Stories

SERENDIPITY!

https://www.seniorlivingmag.com/2021/04/29/living-on-purpose-2/

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Laurie Mueller April 29, 2021

SERENDIPITY!

The year I went to Africa wasn’t planned years in advance like some people plan their travel. But something happened in April of the year that I would later fly off to Tanzania. I had bumped into a casual friend on the ferry. We chatted about her work in Tanzania, a place I had never thought of visiting or, heaven forbid, working in. At first, I was politely interested, but when she spoke about the difference it made in people’s lives, I was hooked.

In fact, it was the beginning of five-year adventure! By the time I was driving off the ferry, I knew I would be travelling to Africa with a team to help in the building of a technical school. The enthusiasm and joy that I had heard about building schools for various organizations in the capital city of Dodoma sounded like just what I needed. I was only a couple of years from retirement, I loved my job, but now I decided, something was missing in my life.

The farthest I had been from home was a couple of trips to Europe in my lifetime and to Mexico and Hawaii several more times. My husband had no interest in going, so I invited some girlfriends and, lo and behold, three of them said yes!

I took a risk. But one I felt safe enough doing because of the organization’s track record. There had been teams going several times before I went. We were working with a well-known and respected agency in Tanzania.

The highlights for me were many. Touching down in Tanzania was the first bit of amazing. Driving through the countryside on a day’s bus ride to our destination was a bit hard on the bum, but still worth every minute. We arrived in Dodoma in a blackout, only to find out this was a daily experience for the residents of the city.

Seeing the area where we would be working, meeting the people, touring past projects and being thanked over and over again for the work past teams had done and hugging multitudes of small children who could now experience preschool and primary school filled my heart. Each night, we wrote reports about our day for folks back home. We got to know the teachers, the builders, and our team grew closer.

We volunteered at the job site for three weeks. I’m not big on scraping and painting but scrape and paint windows I did! When the task was completed, the fetes with community members ended, the goodbye hugs given and received, we drove north to Safari land and saw the animals before boarding a plane for home.

It was a trip of a lifetime. An adventure I had never planned on taking. A memory I will have for the rest of my life. My money, my time, and my energy were well spent. I was able to use my skills in writing to share the experience with people back home. I stayed with the organization for five more years.

My next great adventure? I’m exploring an organization in Mexico that could definitely use help… and it’s one of my favourite places to travel.

Laurie Mueller

Linda Ryder’s Story: From Team Tanzania volunteer to living in Dodoma, Tanzania

I joined FTLOA at the time that research and planning were underway for the construction of the Dodoma Technical Institute. I was a member of the team that traveled to Tanzania in 2015 when the building was being completed. This was my first time in Tanzania and I immediately felt that I had come home and would be spending more time in this beautiful country.

I traveled to Tanzania again in October 2017 to take part in the Ipagala Project, in May 2018 to take part in the Nashipay School Project. After these three experiences I determined that it was time for me to move to Dodoma, TZ. With the assistance of Ben and Joseph from DTI I obtained a Volunteer Work Permit and a two year Residence Permit and moved to Dodoma in October 2018. When the FTLOA team traveled to Tanzania for the Ndachi School Project in May 2019 I worked with the team leader to arrange travel and accommodation for the team and traveled with them when they visited the Ndachi site.

Through my volunteer work with DTI I was able to establish a Days for Girls Enterprise in Dodoma. This group of women make and sell the Days for Girls Kits (reusable menstrual pads). The group is also trained to provide presentations on women’s’ and girls’ health. I act as Mentor for the group and provide assistance where required.

Since moving to Tanzania I have maintained my membership in FTLOA and stay in touch by e-mail and WhatsApp. Through new contacts I have met US ad TZ members of Tanzania Life Project (TLP) who bring fresh water into villages in the Dodoma Region. I had the opportunity to travel with them to the village of their latest project and meet the people in the village. This project provided the first sale of the DFG Kits (made by the Dodoma Group) which were distributed in the village when we visited. I maintain a close contact with TLP in the US and we share information.

I have also met Barbara from UK who has been traveling to villages in the Morogoro Region for several years to assist with projects that are funded from UK. We had a short visit when she was last here and we keep in touch through e-mail and WhatsApp calls. She will return when travel is again safe. We continue to share information about Tanzania.

I have made new friends who assist me with learning Swahili and performing day to day tasks, such as transportation and shopping. It was an enlightened decision to move here and I continue to learn about Tanzanians and their country (now my adopted country). Through other connections I have had the opportunity to visit several villages and meet some of the people living there.

Please visit the “How We Help” tab to learn about all FTLOA past projects and help to support FTLOA for future projects.

Dianne Mary Frampton

January 28, 1948—September 11, 2020

Reflections of Dianne Mary Frampton

Dianne Frampton joined the For the Love of Africa Society in September of 2009. She had observed what type of work the Society was doing in Africa, how those projects made a significant difference to the people in Tanzania and she knew that she wanted to help to make a difference in the continued work that the Society was pursuing. She decided to join Team Tanzania 2009 and immediately set out to take responsibilities. Dianne and Edith Ritzer were assigned to look after the team expenses. Dianne was meticulous and her final report was amazingly accurate and detailed.

In her final report she stated: “We were assigned to dig a waste treatment pit for the Galilaya Children’s Centre. When I saw the backhoe next door I wondered why we would not pay to have it do it for us, but Erich insisted we do the job with a bucket brigade assembly and it was HI HO HI HO it’s off to work we go … even the chain gang gave way to a new activity we all enjoyed and were proud of.’’ Her final comment in the report stated: “Africa, we came, we saw, we conquered and we may be back to enjoy your animals, beauty, countryside but most of all your people. Thank you all, my fellow team members, for my first trip to this continent.”

Well, Dianne did return for a second trip to help with the construction of the first buildings at the Dodoma Technical Institute in 2015. Her enthusiasm and hard work spilled over to everyone on the team, she was a unifying force on any team. This year, 2020, Dianne once again volunteered to join Team Tanzania 2020, leaving for Tanzania to work on the Imarika School Project near Dodoma on October 2, 2020. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this trip had to be cancelled. It really showed her commitment to wanting to make a difference for the good of the people in Tanzania.

After joining, Dianne became a pillar of the Society. Dianne did not just talk about fundraising ideas – she put thoughts into action and was involved in almost every activity. She was usually first on the scene and the last to leave after clean up or wind-down. Her enthusiastic contributions to the organizing of and solicitation of support for the Water Garden Tours was just amazing. She made contacts and got results, a truly valued contribution and one that will be missed.

Dianne was full of wonderful ideas. She was outspoken and stood for what, in her mind, was the right thing to do. She was unwavering in her support of what the Society was doing and her bubbly personality was always welcome and rubbed off on everyone.

– Prepared by Ruth and Erich Schulz

Nashipay Maasai School: A Success Story for the Community

Just imagine the enthusiasm of these children as they learn their numbers and alphabet at a school in their own community! The parents, who didn’t have the opportunity to go to school, go along sometimes and watch — everybody learns. Besides this, the school functions as a community centre in the evenings as it is the only place in the village that has electricity.

The children of Nashipay School are doing really well academically, especially in comparison to children who attend the public school — no surprise, really. At Nashipay there is one teacher for about 30 children, in the public school there can be 80-100 kids in a classroom. At Nashipay each child has a seat at a desk or table — in the public school we saw as many as 5 children crowded onto a bench at a single desk.

At Nashipay, each child has a workbook and there is a text book for every 2 children. In the public school we visited, they had 3 or 4 tattered textbooks for the whole classroom and no workbooks. Children may come to school hungry, but at Nashipay each child receives 2 meals a day; learning is fostered by nourishment.

Nashipay is an English medium school, the teachers are multilingual and one of her/his languages is Maa (the tribal language), the only language Maasai children of primary school age speak. Just think, they can actually understand what the teacher is saying! The Maasai children who attend the public school have their lessons in either English or Swahili, and they understand neither language when they start school. This was initially the primary motivator for building Nashipay School. In order to maintain cultural integrity and teach classes in English, the school must be a private school. That means no funding from the government. It’s a constant challenge to meet the payroll and run the school, but they are managing by collecting minimal school fees from the families who can pay them. For the families who cannot pay, For the Love of Africa has initiated the Education for All program. Donations to the program are pooled until we can support a whole classroom, which allows that all children, even those from families that live on $2 per day, get a quality education and an opportunity for a bright future.

Kizota School: The Society’s First Project

In 2004, a Cordova Bay group was invited by a visiting couple, Dr. Wilson and Usuili Mtebe, to help build a school in Dodoma, Tanzania. It was their vision to promote education amongst the young people.

A large construction team was formed to join with the Kizota community to build a Pre/Primary school. For two weeks, our team worked with the Kizota community, each sharing their talents, energy and camaraderie. Most chose to help with the classroom construction, others worked with the children, while some helped the women prepare meals in the open-air kitchen.

We were introduced to staple dishes of the region, such as ugali (a type of maize flour porridge), fish, rice and kachumbari (a vegetable mix). It is important to recognize the contributions of the women in this culture, who are often the silent backbone of the community and who work hard to give their children a chance to be educated.

The reward for those of us who chose to return to Dodoma was to see the students of 2004 become leaders in their own community. The painted numbers and letters on the school façade had received a fresh coat of paint. Flower and vegetable gardens had been planted nearby. The Kizota school is still thriving, with active groups of parents and teachers, who inspire a lively body of students achieve their dreams.

One of FTLOA’s main aims is to provide ‘seed money’, so that our projects are sustainable, and to know when to step back, thus giving the community the opportunity to pool their efforts and continue working to fulfill their vision.

Kizota was the Society’s first project, and one that provided a firm foundation of trust, friendship, respect and a sharing of cultures. It opened the door for future projects where, with the generosity of donors, FTLOA – For the Love of Africa, endeavours to help others to help themselves.

Miriam

This is Miriam, 10 years old and in Class IV at Nashipay School. She is the head girl at Nashipay, which means she organizes the girls to help out around the school campus and help the teachers.

There are 3 children in her family, and she is the first born. She has a brother who is at gov-ernment school and another brother who attends Nashipay.

She loves to come to school and her favourite thing about school is reading. Her family is sup-portive and happy that she has the opportunity to go to school. When asked about her future goals, she shared that she really wants to fly an airplane and become a pilot when she grows up and understands that going to school will help her achieve that dream.

She admits that right now her life is really hard so sees getting her education as a real advantage to her and her family so she can help them realize their dream to buy a house and a nice car.

Deborah Noa

Meet Deborah, 10 years old and in Class III at Nashipay School. She is the fourth of five chil-dren in her family and they are all very happy that she has the opportunity to go to school. She really loves to go to school and her favourite subject is reading. She hopes to be a pilot when she grows up and knows she must have an education in order to realize that dream so she can provide a home for her family.

Deborah is a very happy girl and says she’s happiest when she’s helping her Mama wash the dishes.

I decided and it came true…….

What an experience! I was fulfilling my mother’s dream of working in Africa. I never ever thought that I would travel to Africa, it was just too far away and too different. But when I heard about the opportunity people in the Society were having by going to Tanzania and working to make a better world for the children I knew that I was going to go. I didn’t know how but once I had decided, it did come true. Three of my friends decided to come with me. Long-time friends who were caught up in my enthusiasm.

Five years later, we are still reliving our experience with ourselves and others. My experience was more than one I would have received being simply a tourist. I had the experience of working side-by-side with local people. I got to talk, listen, ask questions, hug, joke with, laugh with and become friends with the local people. As an adult educator for part of my career life, I was excited about being part of the first phase of the building of what was planned to be a technical institute campus. A place where young men and women will learn valuable skills to begin their careers, to live above the poverty level and to feel fulfilled. While the struggle to make this a success still continues, I feel a strong connection having been there at the start.

Working with people like 27 year old Elijah, who volunteered with us daily, who never said no to a task and who always had a smile was pure joy. He spoke English better than any of us spoke Swahili and we all felt he had become our best friend! My job was to write about the experience, report on past projects and keep the folks in Canada informed. Our new friends were happy to be interviewed and share their dreams and goals with us. I learned about their lifestyle and saw the similarities and differences and I was able to share these insights in my communications.

Visiting some of the homes in the small town of Nala in which we were working was an eye opener. Thatch roof over wooden struts. Dead or sleeping spiders just above my head. I bend my knees slightly in order that my head doesn’t come in contact with the spider or other insects. Dirt floors, fire pit in the centre of the room,

on which tea and food is prepared. A single piece of cotton material laid out on the dirt which signifies where that person slept. In the adjoining room, a chicken or two live. Six of us crowded in to deliver our gifts which consisted of beans, maize flour, fish, oil and laundry soup.

Some people say this trip is a life-changing experience, I have recently decided it is a life-enhancing experience because the memories stay and the work with the society builds upon that which we, on teams, have done in the past.. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to be a part of the team in 2015 that went to Tanzania.

Janice shares

I first traveled to Dodoma with FTLOA in October of 2009 and had such a wonderful experience that I had no doubt I would return another time. When the next team was being organized I convinced my husband, Bob, that he needed to be a part of the team and see for himself what I had been telling him about. We went in May of 2011 to help build the St. Andrew’s school and to work alongside the members of that community. My fondest memory is hearing laughter coming from behind the brick walls. When I went to see what was going on, there was Bob, who speaks no Swahili, sitting with five tradesman, who spoke very little (or no) English, having a wonderful time and managing to communicate regardless of the language barriers. The project itself was a huge success but for us our greatest memories came from the interaction with the people

Introducing Millary Salonike

His father is a watchman in Arusha and doesn’t come home very often. The family could not afford to live together in Arusha, so his mother brought Millary and his 6 siblings back to live with her family in Makuyuni; this is how he came to attend Nashipay Maasai School. She is helped a bit by her brother who is a piki, piki (motorcycle) driver and the father sends a little money when he can. What little income she receives needs to support the health and welfare of all of her children, and while she would very much like to send the other children to school, they simply can’t afford the fees (about $100 per year).

The availability of water resulting from the Nashipay Water Project, funded through FTLOA, will help a lot to alleviate hunger and poverty, enabling families to grow corn and a few vegetables for their needs and to sell. However, it is unlikely to provide sufficient excess to enable families to pay the fees for the school in the near term. The Goats for Kids program, and programs like it, will help families like Millary’s generate a sustainable income, which can provide food, clothing, school fees, uniforms and more for every child in the family.

Parasais

Meet Parasais, an 11 year old boy in Class IV at Nashipay Maasai School. He has the title of “prefect”, which is from the British system, a term that applies to an older student who guides and directs younger students. Parasais is the third of 8 children in the family and his father, Raina is the Chief of the village.

One of our visitors had the opportunity to talk to Parasais and get to know him better. He likes school, especially reading and playing soccer. His family is supportive of his dream to grow up, learn to drive a car and become a safari guide and they all understand he needs an education to realize this dream. He enjoys talking to people, especially visitors, and sees a career as a safari guide as a way to get to know tourists better. His family will benefit as well in that he will be able to help them meet their daily food and shelter needs as well as help his siblings get their education.

The Mamas

Women in Maasai culture are respectfully and affectionately known as “Mamas”. Their beadwork is an integral part of their culture; a skill that has been passed down for generations. As you can see, they are master bead workers and the traditional pieces are worn for ceremonial occasions. For every day wear, many of the Mamas still dress in elaborate and traditional Maasai style.

Bead by Bead and the Mama’s Sewing shop are women’s co-op enterprises. Many groups of Maasai women in the area contribute their products and the women working in the store know each piece of jewelry, who made it, how much it costs and how much of the profit to distribute. They are not “schooled” to read and write, so they carry all this information in their heads!! Rose, one of the senior ladies explained, “We don’t know how to write, so we have to remember.”

They depend on their share from the Co-op to feed, clothe and educate their children. Maasai women do not re-marry if they are widowed, so a number of them have full responsibility for all of their children. They are passionate about educating the children and believe this is the path to a better life for the whole village and future generations.

Gita shares on travelling to Tanzania

In 2019, I was privileged to be a part of the For The Love Of Africa society’s work in Dodoma, Tanzania. There we spent 3 weeks working on the expansion of the Ndachi school, from two classrooms to three and finishing the bathrooms.

Upon arrival in Arusha I knew I would enjoy my time in Tanzania. The van from the hotel was at the airport to greet me. Everyone was friendly and welcoming.

The following morning no time was wasted, we got all the hockey bags full of donated supplies, our own bags and us onto the bus for the journey to Dodoma. This was an eight hour trip that introduced us to some of the many and varied landscapes of Tanzania, from jungle to dry plains. Once we got to African Dreams, our hotel in Dodoma, we immediately got to work with unloading of bags, getting settled and having our first dinner/meeting.

We started our three week adventure with Sunday service at Ipagala church in Dodoma, and WOW, was that fun! The singing, the dancing and the people watching was a feast for the eyes and ears. There would be two more Sunday services at two other churches both with equal fervour.

Monday saw our first day at Ndachi school, a primary level school, that has about 60 children. We were warmly greeted by the pastor, cooks, teachers and the wonderful children. We were greeted in the same enthusiastic fashion every day for the three weeks we were working on the school. It was so inspiring to feel such appreciation.

Ndachi school children greeting us as they did every morning

In our time there we scraped, sanded, primed and painted the security bars on the windows. We primed and painted two of the three classrooms, and swept & cleaned the grounds. In the third classroom, we dug & moved a lot of earth to level the ground, mixed concrete and poured the floor. We did the same in the two bathrooms and in the storage room. We primed and painted the exterior of the school. We did a lot of work, but with such support and appreciation by the school community, we all felt the blisters were worth it. Never was it so true as in Ndachi that many hands make light work.

I had so much fun. The team was fun, the teachers and staff were fun, and learning a bit of Swahili was a real bonus. The children were amazing, sitting out in the hot sun, learning lessons on a barely legible chalkboard, being ever so happy we were there. I could easily have stayed longer just to be with them. The trust that was earned from them through our weeks there was heart-felt and something I will never forget.

During the three weeks, we visited many previous projects of the society’s, including Kizota school, Dodoma Technical Institute and Nkuhungu Community Medical Centre. We also accompanied the Pastor on home visits. We were able to distribute food, and the donated items of blankets and childrens’ clothes. The recipients were obviously in need and these donations were gratefully received by them. The items and the funds donated so generously by our supporters in Canada are making a difference to people’s lives in Tanzania.

This was for me, an experience of a lifetime; one I will never forget. Being in a foreign country and living in a foreign culture is one thing as a tourist, but when one is able to actually make a difference in the lives of the people who needed help it is extremely gratifying. I am grateful to FTLOA society and the organisers for the opportunity to participate. I am looking forward to returning to Tanzania with a team to continue the important work of FTLOA.

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