Bubbles and Balls

Yup, I’m back in Tanzania.

No matter where in the world you have some kids and a ball, you will have a soccer game. And for an hour, it doesn’t matter that they sleep in a house with a dirt floor, or their skin is covered with an infection because they are living with HIV/AIDS.

Saturday was one of the joyful monthly meetings of Pamoja Project families, here to talk about life, have some juice, play a bit, and collect food support. Some kids and the balls we provide immediately took to the field. Others excitedly accepted the bottles of bubbles I had brought from home.

For me, just hanging out with these folks is enough. Some I have known for years and years, and we excitedly embrace and look into each other’s eyes- because we don’t share language. Others are new to our group, but when they see I can be trusted they begin to shyly open up.

I discuss climate change with Yaseni, an articulate high school senior who has seen the reports of the impending hurricane in Florida. Rehema and Queen, aged 8 and 9, want to practice their English and put me through the paces of “tall, short, fat, thin”- complete with hand gestures.

I love this.

You who are part of Pamoja’s efforts already know the lesson that we are they, and they are us. I carry you with me this week.

Carol

Our Kids Are Growing Up

Yes, our kids are growing up…

• September 14, 2018

Olais found it very funny to show how tall Denis has grown, and how short I still am!

But when I look at the children you have sponsored, I am so proud of what we have accomplished together.

As of September 2018, here is where our kids are:

14 attend primary school

13 are in secondary school, 6 of whom are boarding

4 are enrolled in our vocational training programs

7 are attending post-secondary certificate or degree programs in everything from social work to business management

Yes, we’ve lost a few along the way, but mostly because they moved out of our service area or elected not to continue their education. I think this is an amazing statistic in a country where only 50% of the population is literate.

I fly home tonight.

Mary, Olais and I have visited many of our kids, both at home and at their schools.

Above, Mary, Olais, and Aneth share a laugh during our visit. I will be touch with those of you who are sponsoring kids soon after I get home and through my jet lag, to give you the highlights of my visits with your wonderful kids.

Carol

Visiting Ambureni Dispensary

Many of us have a Utopian idea of what a government run,

single-payer healthcare system would look like. Although

a poor country like Tanzania is not a good comparison to

what we might see in the US, it can provide a cautionary tale.

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- September 11, 2018:

You may remember that we built a new dispensary for the 20,000 residents of Ambureni Ward in 2016. The contract that the government makes with communities is that if you build the facility, they will provide a doctor and nurse, furniture and equipment, and necessary medical supplies.

When I was here last year, I was not able to visit the dispensary so I was very excited to do so on Friday.

Here is what the doctor showed me:

3 shiny new beds with no mattresses

Apparently, it is BYO mattress or other bedding if you are coming to give birth. And yes, there are multiple births here every month.

An examination room with 1 chair

Who sits? Doctor or patient?

A ton of painkillers and enough vaccines, but no antibiotics

I guess if you have an infection and can't afford to buy meds from a private pharmacy, you just take painkillers and hope for the best.

First off, let me say this-

I love Dr. Goodrick. She is dedicated, open, clearly an advocate for her patients, and we are lucky she was assigned to our post. She is immensely grateful to Pamoja Project for the dispensary. And, in line with our beliefs, she is running a series of family planning clinics here next month in conjunction with the international organization, Marie Stopes. 

But there is much we can do to make her job easier. I am collecting the costs of the items that Dr. Goodrick believes are essential, and will provide opportunities for you to participate in the coming months.

The US healthcare system leaves much to be desired. Let's make sure that if we get a single payer system in the US, the budget includes mattresses.

Training Tailors Since 2005

Yup, our tailoring training course has been offered to teens who have had to stop formal education since 2005!

Here's an update on the progress of the program.

It's so wonderful to know that in 8-10 months of training teens can be supporting themselves with the skills learned in our tailoring program. The current class is 21 students, 2 to a sewing machine.

Here students show me the skirts they are working on as practice.

Oh my goodness, Neema. Your dress is gorgeous. Did you make it?

I made plans to meet with Neema, one of the kids who has been sponsored for some years through Pamoja. She is HIV+, did not pass her national exam to attend secondary school, and last year entered our Tailoring Training Program. Now she works from a rented veranda, sewing a variety of items for local residents. I am awed by how beautifully she determined the layout of her dress so that the design was strategically placed.

Way to go, Neema!

Carol