an offer they couldnt refuse. Next month Dance 4 Life is coming to all SPW schools to sing, dance and teach about HIV, we told the school that we would bring Dance 4 life to Ulyasi school despite it not being an SPW school (yet) aswell as a VCT, we would teach Life Skills and the important facts about HIV, after this they can review themselves if they want SPW to come next year. So with that suggestion they couldnt really say no and finally we have a chance to teach these students who really need some life-education. Pesistance certainly rewards.
So apart from a blistery long walk to Marko's placement to give him my condolences after his Dad passed away, a few meetings with our post-test group to right a constitution and get full registration with the goverment and a load of creative art and dancingt days at our primary school that was my busy month in village and Ive got one more busy busy one to go.
CHILL DOWN...DRINK WATER
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1214998920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1214998920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1214998920/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:16:20 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Zanzibar, Tanzania

So sweeping back to our homeland Iringa after sea sick boat journey and an 8 hour bus drive i was happy to be back. Dropping our bags off at the memory stimulating baptist centre and greeting the many volunteers we were within moments back at shooters bar having a safari and reflecting on the past copuple of weeks.
Training was not the most absorbing but I was happy to get a bit of rest and get my mind back onto village. The past couple of days Ive been writing a proposal for TACAids,Im trying to get funding for some sustainable projects to improve the lives of people living with HIV in my village. If the funding does come through I think however that SPW activities may have to take a back seat as with little time left i would have a lot of project running to do, to make sure everything is in good order before I leave. If it doesnt get funded I think was a pretty good experience for me to write such a proposal, so Im pretty positive on both accounts.
It was nice to be back in our town, we had a few good nights out, greeted our many friends and chilled out in between sessions. Ive had some little problems with SPW not funding all of my projects which Im quite annoyed about as it may cause some problems within village. But I suppose it is probably more sustainable not to do to much cause otherwise a lot of pressure may build up for next years volunteers. Ill just have to take the stick in village by those expecting prizes etc. We also made a night of the euro final, getting the chips mayai in at a local Tanzanian bar and cheering on dramatically like the locals, despite not being to bothered about who won.
On to the birthdays then, I dont think Ill put too much detail in so not to embarass myself to much. The day before my birthday was Asha's and with training finished we all checked into a sweet, cheap hotel. We started off her celebrations with sunset climb to Gangilonga rock (a huge rock where you can see the whole of Iringa and the green mountains surrounding the picturess town). With a bottle of wine and a bit of cheese, memories of sitting on Paris' bridges with Benji and Jamie were brought back a bit. Arriving back to the hotel, Dip and Leo gave us all a bit of a surprise. We got ready for our meal out a cruised out to have the most awsome meal in Iringa's only Indian restaurant. Some brilliant curries and some good crack later all the Tanzanian volunteers arrived and we headed out to a local bar. A few drinks and a bit of pool table dancing we were all tired out and headed back to the hotel. Thats when the real party got started, with ipod speakers, some crazy hats and a bottle of conyagi, five of danced for hours on end. It was so fun!!!
After finishing my proposal I chilled out a bit at the hotel tired form Asha's birthday and satisfied with, well pretty much everything. Expecting a few drinks and a bit more dancing with the volunteers to celebrate my birthday I was surprised when I received a call from Jessy. 'Where are you Jake?'
'emmm I'm at the hotel, Why?'
'Well what you doing there on your birthday?'
'Emm i dont know'
' You should come out here!'
'Ok, where you at?'
'HERE IS YOUR FIRST CLUE....'
...and so my treasure hunt across the whole of Iringa began, picking up volunteer after volunteer at each place, aswell as some fetching pieces of garments and quite a few shots, ice-crea, samosa and beer. It was such a great adventure involving me make a fool, but a happy fool out of myself. Topped off with a jake the cake and a fair bit of throwing up.....Im not sure I have ever been so drunk. But it was so nice if not a bit cruel of the volunteers to organise such an interesting and eventful adventure. I think was a good way to start of my 19th year with a lot of partying because i guess thats what it might involve with starting uni when i get back.
So onwards with village life. The last two months is bound to be jam-packed.
KJwa heri from a quesy stomached Jake x
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1214581800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1214581800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1214581800/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:41:39 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Zanzibar, Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania

A cram-packed bundle of excitement for a holiday, which was Full Full, Full il li lana!
Apart from the initial negative of having my camera stolen (I havent had the best luck with my camera this trip!) this was such a wickedy wicked holiday, which I really needed after being tired from village life. It was kicked off with a couple of days in Iringa, my home in Tanzania, chilling out, sorting out funding for my next projects, catching up with other volunteers and eating tasty food. I then set out for Dar Es Salaam with Devotha where I greeted the many other volunteers who had already embarked on their holidays and were chillaxing in a sweet Beach resort just out of Dar. Complete with Bandas on the beach, yeah man.
Devotha showed me the sights of Dar, if your not one for a hectic holiday this is not the place for you. The place is rich in atmosphere, swarming with people, interesting food and ferocious markets. Devotha took me to the busiest street, I had to squeeze my way through the crowds with people shoving many a tee-shirt or fake gold bracelete in my face aswell as the big mamas bums squishing me from every angle...I loved it. We met up with Godfrey to go to the Fema (Fema are the organisation that provide us with our many magazines to distribute to villagers, we were trying to get an article in the next edition, which would be very cool.) office, they loved our pictures and ideas, so something may work out there. Fema directed us to another NGO, TACAids to try and get some funding for my post-test group. I was directed from person to person, after explaining my story, untill I was deep inside the huge building talking to the big guns. They explained exactly who I had to write the preposal to and what to focus on. All in all an eventful and busy day, which I was happy to top off with a bit relaxation on abeautiful beach.
Unfortunately I didnt really get to CHILL DOWN in the cool beach huts much as I decided to go up to Moshi to see if I could help out Inno and his problems. So hopping on a swish bus, by Tanzanian standards, seven hours later I landed in the funky town of Moshi, with Jazmine who came along for a visit too. The town seemed great and a big step up in standards compared to the south, I think partly being the closest town to Kilimanjaro (we were extremely unlucky and due to cloud we didnt get to see the impressive mountain at all, bummer) has something to do with that. A daladala ride later and Inno introduced me and Jazz to his family, with seven children in total and many with their own kids to, there was a lot of people to greet over the couple of days. His house and family were both really nice and I definately see where his intelligence comes from with his Dad running various projects around the house. For example they had invented a mechanism to sustain the perfect environment to lay 400 chicks in a couple of days, look after them for two weeks and sell them off for 1000tsh each. Genius.
We took a day trip to Kilimanjaro gate, which was still completely covered in cloud but was still a good trip out. It certainly enticed me to set out in my jeans and sandles and climb the huge mountain there and then. I even pushed my kishahili to the max, negotiating the cheapest possible price to climb the mountain, including clothing, boots, food, a guide, a porter and park fees all for 150 pound.... but im not sure that would be the safest trip in thwe world. But I really want to come back one day and climb it. We took a walk to a few waterfalls and then posed in front of them for a while like proper tourists. Innocent seemed almost completely unfazed by his problems which I was very pleased to see. His family really took to me and Jazz and were even more welcoming then most Tanzanians, if that is possible, I felt very at home there. That night me and Inno wrote a plan for our proposal for our post-test group, hopefully things will come together. I think it will definately be a SPW first if we manage to get 1000$ grant from the Tanzanian goverment, but Im staying pessimistic on this one.
The next morning we went to church with Inno, which was all in English to my surprise. The priest said the most hilarious story about a rat, chicken, goat and cow, I had to physically prevent myself from bursting into laughter in the middle of it. Afterwards we met another of Inno's sister who inviterd us back to their house for lunch, we happily obliged. What we arrived to however was so unreal, it was like a American holiday home, complete with shiny, white tacky floors, a huge sterio and a massive television with 3 satellites. They also could not let me and Jazz refuse their offer of a cold beer, which they just kept on refilling. So there we were getting pissed out of our heads watching the premiership on wide screen.. in the morning, it was good crack like. The food was also amazing with 3 big meat dishes along with rice, noodles and ugali...wow!!! Very drunk me and Jazz headed off to Arusha to get ready for the next days safari, the trip over there felt like a safari in itself in our slurry state.
The others arrived very late after a long, long journey from Dar.. 10 hours in total. Inno also managed to come too as we managed to get him a seat for free.A late night though was not the best way to prepare ourselves for an early morning set off. As it happened, to my annoyance after fishing out a fair bit of money, we rocked off in our 3 cool landrovers complete with walkie talkies, which was endless fun, at 10.30am. However when the safari started I knew that it was going to be the best safari in my life. 15 close volunteers, buzzing in our snazzy cars was the ultimate adventure. I was high as a kite.....on adrenaline for the full 48 hours. Our car kicked off the randomness, with BIG 5's HIGH 5's, tembo hugs, impala jumps and full on safari dancing for the whole trip.
The first day was in Manyara national park, a lake shore park complete with millions of flamingo's, lots of blue monkeys (one actually pissed on our car from a high up branch, I just got out the way) and tree lions, which we were lucky enough to see, oh yeah. And check out this mum we saw a cheetah, however it wasnt the most eventful of sights as the cheetah didnt move an inch for the full 2 hours we were watching it and whats more it was so camourflaged it took me full hour to point it out to steadily more pissed off vols....but it definatley wasnt a rock! Driving back to the campsite music on full blast we discoed it up on the roof of the car all the way baby. We ate good fun and made some funny stories that night.
Day 2, on SPW safari, we really did get going early this time, which is quite the mission in polepole Tanzania. But by 7am we were blasting through to each others on the walkie talkies and got ourselves ready for the most impressive sight I have ever seen.....The Ngorongoro crater. The whole day was spectacular and perfect. The landscape was truly breathtaking and there were herds and herds of animals. We also had a very close meeting with a gigantic elephant, a few sights of some lions a distant viewing of a rhino and the odd hyena and jackel. It was such good crack sitting on the roof with close close friends in the most beautiful place I have been in. Driving up the steep steep slope of the crater, looking out to the huge expanse of plains I felt at complete peace.
The drive back was certainly not uneventful either, with one car broken down, we crammed into two cars, boys in 1 and girls in another. And lucky for us we found 3 bottles of spirits in the front seat and that was basically it with many a negotiation between the two cars. That night tired as we were we still went out partying and another memorable night it was, after many a redbull and vodka me and jessy were buzzing. With no clubs open we rocked out our moves till 5am in a local bar with the big mamas and portley gents who could all really move. It was so much fun. Only me, Jessy, Inno and Jazz stayed up till the early hours showing off our Tanzanian learnt moves to the surprised locals and having many a lo0ng conversation in kiswahili. We topped off that brilliant day with a good old drunken chips mayai. Yeah man.
After such a thrilling yet exhausting safari we stayed around Arusha for the day, despite the prices being a lot higher to what we are used to. But thats tourism for you. The place is nice but some how un-African. Me and Jessy did however share the nicest Indian curry ever and checked out a cool massai market too. We left early the next morning, planning to catch the ferry for Zanzibar that day, but as normal the journey just dragged on and on and we arrived to late. So using Jessy's connections we managed to stay at someone's house who had invited her a few months ago. And what a good idea it was, I have always found that you always get the best taste of a country by staying with the locals and this was no exceptions and what was even more lucky for us that night there happened to be a wedding. We even had to make a grand entrance being with the grooms family side, who we had just met. I didnt really know what was going on throughout the whole night but i did however manage to hear the running commentry of the mzungu by the the MC, which always got a good laugh. It wasnt the typical African wedding you got set in a beautiful beach resort, lit with thousands of fairy lights and with no crazy dancing, but the food was great. Another eventful random night in Tanzania I guess.
Im sorry to say the next day me and Devotha parted our ways, i had a bit of a commitment scare and also with only a couple of months left i think it was for the best. Im so happy I had the relationship though, Devotha is a truly amazing lady who really stands out from the crowd with her stong posture and bright smile. Its sad to say an end to anything but its been great, without any problems or issues at all and i will miss her lots although we wll stay friends im sure when im still out here. But not wanting to put a big downer on my holiday I felt ready for the trip across to Zanzibar.
Stepping onto the ferry we immediately used our kiswahili advantage chatting away to the captain, who after a while we asked if we could sit up on the front of the boat, where your not supposed to go....he accepted, great guns. So with the wind in our hair, the sun setting, the waves splashing over us and a jolly captain to chat away to, me, jessy and steph cruised into stone towns harbour. A grand entrance even if i say so myself. In search for a daladala over the pricey taxi's we ended up walking all over stones towns cobbled romantic streets. I felt like i was visiting another country completely, not feeling like Tanzania at all. We riskely tried a bit of the street fried squid and octupus, which was delicous but unfortunatley found no daladala's heading all the way out to our remote village where the gorgeous volunteer house was set. So we bargained a taxi driver down and sped off in the direction of paradise.
A tiptoe distance the crystal clear blue splashing waves the house together with its generous balcony and curving pool was puuuurfect. We were greeted with party whistles and gleeful looking volunteers, who arrived the day before. Having a spin tour of the house, i didnt really know what to say it was just so SHWANGA (cool)! Within minutes I found myself strolling down the beach, stars glistening and waves splashing agaisnt my feet to arrive at a local restaurant surving us all a great veg curry and ugali. I was in heaven.
So how to describe that week, 15 volunteers in an amazing house, in an even more amazing situation. It was snorkling and frizzbee by day and fish eating competitions and skinny-dipping by night. We tried our hand at fishing across the bays, which almost seemed immoral having viewed the array of glamourous fish snorkiling the day before, even more so when I tried out spear fishing (unsuccessfully to my manly annoyance).....but my God they were tasty (sorry veggies!). Runs along the beach were topped off beautifully with a Scottish war cry and a crash and dive into the sparkling Indian ocean. Drama games and drinking worked well in this situation as you can imagine and I think preperation for uni life was started off in a great way. We went in search of a full-moon party one night, which was pretty much an all nighter. Hiring our own daladala we had a lively conyagi fulled two hour drive to the very tip of Zanzibar's island, a mzungu party place. It was almost a bit of a culture shock being surrounded by so many white people and and hearing the same music from home, after getting used to dancing with the big mamas in the local bars. But it was a rave of a night and when the bongo flavor songs came on we were sky high. We got back at 6 in the morning just as the sun was rising...another eventful night. I also have to mention some of the meals, we pushed out the boat(literally aswell) on the last night getting feast of seafood spread accross the table, as fresh as possible. Calamari, Octopus, grilled fish, fat shrimps and a first for myself lobster....it was so good! We had a last day around stone town after emotionally saying our farewells to our gorgeous house, to stroll the streets again and get a whisp of the historic place. Then it was bye bye Zanzibar and back to Iringa we cruised.
The whole trip seems like a dream right now, it was so special and I couldnt of wished for a more exciting and spectacular trip. Flabagaspinglyperfectly lush!!!!!!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1211866560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1211866560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1211866560/tpod.html Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:52:28 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Iringa, Tanzania

Im flippin knackered lyk!!! But Im having a couple of days pumziking in town (/partying and getting drunk(em....I mean having polite conversation) with the other volunteers) after a canny busy couple of months. 
        I'll crack out the maji-salama (safe-water) stories first, seen as you might all have the suspense of knowing what happened next when I was on my crazy Mzungu mission in Mbeya last month, ordering a 1000 bottles off a Rasta. Well despite them trying to rip me massively off and the hassle of transfering 7 huge bags from one bus to another on my own while being crowded with tauts, I actually really enjoyed the journey back to village. The bus Set off with a beautiful sunrise drifting above the distant mountains and when arriving at Njombe, where I had to transfer the bags, I just assumed the role of a madman mzungu and ran full sprint from 1 bus to the next carrying the huge bags on my head. I shouted out phrases like, 'I cant pay you if you help me', 'Leave IT,' 'I'm able', 'Brother, PISS OFF', at all the big guys trying to get cash off the crazy white man. But it was pretty good fun and I had a joke with them all after I had successfully got the masses of bottles on the roof of the bus and I even did a semina on their use in the bus stand to about 50 people, crackin with the knackin.
      Finally getting the bottles in the house after the 3km walk from the road, I returned home to Inno who was just about to embark on a journey to town to sort out Uni stuff. With Inno away, I was equipt with many a bottle and a script which Devotha had helped me translate about how to use the bottles, I set about learning how to teach it fluently in Kiswahili and prepared myself for too full days of Maji-Salama. Ready as I would of ever of been I started at the primary school. I managed to get the whole primary school on the school field (dont worry, with the teachers permission), starting with an energiser of roll calling, which is amazing when you here the kids roar in response to your call, I taught them in as much detail as i could, with a full demonstration, they all listened in excitement. The distribution was a bit crazy, but I felt on top of the world teaching 500 kids on my own. Following the buzz after teaching school, nothing stood in my way, community meetings, secoundary school, dispensary and the best of all the Ulanzi bars. Distributing 1 bottle to every kid and 2 bottles to every adult who could repeat back to me how to use them and keeping a couple of hundred in stock for those who use them properly I was pleased with my effort, I just only hope that the majority use them for safe water instead of ulanzi or cooking oil! 
      (How it works.  Clean the bottle (must be between 1.5 - 2 litres), and remove any wrappers. Fill it with water 3/4 full and shake it for 30 secounds (with the lid put back on), then fill to the top (after removing the lid again and putting it on after its full, Durrrr). You then put it on the metal tin roofs in the sun for 6 hours. So I taught out in the morning and take it in at night but if it rain leave it an extra day. The heat from the sun and the U.V light kill all the germs in the water making it safe to drink, Poa Kabisa!) 
      We've had a good deal of success's with our Post-test club, "Tushikamane (We are together)", this month despite it taking a lot of effort in this unorganised, polepole place. After already taking the trip up to Lugarwa to try and get the files transferred to a village 6km away (This would enable our group to only have to walk 6km to get the ARV's and other medical supplies instead of having to make the 22km hike to Lugarawa to get them). I knew that we had to escort them all there as a group to get their final medical checks. Inno was still sorting his uni stuff out, so at 4.30 in the morning I hopped out of bed and gulped down my breakfast and waited for Tushikamane to arrive. Setting off in the pitch black dark we bustled away down the mountain paths, stumbling and tripping as went, the mood was surprisingly bright as they chatted away in Kipangwa. I made sure there was no stragglers, with the alternative motive of getting the chance to piga piture of the gorgeous colourful sky. The sun slowly creeped over the dark shadows of the mountain casting the most amazing scene across the fresh, cold sky. The more it creeped over the more the frost slowly and smokaley drifted into the crisp air. It was the most beautiful walk, but pretty tiring, these people are meant to be ill and they are walking 22km to get there medication, let alone the 22km back if they havnt go the money for the ever increasing pricey daladala's. However it was well worth the huge blisters which I'd managed to accomplish, as by midday they had all successfully had their CD4 counts taken, which they have to return for every 6 months for, and got all their files moved to the dispensary close to our village. A success.
 I chilled out for the day at Jazz and Steph's house in Lugarawa and when playing B-ball in the brand new court in the most amazing surroundings, built by a peace-corp vol called Connor, I was happy to see the tired Inno walk round the corner bearing more good news. Inno had managed to successfully help the group set up the account. This has come after a fair bit of trouble and hassle, like banks always are, and after a few unsuccessful attempts of escorting our 4 lead members of our group to Njombe and back, costing me a canny few shillings. I'll tell you about our last success in a bit.
        Preparation was our main activity during the week or so leading up to our Festival and Educational visit, so much so that we have been a bit neglective of our duties teaching in primary school this month, although we are still on track and Secondary school is running real smooth. You tend to have to see someone about 3 or 4 times before it actually gets done so the week became pretty tedious, involving writing letters, posters, rehearsing our post test group and CAG for their plays, contacting speakers, making annoucements (One day we headed down to Lupanga to ask the VEO to announce it after church. When we arrived we were summoned into the church and ushured to the front, this church is huge and close to a 1000 people were there that day, unaware of what was going on people looked round at me and Inno expectantly. Inno said his name, so I followed dutifully and when I was just about to go into a bit of detail the powerful priest stopped me in my tracks and signalled for us to take a seat. I later found out that the priest had told everyone that we were from the goverment and we had good things to say, so everyone has to listen to us talk after church. I found this out just as we were again being pushed to front of a crowd in the village square, luckily I had my lines prepared and I quite enjoyed the unorientation of it all for myself.) and having long, long, meetings with the village leaders, concerning plates and what not ( I found these considerably boring not understanding it completely and it lasting for hours, so I've started preparing info for next years vol during any meeting, rude as it may sound. On the other hand Inno found them incredibly interested, I was taken a back at first, how can you possibly be interested in hour long discussions about how much ulanzi to buy the guests, but Inno explained the other agenders to me. Basically our Chairman and VEO have lost 500,000Tsh of the villagers money, while they are continuing to fine them big amounts for petty offences like turning up late to work on the goverment farm (pretty hypocrytical considering they turned up 3 hours late for that meeting). Furthermore, when the villagers hired an auditor (Yes they do have auditors in Tanzania, suprisingly!) to come and check up on the paper work, the pair of them along with the treasurer mysteriously went to town without telling anyone and for no peticular reason,causing more of the villagers money to be lost when they dont have any in the first place. That meeting the VEO had wrote on the agenda, Treasurer left to town without telling anyone. This place is real corrupt!). So that was what the week or so entailed but we did a rather random and awkward peer education task to do.
    A lady from our CAG had came to us, quite a while ago now, concerning her young son of 6. The father of her son lives about 6k away and doesn't help her one bit with the growing up of the kid or help funding him through school. After hearing a few of teachings on women's rights this lady, Eleza, felt that it was her right to demand help off this bloke. We thought great, here is a Women who is standing up for herself and also considering the fact that in Tanzania after a kid if of a certain age even if the father has not looked after him he can rightfully claim his son by paying a bit of money to the village leaders, we decided to help her out. However depite asking many questions on the situation Eleza failed to tell us the true story and after trecking the 6k to chat to this guy about rights we came across the blokes wife alone? Inviting us in we sat awkwardly not really wanting to explain the reason why we were there to the guys wife, it slowly occurred to me and Inno that maybe Eleza was with this guy when he was already married. Confusing I know, me and Inno did not like the whole situation one bit, caught up in a family problem is not a good situation to be in. Unfortunately we had to leave the anxious lady to confront her husband as we huried outside and made Eleza explain the truth. She basically is to blame as well for the situation she has got herself into, she got involved with a married man who already had 2 kids with two other women, it doesnt sound like the best person to get involved with if you ask me. On our way back, as I me and Inno were thinking of excuses for us to step away from her problems with so much other work on, we bumped into the guy we initially came to talk to. Then followed a very long chat between him and Inno where the guy declared the kid wasnt his and Eleza burst into tears, difficult. We realised the guy was not a nice piece of work and that Eleza had come off with the worst side of deal so we decided to set up a meeting with them both in our office to sort everything else once and for all. They didnt turn up. Altogether a very confusing trip out.
      Ok so onto the Festivities, we had two big events planned this month a Educational visit and our Community Festival but we started it all off by being guests at Mlangali's primary festival, where we helped teach and play with the kids. It was really nice day, there was about 300 kids there, who performed songs, poems, dances, raps and even a magic trick. Marco and Jazz rocked up as well which was poa. Unforntunately the nice day was spoilt in a big way as we got a phone call telling us that we had been broken into again! Making the hour and half slog back to Masimbwe we were pretty angry, as you can imagine and anxious of what had been taken. Luckily, although things had been searched, nothing was taken apart from my wallet case (the theif had gentily placed all my cards and memrobiliar in a plastic bag, and took the case?...a kind theif) The biggest problem of the event was that the next morning when I set off at dawn to start the big day off at the Secondary school Inno had to stick around for a couple of hours trying to advice the village leaders that the best thing to do is not to go to the witch doctor!They wanted to go to find out who the theif is by using spells and then to curse him! Which although is quite funny is also pretty serious as such a thing can quite easily turn out with a person being killed! ( TIT- This Is Tanzania)  
      THE EDUCATIONAL VISIT, all 10 volunteers arrived at 8am (minus Inno who was with the witch doctor), although by very different modes of transport. We got the ball rolling by waking up the teachers! While still hurridely preparing the classroom , all 100 students rushed in buzzing with the excitement of new faces. I arranged it in one big circle to make everyone feel relaxed and free. I started it all off with a few mambo vipis and bongo flavor songs, then 1 by 1 each volunteer introduced themselves to the hyped up kids. The teaching went great that day, so much interaction and vol after vol taking up the lead role or helping each other out. We covered Transmission and prevention of HIV, syptoms of AIDS, the realationship between HIV and Aids and Marco even did a story about reponsibility. The kids loved it and it went swimmingly well. We broke at 10 allowing pupils to go to church etc. We all went and got chai and maandazi (Tea and Donuts), unfortunately there was a bit of hassle with the Tanzanian vols refusing to pay as it was my Secondary school. I was stubborn and refused to pay for them as I was already feeding and cooking them for three full days at our placement and I explained that it was there own choice to come and as volunteers we should be there to help each other out instead of demanding hospitality. Unfortunately it caused a fair bit of friction in the group, which is not good, for me I personally feel that if your friendship is based on how much someone gives you then it not really worth having. However it didnt prevent us from teaching and after lunch we rang the bell and prepared the kids for getting tested. We did this in the form of a play, which I wrote, it was about promiscous students and peer pressure, the last scene ended in a school girl just about to receive her results. I stopped it just as she was handed her paper, got everyone to close their eyes and gave every person one of three different coloued pieces of paper. 1 representing positive, 1 negative and the other  invalid (more tests needed), I got them to imagine being in the situation of the girl and receiving the results I then told them what the paper represents and we had a discussion about how they would feel if they got the reults. The whole thing went well and kids were really ready for the VCT. 
   SO we escorted the hundred kids through the village and the 3km to the dispensary, difficult to control it was a bit manic but they arrived in the end and we got the doctor to talk about the dispensary, importance of getting tested and condoms. He did a brilliant job with a good demonstraion and answering well the difficult Q's asked by the students. When he started the testing kids swarmed to the testing room and we physically had to haul them back. Due to lateness we only managed to get 10 students tested before darkness was settling and we had to jog back to the school. But we promised to take them again on anther day so all of them can get tested if they so wish.
    That night was the best part of it all though, after dinner we called the students back to the same classroom as the morning. Handing out candles for each student the room glowed with light. We then welcomed Tumwendile, the lady living with HIV, into the room with a song, the atmosphere was really special. Tumwedile spoke with real passion as usual, us volunteers chipped in with bits of teaching on self-esteem and reflection. We then asked a few students to give some words of wisdom, we had a moment of silence to remember anyone who has passed away because of AIDS and then finished it all off with a few prayers. The mood was reflective and gentil, I felt the students bonded so well with each other as well as with the volunteers. It was a truly memorable full day and our teaching there over the last two months came to a nice half way end.
    THE FESTIVAL, Zinduka Ukimwi Upo, Kapime Uishi, (HIV is around us, Get tested, Live life), Wednseday 21st of  May. The few days leading up to the festival were crammed full of rehearsals, prepartions (including a stage which we made from scratch), meetings and sorting out all the problems, and there were many. The main one being that two days before Sandard 7 and Standard 4 were told they had exam, not only did this mean these pupils could not help out in the performances but it also meant that the whole shool facilities we were going to use were now out of use, including the footbll pitch for the festival and the classrooms for the VCT. We had to change things round drastically. But with problems solved and everything ready the day before we felt good. CAG were a great great help cooking for the volunteers and cleaning our house, legends.
   Waking up bright and early, still confused about the following nights heroics (the girls refused to stay in the house which we had got them, due to fear of  witch doctors and the boys also refused to remove fom their comfy beds. I had to force the boys out of there beds, which again did not help relations too much, but they wanted boys and girls to stay all in the same house and there was no way me and Inno were going to jeopardise our future in the village for pettiness.) I hopped out of bed enthusiastically anticipating a full full full il lilana day. The morning started with final preparitions or my teaching with Devotha and then organising a few hundred primary kids to split into two groups. Then off I went leaping and bounding with half of them. The journey that followed was one I will never ever forget, drums banging, feet stamping and rythmical voices chanting, all while I ran with 200 kids into the mountainous morning air. We were running to Mselesele our sub-village 3km away to let people know the festival was on, it was a truly exhilerating trip. Arriving back with kids, who were relentlessly still not tired and still singing at the top of their voices, with the battery collected and the stage set we started off the beats and started attracting the first members of our audience.
         I quickly grabbed some food and on my  return received the first of the days problems. The driver who brought the VCT service to our festival, after coming across a few mzungus decided to double the price of the car. Ahha, with no money left what so ever I had to refuse point blank and we throughout the day had to look at alternative sources of transport, a nightmare of a driver, but a typical one. With a small crowd gathered the guests ready and us already 2 hours behind scheldule, we let the drunken Ngoma group to start doing their thing (looking very scary and dancing in a very wild manner, while screaming in untuneful manners, they are great fun. However they constantly demanded more and more ulanzi throughout the day and got threatening when we had to refuse, good crack lyk) and the festival started.
      I was very dissappointed at first with few people there and so much prepared, but I took it as it came and in the end it worked out well, the teaching to begin with was pretty poor and it slowly got better as more people arrived. By the time the school choir was playing a nice crowd of 400 had turned up, not including the bright eyed, eager school kids. The choir were brilliant and Godfrey and Kelin followed with some great speeches on Condoms and prevention of HIV. Then it was mine and Devothas turn to do our thing, we taught about Womens Rights and questioned a lot of the male doministic ideals in the society, a difficult one to know how its going to go, but the put down of answers which were saying men had the right to choose when to have sex, were done by the majority. The short play which we did that followed our teaching was about the importance of saying NO to sex, it filled the crowd with laughter as I swaggered on pretending to be a super young, hip cool Tanzanian on the pull. I loved teaching with Devotha it was so enjoyable. Another song later and it was Post-Tests time. Nervous as they were the atmsosphere that was created when this courageous group stood up for the first time annoucing there status for the first time was incredible! Applause errupted and emotion was spread across people's gasping faces. Tumwendile came in with  her powerful speeches again and the crowd, which had now grew to 7 or 800 were alert and intrigued by the whole spectactle. Unfortunately the atmosphere subsided momentarily as CAG. bless them, felt they wanted to get involved and decided to teach a little on maji-salama, what occured was a strange spectactle which mainly consisted of disorganised dances and random phrases thrown in about maji and salama, but least they are trying. The secondary students however picked it all up with an entirely altered play, taught by Godfrey about the importance of getting tested. Making the audience scream with laughter while putting across important messages it worked terrifically.
    At this point I escorted Marco away from the festivities as he explained his horrible current circumstances. With his Dad fatilly ill, he was just about to embark on the long journey back to Australia, I left the festival behind for a while attending to him, in his emotionally stressed position. I feel extremely sorry for him, set in his dream of a village and loving the whole experience and suddenly being hit with such dreadful news. Grabbing his bags I helped him on his way, trying to comfort him as much as possible. I will truly miss this guys company and I hope for my sake as well as his that he gets back to this beautiful place, which I know he loves, I will truly miss him when he is away.
   Subdued I wondered back to the festival, the sight that geeted my eyes was hard to beleive. People were actually running in their hundreds towards the dispensary, forming a huge que/ pile of people. The nurses had given their speeches about the importance of getting tested and peolpe had just rushed to get the front positions, before we even had time to conclude the festival. Superb, that day 68 people got tested and got their results, 50 were still waiting but unfortunatley it was too dark to continue.
    Me and Inno spent that afternoon running from place to place in stressed out states, greeting people, feeding people, sorting problems, attending requests, encouraging testing and above all trying to sort out the football game. The football team from a neighbouring village had turned up in their dozens and Masimbwe football team either scared or just late, were no where to be seen. We had to sort out an unbiased referee, get a football and I had to defend myself agaisnt threats and accusations that I had supposably told them all that if they won they would get a goat?" Unable to even say goat in kiswahili, I think they like the driver had got mzungu fever and saw an opportunity to get as much as they could. Apologetically I had to leave Innocent to sort out the problems as I felt pretty threatened and slightly scared from the big bulky blokes, scarier then geordies. He gave them the chicken as planned and a big bunch of bannanas, then sent them flapping, the opposite team, who were the ones demanding a goat, won 3.0 so they were pretty happy with themselves anyway, so it didnt turn out to be such a bother.
            Tired and stressed  Inno and me set about on the last task of the day, the candle-light ceremony. Starting late we rang the bells and with it already dark, most people had already gone on their way, thoses who did come however were those who wanted to be there and the short religous service that followed was again really special. A few songs, a few prayers and the peace and  reflection that a candle brings made the perfect end to the hectic festival. We treated those who came with some sweet potatoes and tea.
      But it didnt stop there for us, with the champions league final getting closer we had to set out and embark on the hour and half walk in the dark to get there. My legs already dropping off, when my eyes glimpsed the head lights of a rare car in our village 20 mins down the road, I had to abrudtley end the converation with my mum with an, 'Oh, shit...wait!!!' as I sprinted after it. Being successful we hopped on to the trailer in the open air, as we headed down the bumpy tracks, wind in our face as we had an exhilerating journey to arrive for the football. A good match later and I can safely say it was a brilliant, yet tiring day. I fell that halfway through our timein Masimbwe thinghave gone very well.
         Just finishing my last of a very few fun days catching up with all the other mzungu's and their adventures, aswell as having  some typsy nights.
CHOW + POW! 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1213025700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1213025700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1213025700/tpod.html Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:38:46 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Iringa, Tanzania

With Inno away with family problems (after he returned i found out they are big, if not massive problems, I feel so sorry for him right now. The word pole could not be used more sincerly. I cant write about such issues casually in a blog..so i wont) a few days alone turned into a couple of weeks and without a big project I felt some what bored and lonely. A break in town did not break my gradual brewing homesickness and I was getting pretty fed up for the first time...until I embarked on my grand vision of Lupanga.
After a horrid, (worst journey of my life, kind of thing) bus journey to get back to village, I hopped off early and walked, and a special walk that was. Starting with gloomy, sicky thoughts of my journey, that walk made my mood slowly brighten until I was once again a shining, jumping, smiling, enthusiastic volunteer. As I strode through the mountains, wind in my face, the sun started to set in the distance, casting that beautiful african light across the vast fields and little shacks. Kids ran to me to help carry my bags, whilst expecting the mzungu playfulness and happy greetings, which I happily abliged to give (one little tiny kid came up to me with his fist out and said Nipo Tano jacky(give me five and then my name), when i first came these kids were so shy). I popped into a few members of my post-test club houses, telling them about a meeting i wanted the next day, I was greeted with big smiles and welcomes, with offerings of food and seats next to their fires. Arriving at my house, with now a whole team of kids, I Karibued them all in as they were keen to read the latest magazines. I rewarded them all for their help with a bit of a blast of Michael Jackson from my phone and we busted some moves together. I slept very peacefully that night, with a renewed love for Masimbwe.
With the regeneration of my enthusiasm I was bursting with ideas. I cracked one out the first morning back. Preparing a bit of Kiswahili and notching up a question box, I headed down to the ulanzi bars with paper and pens. Gathering a few CAG members I went round the whole village asking people what they wanted SPW to do, questions they had, advice they wanted, ideas they had etc.. The response was great, I went through them all with CAG that evening and apart from the few that wanted money, the main things were a sports league and after our many condom demonstrations they now all want condoms. Poa kabisa.
The following days I set about on the big idea....Lupanga Week (After such a successful semina last time in Lupanga we decided a week there would be perfect)! I set about planning it all, getting my trusty Goddy (my best mate in vill) to help me out we set off early (6am) to get there and back for my meeting with Tushikamane (Post-Test group) that evening. Going from the village leaders office, to the church and then to the primary school and then round again and again, we managed to sort out a place for semina's, video show's and a place for me and inno to stay. Unfortunately the school had exams so we couldnt teach a short course there. That evening I spoke to Tushikamane about my cha cha charring around in town, where I tried to get them some education and funding, I asked them to start having meetings without SPW, to help them continue after we leave and also to write down exactly what they need help with to improve their living conditions. I also prepared 3 members of CAG for the next day's semina and 4 for the following day. If this CAG get good at teaching maybe, just maybe in this polepole place next years volunteers could be arriving to attend seminas on HIV themselves. That night I was canny knackered lyk!
The next day CAG taught a good semina on HIV to 30+ people, a great success, I collected up difficult q's in a q box to talk through with Inno. The following day the semina didnt start so well though and as I struggled in a mzungu crazy way to get the teaching across in a good way, I was greeted happily by the youthful and sweaty looking Innocent striding round the corner. He jumped straight into action finishing off the semina in his now in built confidence. Despite loving the few days of indepence and actvity, I was thrilled to see the guy I have worked so closely with over the past few months.
A few days down the line and every evening, me and Inno had taught to a crowd of over 40 and put on educational videos to crowds of over 60. Everything ran really smooth and the whole week seemed to be a good solid week for Lupanga untill our closing semina on sunday came along...... and then it was finished off as a huge success.
Rocking up late due to cycling all the way to the Secondary school to sort out forms for next months creative actvities, I was greeted by the sight of nearly 400 people gathered round Inno and Godfrey who were ready to crack into the semina. They taught amazingly well, passionate speech's, extravagent gestures and a creative activity, the whole thing went excellent. To put the cherry on top the few ladies from Tushikamane who I had prepared to speak came along, and my God did they speak well, with calmness yet passion they taught about the importance of getting tested and the reasons for being open. The whole thing has finished everything off with a big bang. And now I am embarking on my busy holiday... which Im sure will entail its own adventures. Tally HO!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1209647880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1209647880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1209647880/tpod.html Fri, 02 May 2008 08:03:40 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Iringa, Tanzania

Hello!
Im currently on a Mzungu crazed mzungu mission to take a thousand empty 2-litre bottles on two very long bumpy daladala rides, complete with high egoed, hassley bus tauts who really want to to rip of a Mzungu, I'll let you know how it goes next blog.
Sawa, where do I start? Since I last wrote in a rush a lot a lot a lot has happened and I dont know how to put it, I dont want to sound boastful of our achievements or a carazy gullible youth, I think maybe if you look at it seeing me as enthused to the max who is unable to say when.
Secondary school has been the best thing for breaking up a week taking up every Friday and Saturday our weekends are the busiest time of all. Being a bording school the students are from the major cities in Tanzania, bringing with them a slight swager and attitude, which I actually love. Our first lesson, when we walked into the class, half rose to the feet and half sat glued to the seats, not even a mutter of good morning teacher was churped (the normal greeting), and they stared at us with full blown teenagerness (most of these are actually older than me so maybe not teenagers). Although daunted we had set up an idea for getting people to introduce eac other and after I had introduced Inno and told them all about shaking his WoWoWo when he cooks the class was filled with laughter, especially as I sang a Bongo flavor song while pretending to cook.
With help from our young headteacher, who actually greets us with a Vipi? (Sup?), which is pretty cool we have managed to steam ahead with everything at the school. During our secound week of teaching we started off a sports league, which i dangerously and tiredly(we had to cycle for an hour to get there and an hour back) participated in and our SRH club, although the first was met with great enthusiasm the latter was a flop, with the more studious students coming, who didnt expect or now how to engage in my series of drama and team bonding games. I was a bit disappointed about the club, but now we have started integrating role-plays and debates into our lessons so its all good crack, we will use the best students for our festivals. Because we work on a Friday and Saturday night we decided to get accomadation at the school, however due to the school being run my young male terachers, they didnt really know what to do with us. With no where to eat or cook or sleep, they hurridley got a few blankets for us to kip on a teachers floor and the head master ended up cooking for us, it was pretty embarrassing for all people involved and we have vowed to not stay again.
I suppose I need to tell you about the first thing that greeted us after we had slumbered across the mountains with our fresh supplies from Njombe, a house which was broken into. Great! luckily nothing was stolen and the only sign of a trace apart from the smashed in locks, was a gigantic, foaming, slodgy poo? (thankfully in the toilet). Not the gratest thing to return home to, it just leftboth me and Inno in a sense of anger and frustration, we come all this way to help and this is what they do..kind of thing, but its all blown over now, we get Goddy to stay in our house when we are away.
So an all round positive experience is Lupanga. We went there to pick up our IRC materials which we had gave the priest to drive back in Njombe. When we arrived, its about a hour bike ride, we though this is a nice place, maybe we could do a semin here. It just so happened when we were there the monthly village meeting was on and as we rocked up into the village every one was there. After quickly speaking to the village leaders they agreed to a semina and Inno introduced the idea to all the villagers. Meanwhile I had got chatting to one of the teachers who was interested in our teaching, leading him to ask us to teach there. After just taking on the Secoundary school it was a no go but we had a look around anyway and I had the idea of a doing a short course, but lets leave that to later. When the semina came around expecting it to be big we got our CAG organised and set off as a team of 11, 8 CAG, Godfrey from Mlangali and Me and Inno, all on bikes....a proper SPW team. It was class going all together but a nightmare to organise and we were an hour and half late, but this is Tanzania! After doing the various greetings and checking out some of the Ulanzi dens the chairman started to assemble a few people, then more and more arrived untill 234 people were assembled. I greeted them all in my rehearsed, pretneding to be off the cuff, introducing the team and the topic, then we were off. Unfortunatley CAG felt a bit daunted by the size so played little participation but Inno and especially Godfrey stepped up to the challenge with me busily preparing in the background. We coverd HIV myths, the difference between HIV and Aids, how its transmitted and how to prevent, including condoms. It was a great success and with Godfreys powerful speeches we even got the African celebrating howl when we finished. Superb. The great thing about our seminas is that peple arnt usually free to talk about the issues and the greatest topic of all is masturbation, the old women role round in laughter as we explain that women can do it as well, we talk about ndizi (bananas) and caroti, its great crack.
Last week was so, so busy, setting up our first post-test club meeting, (which I will write about in more detail on its own blog) we got a lady living with HIV and Aids who runs her own group in a neighboring village to come and help us. She arrived two hours early, which is pretty unheard of, so I had the idea of teaching in the school. Gladly my friendly fronted, children thrashing head teacher accepted and I got all kids from the top 3 classes to join into one. Standing in front of all the hushed but excited kids, Tumwendile said loudly and clearly her name and that she was HIV +, the lesson proceded with Inno and me chipping in bits of are teaching syllabus, I think it was an invaluable experience for the kids and a great way to teach them.
Four of the mornings last week there was a baby clinic where all the mothers go in the four sub-villages that make up Masimbwe. The guy who was running them gladly let us teach so by 10 o'clock every morning we had taught all about Womens rights and Contraception to 30 or 40 women, on there own they particpated great and the seminas went swimmingly well.
Last week was certainly our week of condom demonstartions with us doing 5 of both of female and male condoms, (I had condoms in myt pockets for days to come) four were done at the clinics and the other at our youth semina, one which we had been preparing for, for a while. Using the creative money from SPW we cooked for the semina (when I say we I mean mainly CAG), and by noon food was ready for 70 people. The semina which was meant to start at 10, still only had about 4 people waiting outside the room. Inno was close to tears as I quickly thought of ideas to get people to come, with little help from our leaders to gather people can be difficult, I proposed the idea of doing it in the evening at Matenga (Ulanzi centre) but no one backed me up. We had joined the semina with CCM, the ruling party, who were doing there elections that day, to increase numbers. However at 2 in the afternoon when Inno went with the CCM leader for one last chance at rounding up the people. The youth said, why would we come when CCm are ther, we hate them....change of plan, we apologised to CCM and made it SPW on its own, youth crowded in and we got the target group with everything we had. In an hour and a half we taught the important points on STI's, HIV and unwanted pregancies Where the CAG did a play) and to round it all up we asked the q: what protects you from all these things? Condoms! A another demonstration later and we were ready to finally eat. When we getting the food ready we returned back to the semina room with our hundred condoms at the front taken....a big success.
Last weekend when trying to run errands for our post-test club we had a trip up to MAkongobaki to see Marcos placement, his village and set-up fit him perfectly well, including the name, the furthest placement to reach its an 8km hike to get to the village beautiully set on the steep slopes of a mountain. We were treated in true Tanzanian style by killing a chicken and roasting it up. It was a great trip and I had some brilliant chats with Marco, one where both are thrilled to be able to speak fluently again and very deep.
I think thats about all folks except the entertaining lessons in primary school which I did/attempted on my own, when Inno went to Iringa for 2 days to send a house girl to Arusha for his mum. I prepared well, trying to use games and competitions to make it easier for the language barrier. It didnt work but it was still very fun for kids. I got them standing on the next shouting out the important phrases. It was a challenge but fun.
I will talk about the post test club also later. Bye
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1209725220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1209725220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrshepherd/tanzania_08/1209725220/tpod.html Fri, 02 May 2008 07:24:04 -0400 SPW (Students Partnership Worldwide), Kijana ni Afya Programme (Schools Health Education Project).

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Iringa, Tanzania

Ok I thought I should explain this club to you alll in a bit more detail, as I think its really important, something we have spent a long time setting up and its not an SPW activity. Both me and Innocent, thought the one of the biggest ways in which we could help the people of Masimbwe would be set up a club for those living with HIV and Aids. By setting up this club we hope to reduce the stigma for people living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA), which would also involve educating people what ways it is and it is not transmitted etc., to provide a group for those who are scared of having the disiease or feeling lonely/ segregated have somewhere to turn to and if we manage to get one of them on a training course, which could in turn enable us to get sponsorships from anywhere so we can set up sustainable projects to improve their lifestyle.
There is a HIV carer in our village, who although has no formal training has been really helpful to us (she has just started hel;ping them take the first supply of ARV's, in Masimbwe, correctly), to begin the group she took us to all the peoples houses who recieve care from her, 16 in total, where we able to introduce ourselves and tell them if they were interested in starting a group. Seeing them in their houses, its obvious how tough life is for them, they still have to farm for hours in the field, they drink un safe water and they have little money to get them to the hospital to get there supply of ARV's. On the day of the first meeting we contacted the chair person of the post-test club in a nearby village, she is also living with HIV. All 16 people turned up, which involves two kids, this gave me and Innocent the sign that these people really want and need something to keep them motivated or help them in life. The chair person, Tumwendile Mtitu, is an amazing lady and spoke passionately about the importance of being open to make the group work and how it can help all those who are not open see that there is care and support for them if they agree. They all agreed to be open that day!
How the group will work is that every member will put in 2000 Tsh to join the group, thats the equivalent to 1 pound, but a lot of money for them, they will then have to put in a further 500 Tsh every month, this is to show there commitment to the group. With the starting amount of money we will help them set up a bank account for themselves. We will then try and get sponsorships for them, which we will put into this account. With this money we will use it to help them set up sustainable projects for themselves, the main one is to keep pigs. This will provide them with good meat to boost there protein intake and an easier way to produce income then working hard in the fields. The money will also go towards paying transport fees in order for them to get medical treatment and gfet their ARV supplies and for other improvements in lifestyle e.g. bottles for safe-water, extra blankets, mosquito nets and extra medication. Our main problem in all this is how we get the sponsorships, I am hoping that I will be able to get some donations from England, as the exchange rate is so huge, even ten pounds is a huge amount for them, but the main problem is how do people donate straight into the clubs bank account. This I do not know, so if any one can help me please contact me! The alternatives we have looked into is setting this up as a registered charity, which is a long and difficult process maybe a bit to above me and the other is getting one of our members onto our course for training about running post-test clubs, this would be done through a charitable organisation which would be able to receive donation for us. This will be currently what we will try to do in the immediate future. For the time being if anyone would really like to sponsor this group I think the only way would be to give money to my parents, which I can get out in Tanzania, this would be great in order to get one of the projects up and away.
For the time being we are going to use our group to help us with our SPW activities, if they are willing to help. On the 21st of May we are having a Festival all on HIV and Aids, we plan to teach them all the main facts, transmission, protection and the need to get tested. We are hoping ome of the members will talk about the group so people know support if there for them if they need it. We will then talk about the importance of getting tested and we have organised a VCT (Voluntary Counciling and Testing Service) to come after the speeches for those who want to get tested. Our group will therefore be there to provide long term support for those who find out they are positive and be willing to let new members in.
So thats our plan, its hard work and we have already been on many an errand for these people to try and improve their medication supply. One day I walked/ ran 17km in between peer-educating and classes to try and get letters and forms from various health centres to move their medication supply to a walkable distance for them. I think it will be really worthwhile, but I have never engaged in anything like this before so if anyone has any words of wisdom or advice for me, please dont hesistate to contact me. Researh is difficult out here aswell so anything would be a helping hand. You can even give me a ring +255763517894.
Asanti Sana
]]>