Making the Connection

Baraka returned after dark to the room I had reserved for him at the Lutheran Center. He had made arrangements with a friend to have our supplies loaded up at 10:00 a.m. the next morning and dropped off first in Longido, then Kimokouwa. The cost was $110.00 U.S. which I thought was a good deal, all things considered. I would go along to the warehouses get some photos for our next newsletter.

Of course, during breakfast the next day Baraka took a call from the lorry driver on his cell phone informing us that he had scheduled another delivery before ours and would not be back until mid afternoon. No much we could do, so I headed to my room to do some writing, agreeing to meet Baraka later. The driver called to say 3:00 p.m. would be more like 6:00 p.m. so I just kept on writing. Finally a call from Baraka saying they were on their way to pick me up. There was less than an hour of daylight left so if I got only a photo or two to mark the occasion I would be happy.

The usual gang of security guards, taxi drivers, and street sellers outside the Lutheran Center couldn’t believe their eyes when the big green truck pulled up and I scaled the height from the ground to the passenger seat. Baraka’s cousin and another Maasai fellow were in the section behind our seat, either ready to help with the delivery or get a free lift home to the village. Within an hour we were loaded up, I was dropped off, and Baraka and the truck were on their way to Longido and Kimokouwa. I heaved a sigh of relief as I waved goodbye.

It is easy to see how everything is so connected, living in a country like Tanzania, especially during a severe drought. Home in Ottawa, I might have felt all our money should have been spent on feeding the people. Forget about the goats and chickens. But I realize that life must go on here. There will be life after the drought. People will rebuild their simple lives. If there is anything that characterizes Africans it is resilience. The chicken and goat businesses Project TEMBO helped the women begin a year ago must be sustained so families can be fed and mothers can afford to send their children to school. Earlier in the week, the very act of my buying fresh eggs for my maize cake from Nai was loaded with symbolism for me. So was taking the photo I have included here. It’s one of my favourites. This Kimokouwa mother must also have access to nutritious food if she is to raise a healthy baby.

Earlier in the week, when Steven could actually sit for awhile to talk about the work we are sharing in, he described the Small Business Development leadership course his organization, LOOCIP, is running in Longido. It is almost identical to the Community Based Organization (CBO) model our friend, Masam, instructed us in a year ago. It works like this: A group of people come together with an idea for raising money to improve their lives in some manner. One person is chosen to attend the training course once a week for six months, costing about 7500 shillings or about $7.50 U.S., per session, with each person helping out with the cost. Shared among 10 people the cost is not cumbersome. Participants learn how to write a group constitution, identify goals and objectives, set a budget, access materials they will need, determine a market, identify obstacles and strengths, and project income and expenses. Everyone in the group must be involved in the process. Once the plan is accepted by LOOCIP, the group can receive up to $1000.00 to be repaid within one year, including a very small rate of interest. The money is then used as start up funds for another new group.

When Project TEMBO’s original women’s groups were set up, it was our intention that they be instructed in the CBO model. Now that a program has been developed this will be possible. Existing women’s groups, and any future ones, will take this course so a firm foundation for their business is in place. Helping people realize their dreams; this, too is part of life continuing here.

So is the Longido Community Library, which Project TEMBO supporters have provided seed money for and are helping to build, one book at a time. Steven proudly showed me the small room that he hopes will one day house 1000 books on yet-to-be-built, wooden book shelves. The library will contain all kinds of books to challenge and inspire every age group. It will be a resource center for students and teachers. Books to compliment an adult literacy program will be available. Money donated has been set aside to train and pay the salary for a librarian. People here know that education changes lives. Students who have received post-secondary education are role models in the community. It is the one thing most requested when you are approached by someone: Will you sponsor me to go to school? It is books that open up a world of ideas and possibilities and options that everyone can have access to.

Imagine, all this thought coming from watching a truck of mostly animal feed roll out of town.

The villagers who were given cameras so they could be photojournalists for a day came back with stories to tell through their images. Some of the subjects included:

Happy school children
Crowded classrooms
A Coco-Cola cooler
Donkeys carrying heavy burdens
Women waiting in line for water
Inside a boma
Lone figures on dry landscapes
A child playing near a dead cow
Relief aid being delivered

There is a grainy quality to the photographs since the only disposable cameras I could purchase in Ottawa were 800 ISO. I think it adds to the stories the villagers are telling. Understandably, there were a number of “missed” shots since some of the participants had never even held a camera before. But I am pleased with the outcome of this first photojournalism project in Maasailand.

I will be visiting projects near Mt. Kilimanjaro for a few days before returning to Longido. I will post another entry along the way, as I pass through Moshi. Following this entry I will post a few more photos.