Well, we all arrived safely in Tanzania with most of our bags in tow and we are adjusting well. Our accommodations are lovely and our hosts are great. We are staying at a hostel that is run by the organization we are working under. You never know who will be coming to the hostel so we are getting a chance to know people from all over the world including south Sudan and Scotland. We have also been joined by two Kinesiology students from the University of Regina so our group of 6 has grown to 8.
We have had a busy week of bumpy roads and new experiences. The highways here are good but once you get off the main roads its pretty much like off-roading or driving through a pasture. When it comes to driving rules, there really are not that many so driving can be a bit of a hair-raising experience at time. We haven't witnessed any accidents yet, so fingers crossed! We're also adjusting to the concept of "African time" which is a lot more relaxed than time in North America. One lesson we learned today is that if you think you are going to be hungry in the next few hours and plan to eat at a restaurant, its best to go now.
The organization that we are working under currently runs two community clinics in the Arusha area as well as partners with many other community organizations. We have had a chance to tour both of the clinics and will be spending some more time at both of the clinics in the next few weeks. In partnership with some health regions and corporations back home, containers filled with medical supplies have been shipped to Tanzania so we have recognized some medical equipment from back home so that is neat. We have also had the chance to visit three of the thirty-five orphanages that this organization supports. The contrast between government-sponsored orphanages and privately-funded orphanages is startling. The government provides some financial support for orphanages, but it is very little so the government-supported orphanage we saw was a pretty sad situation. Its right by the city dump so there was lots of garbage around and there was flies everywhere, including in the kitchen. There also no fences around the orphanage so the local livestock wander around the orphanage grounds grazing. Suffice it to say, its less than an ideal situation. In contrast, when we went to a privately-sponsored orphanage. There was a fence and a hedge around the orphanage. They have a school right in the orphanage, the rooms and kitchen are clean and well-stocked and there are no flies. The children were almost all dressed in school uniforms and were very eager to show us around their home.
We had the chance to visit an interesting initiative for people with disabilities. In Tanzania they do not recycle bottles for money so there is a place here which takes bottles and other materials that can be recycled and makes products for sale. They only employ people with disabilities and they started out with 3 employees and now have 50 employees. They take the recycled glass and make it into vases, glasses, beads for necklaces, etc. and make a lot of other neat things out of recycled material. Because they cannot employ all people with disabilities, part of the profits they make go to support schools for people with disabilities as well as some homes for people with disabilities.
We got to see how a simple invention such as an effective water filter can make a big difference in the health of a population. There is a ceramics place in town. A researcher from the US came and showed them how to make water filters using colloidal silver, sawdust and clay. These filters cost $40 USD and can provide safe drinking water for a family of six for up to five years depending on consumption. With the use of these filters, the prevalence of Cholera in Tanzania has dropped drastically and is no longer one of the leading causes of death.
We've had a chance to get out of the city of Arusha into the country for a few different things. First, we got to go do some home visits with an organization that supports people who are HIV positive. We went out to the country, got to meet some HIV widows and orphans as well as provide them with some food. This organization runs a support group for people living with HIV and hopefully we will get to see this group in the next few weeks. We also had a chance to tour the Nelson Mandela University outside of Arusha. It opened in 2009 and is only for Master's and PhD students. The campus is absolutely gorgeous and they specialize in food and health studies.
Well, that's our week in a nutshell! Check in frequently for daily updates!
On behalf of NEPS in Tanzania,
Karen
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