Dave's Tanzanian Experience

When I sat down to write a blog today I thought I would write about our safari but as our time here comes to an end it’s the students here at GHTA who are on my mind.  The safari was amazing and I’m sure that it will be the topic of many future conversations. I know I’ll get questions about how safe it is here or the food or the houses.  I’m sure I’ll get questions about the poverty.  Nothing you see, read or hear can possibly prepare you for the poverty here.  Still right now it’s the people who have made the biggest and most permanent impact.

Janet, Mammy, and Jenny (fellow volunteer who was also here when Janet was here last year)

Zuwena and Hadija

Since the first day here I have been struck by how friendly, open and giving the people are here and how hard they work to get a little extra education to help them better their lives. The things that immediately come to mind may seem trivial or very small to the average American and probably would have sounded that way to me six months ago, even two months ago.  Mammy giving us 6 eggs one morning.  It might not sound like much but that’s how she earns her living so six eggs may represent a day’s pay.   Six eggs, is a big deal.  Mlay giving Janet and me each a T-shirt to take on safari.  No big deal.  Mlay gets up before school and sells milk to earn his living.  He earns about 16,000 Shillings a week—that’s about $10.00 a week.  So, two T-shirts—ya, it’s a big deal.

 

Janet and the GHTA students

Happy students

I know I’ll be asked how this experience has changed me.  I have such a flood emotions when I really think about it.  I am overwhelmed .  I realized that I probably spend around $10.00 every single week on coffee (sadly, I probably spend way more but I honestly hate thinking about it right now).  No big deal.  That is about the same amount of money the average Tanzanian lives on.  About half of what I spend on coffee every year would send one of these students to school to learn computer repair.  It would be enough to buy 20 or 30 chickens and feed so one of them could sell eggs to supplement their income.  It would buy the supplies to start a soap making business.   So, when I get back I’m going to skip buying that coffee at Dunkins’ or Starbucks and I’m going to sponsor one or two of these students.  If skipping that third or fourth cup of coffee can help some have a better life well, I’m okay with that.  

 

Mary and Upendo

Nakaniwa and Yasinta

Now that the Give A Heart to Africa Class of 2013 is graduating we are looking for people to sponsor students either for them to start a small business or to further their education.  So if you are able to donate any amount of money to help out a student, even if it's only $25, it can be put together with other donations to make a huge difference in a student's life.  If you would like to help I’ll include the GHTA link at the end of this and you can contact Monika directly.  I’m here and I’ve seen where all the money goes and I can tell you that it all goes to helping the students.  

Jesca

Sophia

So, when you ask me about what I think of my time in Tanzania it will be the people who will be on my mind.  Here is the link:  http://www.giveahearttoafrica.org/