Libraries In Boxes Go To Schools

Boys unloading the library at Msente Primary School

Today we finished delivering our Libraries in Boxes to the schools that we work with.  They were well received by the teachers and students.

Girls at Partimbo Primary School taking the books to class

These small libraries each contain in between 50 and 60 books.  Some are fiction and some are non-fiction.  We are certain that they will be well used and will increase the level of English among the students of Kibaya.

Girls at Kiteto Secondary School Hostel

Many kind thanks to all of the people who donated these books.  Your efforts are well appreciated.

English Teacher, Norbert, checking out the books



A Good Samaritan Protects Fran from our Unwelcome Visitor

When we were kids our generation went to Sunday school and learned the parable of the Good Samaritan.  The Good Samaritan was a traveller who helped a man who was robbed, beaten and left by the side of the road from Jerusalem to Jerico.  Many people of high rank walked by the man and didn't help.  The Good Samaritan did.  He stopped and helped a stranger in need.

A painting of the Good Samaritan by a Dutch Artist

Yesterday, our guest and fellow volunteer, Fran was on her way to the market when she was accosted by the mentally deranged man who has been harassing us.  He screamed at her, invaded her personal space and waved his stick close to her.

 Fran helping our primary teachers inventory their libraries in boxes

Luckily for Fran a Good Samaritan came by.  Her name was Asha and she took Fran aside and protected her until the fellow went away.  Fran was able to return to our house safely.

Later in the day we had Asha over to our house for tea and thanked her for her help.

Asha, a modern day Good Samaritan

Today, Mr. Ndee took us to the police station twice.  The police have the man in custody but they and Mr. Ndee assure us that we will not have to go to court. 

An Unwelcome Visitor

The stereotype of Africa is that it is a risky place to live.  The western media focus on African violence and mayhem.  The single story of Africa is that it is a highly dangerous place.

Until very recently our personal experience with Tanzania has been just the opposite.  Without exception the people have been polite, welcoming and friendly.

On Friday we began to have our first security problem.  Near the market a man asked us for some money for chakula (food).  This sort of thing happens occasionally even in Kibaya where there are no tourists and where, as a result, begging is rare.  When beggars do approach us we always say, 'sorry, no money.'   We are always polite to them. On Friday, we responded to the beggar as usual and thought no more about it.

On Saturday morning at 7:00, just after Pascale Antony our guard left, the same beggar showed up outside our home.  He was carrying a stick and had a machete strapped to his belt.  He woke us up and asked for money.  To find out where we live he must have followed us home on Friday.  We told him through the window, in our limited Swahili, that we were sorry but that we could not give him money.  He stood outside our window for about 15 minutes glaring at us and then left.   On the road in front of our house he began to scream and yell but then moved on.

On Saturday afternoon the man came to our house again.  Once more he asked for money and once more we told him that we were sorry but that we had no money to give.  After standing outside our house for about 15 minutes he left.  At this point I started to become a little concerned and so I phoned our manager, Mr. Ndee who suggested we go to our nearest neighbour, Mr. Joseph, a Big Potato in the district and ask for his help.  Unfortunately, Mr. Joseph was not at home.

This morning at about 8:30 the same man showed up again and got us out of bed.  He started pounding on our door with his stick while screaming at us.  When he left our door to come to our bedroom window to do more yelling, I quietly opened the door and took his picture.

This is the picture I took of the man who has been harrassing us

There are five Mzungus living in Kibaya and of all our house is the most exposed.  We have no gate and no wall surrounding our property.  We don’t keep dogs and the locks on our doors would not stand a serious asault.  All five of us stand out and are assumed to be rich.

This morning after the beggar left, I phoned Mr. Swai, a secondary school headmaster and friend and he came over right away.  When I showed him the picture he recognized the person as a local mentally disturbed man but recommended to us that we contact the police.

Mr. Joseph, our neighbour, took us to the police station late this morning and we filed a police report.  The report was written in Swahili and I signed it without being able to read it.  I hope I didn’t confess to the Kennedy assassination!

The police were sympathetic and friendly.  They know the culprit as mentally disturbed person and told us that they would pick him up, bring him to the station and warn him to stay away from our house. 

I hope this works.  Another day in the lives of two mzungues in Kibaya.

 

Libraries in Boxes Workshops

This week's workshops with our primary teachers  introduced the 'Libraries in Boxes' and the books that were so generously donated by Canadians in Quebec, Nova Scotia and Washington DC.  The teachers loved the books and they really enjoyed exploring the contents of the boxes.

There is no strong tradition here of reading aloud to children.  So the first order of business was to emphasize the importance of this activity.  Then we demonstrated to them one way in which this could be done in order for it to have the greatest educational impact.

For Canadian teachers it is inconceivable that elementary students would be left alone in a classroom for long periods of time, however, this is the norm here and we must work around it.  The teachers were asked to think of ways that the pupils could use the books even if their teacher was not present in the classroom.  One thing that we have learned so far, is that the project will move forward if it makes the   teachers' jobs easier and more enjoyable.

 

The Road to Rwanda

We got back yesterday from a two week safari to Rwanda.  The main purpose of the trip was to participate in the Kigali Peace Marathon. Debra and I walked the 5 km fun run.  Between the two of us, we raised almost $600 from the very generous donations of family and friends.

  The long and winding road back to Kibaya

This badly needed money will be used to help Tanzanian women start small businesses such as raising chickens, bee keeping, making peanut butter, juice and tomato sauce.  Altogether the Cuso International and the VSO team here in Tanzania raised over $7,000 for this very worthwhile project.

Tanzania is a much different kettle of fish than Rwanda.  On the two day road trip through Tanzania with Fredrik, Leisbeth and Fran, fellow volunteers, we were stopped 10 times by the police and fined twice.  In Rwanda there were no police road blocks.

  Volunteers Liesbeth, Debra, Fredrik and Fran

We did the trip in Fredrik's 4X4 Nissan Patrol

Paying a fine in Tanzania is a very simple affair.  There is no pesky paper work or inconvenient court appearances to worry your head  about.  Just the opposite, there are lots of smiles and handshakes.  The police officer tells the driver how much the fine is and the driver just forks over the money.  It is as simple as that. 

Our fines were both for speeding but in reality they were for DWM or Driving While Mzungu.  For the second fine Fredrik negotiated hard and the fine was cut in half.  No cumbersome and time consuming receipt was written and there was no record of the fine but I am sure that the money was safely delivered to the government coffers by the police officer.   If you believe that you probably already own fifty acres of swamp in Florida.

Slow down Fredrik there's a vulture at 12:00 o'clock!

In Rwanda there is a huge effort to combat the corruption that is holding much of Africa back.  It seems to be working as Rwanda is much more highly developed than Tanzania even though it has a fraction of the natural resources and a recent history that was written in blood.  This very green and mountainous country is as clean as a whistle; the houses are painted up, school classes have about 20 students each and the roads are free of the very dangerous pot-holes and police check points that plague Tanzania.  On first sight it seems as if it is a theme park version of the Africa we are familiar with.  Rwanda is open for business.

 The Rwandans are very serious about ending corruption and encouraging investment

In Rwanda Saturday mornings are called Umuganda.  The time is spent performing compulsory community service.  Rwandans clean the streets, fill in pot-holes, build schools, weed the numerous public gardens and do other worthwhile projects.  Nothing moves.  The police lay down carpets of nails to prevent vehicle movement.  You can't even buy a toothpick during Umuganda.  Everything closes and everyone works for the community.

It seems to work well for them and although there are elections in Rwanda every seven years the current leader, Kagame, operates as a benevolent dictator.  As one VSO volunteer working in Rwanda told me, “He is like the best head-master you could ever have.”  The young receptionist at the Kigali hotel where we were staying summed it up by saying, “I love him.”  When he shows up at soccer games the crowds go wild with joy.

One tortoise and two hares

Peter, Ishwar and Jean

Can you guess who the tortoise is?

Ironically, the hierarchical system and respect for authority that makes Umuganda work so well is the same organization that made the 1994 genocide possible.  It is difficult to believe that only 18 years ago Hutus were hacking Tutsies to death by the hundreds of thousands with machetes and sharp farm implements.  Nearly everyone in the country was involved as either perpetrator or victim.

Rwandans don't talk about it now and are trying to put it behind them as they develop their economy on a model similar to Singapore.  When you see people on the streets though you can't help thinking about  how they behaved 18 years ago.

The bridge that separates Tanzania from Rwanda

In 1994 250,000 Tutsie refugees fled to Tanzania over this bridge in 24 hours

and bodies were floating down the river in the background

Cuso International and VSO volunteers in Africa part of a big family and when we all get together it is wonderful.  We kid each other, fool around, trade crazy stories about our experiences, eat huge meals, support each other and generally socialize to beat the band.  Although the purpose of the trip was to participate in the marathon the real fun was had in re-connecting with our 'volunteer family.' This camaraderie is a big factor in making our experience here so fulfilling.

    Debra and her two Friendly Giants

Fellow volunteers Djoke and Marc