Volunteering in Tanzania: A lifelong Impact

In early 2012, I earned the Projectline International Volunteer Travel Grant and began raising money by training for my first full marathon in order to volunteer in a small East African town in Tanzania for the Tamiha Foundation. Here is how it impacted my life:

With the kids outside their bedroom.

The journey to Tanzania was a long one and took a lot of preparation, but was one of the most incredible experiences I've had in my entire life - one of which I can only hope to begin to describe through blogs, photos, and video - but something you can only truly appreciate by seeing with your own eyes. The people I met and the experiences I had (good and overwhelming) while volunteering in Tanzania will stay with me forever, and I hope they will continue to change the way I view the world around me. Although I went there to volunteer and help those in need - which I did - the Tanzanians I met and formed friendships with will most definitely leave a larger, lifelong impact on me.

The single most important thing I learned during my time in Tanzania is that nothing comes easy. And that's the case for most places in the world! Electricity is sparse so things like computers, refrigerators, stoves, and lights are unreliable and essentially excluded from daily life. Most meals were made over an open fire and eaten in the dark or by candlelight (if volunteers had purchased candles).

Most people do not have access to cars so will walk incredibly long distances with goods or water stacked on their heads. I witnessed some children, no older than 3 or 4 years old, alone by themselves in the middle of nowhere. Not a building or person in sight.

Maasai roaming the vast open plains.

Running water is hard to come by, so trips to the creek or water pump with buckets (often in the grueling heat) are necessary in order to bathe, cook, or hydrate. And even that water is not safe to drink. Outside the towns, you will see people walk miles to reach water and carry it back in buckets on their heads or with donkeys if they are well-off. No doubt it will make you think twice about leaving the water on while you brush your teeth or before you take a long shower. Take a moment to think about what it took to get that water to your faucet. Or to get that banana in your grocery store in the middle of winter.

The sad reality is that almost all of the 30 orphans at Tamiha have lost their parents and family due to HIV. Some were dropped off at the orphanage after good Samaritans could no longer care for them, some were found wandering the streets or in dumpsters searching for food. Even at the orphanage, on a daily basis, kids would be walking around with soiled underpants, runny noses, coughs, sores on their heads... And to think these are the lucky ones. The ones who are surviving. And although it's not very much, they get meals. They have each other - a new formed family of brothers and sisters.

The most overwhelming part of visiting a place like Tanzania is the vast, widespread reach of poverty and hunger. Such a huge problem that it can't be fixed overnight or even in a year. I remember upon arrival, it took a couple days for things to sink in, to accept the reality of what life is there, and how drastically different it is from ours - dirt everywhere, sparse food  and water, people literally have nothing. Children as young as 3 and 4 years old forced to be so independent. And yet they find reasons to be grateful and happy.

Although the experience was eye-opening, to say the least, the children at the orphanage and the people we met in Tanzania taught me to appreciate everything I have. They helped me realize what an overabundance we have OF EVERYTHING in the United States, and realize how little we can get by on. My experience in Tanzania was one I will always cherish.

THANK YOU! What did your donations do?

I want to send a huge "THANK YOU!!!!" to those who supported this effort with your well wishes, support, and donations! That includes Projectline Services for the International Volunteer Travel Grant opportunity and all the individuals who donated to such a great cause. I hope each of you can begin to understand how important this kind of effort is and what an impact it has made. A total of nearly $2,000 was raised during this time which went directly to the Tamiha Foundation and the women and children supported by its efforts.

After spending some time at the orphanage, we were able to identify some of the biggest needs. Here is what this money supported:

• Sponsored two orphans, Pius and Maxie, to attend school for one year each.

Maxie (left) and Pius (pronounced "p-use," right) on their first school bus ride to school.

• Backpacks and school supplies for the orphans previously sponsored to attend school (11) and those who remain at the orphanage for instruction from a local teacher (19).

Teaching at the Tamiha Day Care.

• 50 kilo of rice, 50 kilo of beans, and 50 kilo of corn which will feed all 100 children at the orphanage and day care for three months!

Local shops where we purchased the rice, beans, and corn.

• Mosquito nets for the orphanage and to potentially hand out to the HIV Home Care women.
• Rice and donations to aid the HIV infected women participating in the Home Care program.

Michael carrying supplies on the HIV Home Visits.

One of many women visited - who taught us about the many uses of Henna

• Orphanage supplies: candles, cleaning supplies, utensils, etc.

Dinner by candle light. Menu = ugali (a traditional Swahili food).

• Food and treats for the children at the orphanage.

The kids slowly savoring their chocolate protein bars with their porridge.

• Clothing and additional support for the incredible women who take care of the 30 orphans on a daily basis with no time off.

Michael and I with B.B. Sara (B.B. = grandma. At age 42)

• Refill propane tank used to cook food and heat water at the orphanage.
• Also in the works… is the development of a new and optimized website, including interviews with the Founder/CEO and other Tamiha Staff members, as well as a Tamiha video.

I’m so excited to see what great things are yet to come as Projectline Services continues to provide this grant opportunity to other employees. This offers up insight and visibility into issues worldwide and brings a level of world awareness to our local community that otherwise would be lacking. Kudos to Projectline!

 

Keep an eye out for these upcoming blog posts:

• The Orphanage: A Tour of the Grounds and Meet the Children
• The Day Care: Swarmed by Masses of Children
• HIV Home Care Program: An Insider’s View into HIV in Tanzania
• St. Vivian’s Private School: An Education Despite Poverty