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News from V's Visit to Tanzania in June 2008 |
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| July 9, 2008 Dear Friends of Tanzanian Orphans, Eleven guest teachers have just returned from teaching English and volunteering with orphans in Olasiti village, near Arusha in northern Tanzania. The program was organized by our program manager Zenan Gasper. All the participants traveled to Tanzania at their own expense, bringing school supplies and personal energy. Thanks to Dorobo Safaris and the Ujamaa Community Resource Trust for supporting this effort. We stayed at Dorobo Camp and enjoyed James' and Kimambo's delicious cooking. There was a variety of activities with the orphans every afternoon. Each weekend, we traveled to one of the National Parks to see wildlife. Several of us spent one unforgettable afternoon in Arusha, at the U. N. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. We listened to the chilling testimony of a witness against a former Rwandan official accused of organizing the massacre of Tutsi people in his district in 1994. According to the witness, he said, "When you sweep dirt fom your house, do you sweep it into the corners? No, you sweep it out the door." Our Tanzanian host teachers worked during their semester holiday to open their classrooms and their hearts to us. They organized the students, translated between Swahili and English, and stored materials in the tiny school office. Their support and collaboration were essential to the children's success. Thanks, Evelyn and everyone! The Olasiti village school has no glass and no electricity, but their dream of a library is coming true. Community members have finished a new room dedicated to the library. The teachers have measured for bookshelves and tables. Building a complete set of bookshelves will cost $288. Tables $10 each. So far, only one hundred books, but that will increase! For information about donating or shipping books, please contact V for information. An orphan girl is amazed at her close-up view of elephants.  A
highlight of the experience was taking a truck full of orphans to
Tarangire National
Park for their
first taste of their national treasure, the unique
African wildlife which brings tourists from around the world. Kids in
the Birding Club have been learning about birds, and were able to
identify many. Zenan built the existing orphan center by adding on to his own house. However, he dreams of building a real residential orphanage in the village. The Olasiti Orphans Center is bursting at the seams, overflowing! Zenan's wife Ester cooks for everyone in a big pot in the outdoor kitchen. Here's the plan: Buy a plot of land big enough for a field of crops and then a building. The cost of the location: $14,000. This spot is ideal because it's at the rural edge of the village, located on a road, has a water source, and is close to a clinic under construction. Future plans for the building include a girls' bedroom, a boys' bedroom, a house mother's bedroom, kitchen, dining and study room. This can be built by hand, one section at a time. To make the orphanage sustainable, Zenan plans to include a tailoring service manned by one of our graduates. In this rural area where ready-made clothing stores are nonexistent, a tailoring business addresses the need for school uniforms as well as shirts. He also plans to plant banana trees and jatropha trees as well as food crops such as corn and beans. If we have our own field, we won't need to continue renting space for the orphans' community garden. How will we raise $14,000? One dollar at a time! I want to reflect on the wonderful experience which the volunteers have brought to fruition. The children of Olasiti School enthusiastically enjoyed your company, including those who clustered outside the windows and walked us home from school every day. The teachers appreciated the way you shared your talents. The people of Olasiti opened their hearts to us. The orphanage is developing and the orphans are thriving. Each of you contributed in your own unique way to the success of the program. Paulette, thank you for your boundless energy and innovation. Susan, thank you for all your wisdom and knowledge. Diane, Mama Diana to so many children, your love for the children is evident. Erin, I think you see why Shelly caught the Tanzanian bug. Thanks for sharing your fun and games. Minnie, thanks for giving to Loveness, and for giving me a water bottle! Laura, thank you for your dedication and careful planning. That phone was a life saver, too. Elaine, I have a feeling that you have found your gift for story telling. And Meghan, Sierra, and Sanji, thank you for proving that "kids" are a valuable part of the team. You pulled your weight admirably! Finally, "Tikki tikki tembo, no sa rembo, chari bari ruchi, pip peri pembo!" Will we ever forget it? Asante sana! V |
 3 friends: Suzana, Donatha, and Ndeiyai
 Zenan looks at land
 Girlfriends hangin' out at school
 Conversations on the road |