This is her story. The story of most girls in the village.
This is his story. The story of most boys in the village.
Are you ready?
There is no response more difficult to deliver than a ‘no’ to the request of a student for school support. Unfortunately, if I said ‘yes’ to every student or parent with this request, I would certainly not be able to sustain the support, but damn I wish I could just say ‘yes, yes, yes, yes, yes’.
I wish I could tell you the following with a wink and smile as if I were joking, but this is the reality of the children in the villages in Tanzania. I’m not trying to paint the ‘fly in the eye’ image either, but I do want to share what is real. This is real. They’re just kids – like you and I used to be, but they do ‘kid’ in a different world than I did.
For three years, Diana walked 1.5 hours each way to and from school daily. In the village, the particular children we support – Saidi, Hindu, Edina, Diana, Amosi and Jumbe – don’t eat breakfast before beginning the journey to school. In fact, they kind of smiled at one another when I asked what they eat for breakfast. Lucas chimed in quickly with a sharply falling tone of voice, “Rai, they don’t eat.” Of course, I’d heard it before, but hearing it again from a chorus of six students made me wince. They all walk a great distance to school. Because secondary schools in the villages are rare, they usually build them in remote areas on the border of villages as to serve children from multiple villages. There are few children lucky enough to live within close range of a school.
In her final year of secondary school, Diana finally moved to the village where her school is located. This is not uncommon. If a secondary school offers boarding, those who can afford it will pay and sleep on site. Many schools in towns and cities offer this option. Village schools do not.
When I asked the kids about lunch at school, again they looked at each other and laughed with insider knowledge. None of these kids get lunch at school. If you have money, you can buy lunch – maybe some chipati and chai – from a woman making and selling on site. But for these kids, who would sooner walk 1.5 hours than pay $0.35 to take public transport, lunch isn’t in the cards.
So, they walk at around 6am, arrive for classes hungry and tired to study with no books in a language they barely speak or understand. They come home, help their parents in the farm or around the house with younger siblings and for the young ones and most boys, they have some time to run and play. Some go swimming, but you better believe they come home with a full bucket of water when they are finished.
On any given school day you will see school age children walking this way or that from neighboring towns and villages with firewood, sugar cane stalks, buckets of water, sacs of flour or baskets of fish on their heads. ‘Unatoka wapi?” “Where are you coming from?” Three girls we met were returning to Mgaraganza village from Mwandiga town by foot on a Wednesday. This is a trek of about 1.5-2 hours (depending on the heat of the day). There was school, but they had to go to town to buy the sugar cane on their heads and return to the village so their mothers could sell it in the market. This is not a surprising response to our question “Hakuna masomo leo?”
I could continue with more examples and stories that would just read like a prescription for depression, but I’ll stop here. I just want you to share this with your friends and especially with your young friends and children. We are so lucky in the United States and Europe and throughout the ‘developed’ world. We really can have no idea what a great fortune we posses with our lattes in hand, behind the steering wheel of even our old pick up trucks, with a degree or two tucked in our pocket and a paying job with a comfortable office. We can have no idea until we’ve walked 365 days in the feet (often without shoes) of a 12 year old girl or her 28 year old mother in the developing country of our choice.
Cheers to resilience! Now let’s envision a brighter future and make it happen from the ground up!
After discovering about some of our ‘issues’ here in the village, I composed a little talk for the village leaders. My friend in Kigoma, Bennie Muzzazzi helped me to translate it to Kiswahili so I could deliver it directly, knowing that what I wanted to say was being delivered. Here’s the video of the speech, followed by a transcript of my words (alternating between English and Kiswahili – some simplifications were made, but you’ll get the gist).
Of course – much conversation ensued, but it was all very positive and reassuring. The village leaders affirmed everything I said, even noting that the problems were not for the villagers but for the village leaders themselves. There were individuals within the leader group who were being outed without actually having their names said aloud. It was known by all who the ‘obstructors’ were and just by having this meeting, that was made clear and these ‘obstructors’ now know they are being watched by the leaders, the town powers, Lucas and me.
Meeting Village Leaders – July 17, 2012
Thank you for coming today for another meeting. This time is very important for me because I only come for 3 weeks each year. When I come I like to find out how the project is going and what needs or problems there may be.
Asante sana kwa kufika katika kikao hiki kwa mara nyingine tena. Kikao hiki ni muhimu sana kwani nakuja kila mwaka kwa wiki tatu. Kila nikija nataka kujua kinacho endelea kuhusu ujenzi wa Amahoro.
First, I want to thank you for your continued support. I know this is a big project and I know that it requires much from you and your citizens. But, as you know, without this support, the school may never be finished.
Kwanza, nasema asante kwa mchango weno wa hali na mali. Najua huu mradi ni mkubwa sana. Najua kwamba tunahitaji juhudi zenu na wanainchi wenu.
I would like to talk to you about Amahoro Secondary School. Do you know why I am here building this school? _______ I want to be sure that you know – I am here because I was invited to offer support by chancellor Bitata in 2009. I don’t need this school and it would be easier for me to work in another part of the world, closer to my home. But, I told Chief Bitata that I would support Mgaraganza and I am following through with my commitment.
Napenda kueleza juu ya shule ya secondari amahoro. Mnajua kwanini nimechagua kujenga shule hapa? _____ Mjumbe Bitata aliniomba. Ningeweza kujenga shule sehemningine karibu na nyumbani kwetu. Lakini, milimwambia mjumbe Bitata kwamba napenda kusaidia Mgaraganza. Sasa nimetimiza ahadi yangu.
When I accepted this invitation to support Mgaraganza, I asked Lucas to join me. Together we founded Project Wezesha and established an NGO in the United States so we could raise money from individual, private donors. In the past 3 years, we have raised thousands of dollars, but it has not been easy. I have to ask often and I have to be creative when I ask people for money. Sometimes I have a sporting event and money goes to Project Wezesha. Sometimes I have a concert and people pay to listen to music. The money goes to Project Wezesha. Sometimes I ask people to donate to Project Wezesha at the holidays – like at Christmas time. I also have local businesses donate items for sale and the money goes to Project Wezesha.
Nilivyo kubari kazi hii, nilimuomba Lucas kujiunga nami tuwe pamoja kutengeneza mradi huu. Tulitengeneza mradi unaoitwa Project Wezesha huko Marekani. Miaka mitatu iliopita tulikusanya karibu dolar elfu arobaini kutoka kwa wafadhili mbalimbali. Nataka kuapa mfano wajinsi ninavyo kusanya fedha hizi siyo la hizi kupata fedha hizi. Mara nyingine, nandaa michezo mbalimbali kama vile riadha na watu hulipa kujiunga na mbio hizo. Mara nyingine, nandaa music na watu hulipia viingilio. Mara nyingine, watu hawanunui zawadi za Christmas nawaomba wachangie ujenzi huu. Badala ya kununua zawadi, wananipa fedha hizo.
People don’t give money for nothing. They like to know where their money is going and what their money is doing. For this reason, I make sure to give reports to the people who contribute. I use the internet and I share stories and pictures about our students, the citizens of the village, the builders and the leaders. It makes everyone happy to see the faces of the young people of these villages who will one day go to Amahoro Secondary.
Mnajua kwamba wafadhili hawatupi fedha bila kujua fedha hizo zinakwenda wapi na zinafanya nini. Kwasababu hii, kila mara nawapa habari wafadhili kupitia Internet. Nawapa habari na picha za wanafunzi, wanakijiji, wajenzi na viongozi wa kijiji. Watafurahi sana wakiona siku moja watoto wa kijiji hiki wakienda shule ya secondari Amahoro.
It also makes them happy to know that this village is not only accepting their money, but also contributing to the project through our Memorandum of Understanding – carrying stone, sand and water. This year, they are excited to see the roofs go up on the next row of classrooms. They are also excited to see the new foundation be completed with the hopes of finishing the school next year.
Pia, watafurahi sana kusikia kwamba kijiji hiki hakipokei fedha tu, bali wanakijiji wanajitolea kwa nguvu zao wenyewe kwa kubeba mawe, mchanga na maji. Mwaka huu, wanataka kuona madarasa yamefikia kwenye renta na mabati na msingi wa madarasa mapya umekamilika. Ili mwaka ujao shule ikamilike.
There are many people who have donated to Project Wezesha in the last 3 years who want to visit next year. They are coming to open the school.
Wafadhili wengi waliochangia ujenzi wa shule hii miaka mitatu iliopita, wanataka kutembelea Mgaraganza na shule secondary Amahoro. Iliwahudhulie ufunguzi wa Amahoro Secondari.
As I mentioned, I only come here for a short time each year. I wish I could stay longer, but I have a full time job. Last January, I successfully completed my PhD. Now I’m Dr. Rai. After finishing my PhD, I began working full time for the University of Utah.
Kama nilivyotangulia kueleza mwanzo, nimekuja kwa muda mfupi. Ninahamu ya kuka muda mrefu, lakini nina kazi nyingi za kufanya. Kwani mwezi wa kwanza mwishoni nilimaliza PhD chuokikuu cha Marekani. Sasa mimi ni Dr. Rai. J Na ninafanya kazi katika chuokikuu cha Utah.
The problem with coming for only 3 weeks is that usually, I discover the problems that have occurred over the entire year and I only have a short time to address all the problems. Do you know what the problems might be for this year?
Tatizo la kuja muda mfupi ni kwamba nimegunduwa kwamba nikija nakuta kazi nyingi hazijafanyika, kwasababu watu hawajitolei kufanya kazi hapa. Mnajua matatizo yalio jitokeza mwaka huu?
This year, there are two big problems.
Mwaka huu, kuna matatizo makubwa mawili.
First, last year, I met with the village leaders and discussed the need for the Tanzanian government to support us to complete Amahoro Secondary School. I told them that I did not believe that Project Wezesha should pay for the entire school. In addition to the support of the villagers through small labor, I hoped that the Tanzanian government would contribute to help us with the cost of construction. Unfortunately, the village leaders did not submit a budget in time for the decision-making in January. As a result, there was no money set aside for Amahoro Secondary School.
Kwanza, serekali ya kijiji ilitakiwa kuwa silisha bajeti ya kijiji katika ofisi ya mkoa. Lakini, haikufanya hivyo. Kwa hiyo, hatukupata fedha kutoka serekalini.
Second, I learned that the citizens of the village are not contributing to the project as promised by the village leaders. Our agreement stated that the citizens would contribute by carrying sand, stones and water. Last week, we came to Mgaraganza village to find out that no one was helping with these tasks. As a result, the builders went home yesterday because they had no water or sand to make concrete, so they could no longer work on the foundation. This is a problem for 4 reasons. One – it is a violation of our agreement. Two – it means that the workers don’t have a job. Three – it means the school construction progress stops and it will take longer to finish this school than necessary. Four – Lucas tries to encourage work, but he is not a leader and he is not from this village, so this is not his job.
Pili, niligundua kwamba wanakijiji hawakuchangia mradi kama walivyo ahidi viongozi wa kijiji. Mkataba wetu ulikuwa kwamba wanakijiji watajitolea kubeba mchanga, mawe na maji. Wiki iliopita tulifika Mgaraganza tukakuta kuna chochote – hakuna mawe, hakuna mchanga, hakuna maji. Jana – mafundi walirudi mjini. Hili ni tatizo. 1) Mmevunja ahadi yetu 2) Mafundi hawakufanya kazi 3) ujenzi umesimama na hauta kamilika 4) Lucas anakuja hapa kila mara kuomba kumsaidia, na sio mwanakijiji wahapa na hakuna anaye msikiliza.
This is not a new problem but it is a big problem. In the past year, Lucas has come to the village to talk to the leaders about this problem. Some parts of the village are contributing, but not all. I want to say thank you very much to those who are contributing. I saw the piles of stones along the road to Mtanga and I know people are contributing. Unfortunately, not everyone is contributing and therefore, we had to stop working.
Hili sio tatizo jipya, lakini ni tatizo kubwa. Mwaka uliopita, Lucas alikuja hapa kuongea naviongozi kuhusu tatizo hili. Baadhi ya wanakijiji walijitolea kufanya shughuli hiyo. Napenda kutoa shukrani kwa waliyo jitolea. Niliona mawe makubwa barabara ya Mtanga na najua kwamba watu walichangia. Asante. Kwa mbati mbaya sio wote waliochangia, na tulisimama kufanya kazi.
This school is for your children. Last year, I talked with some of the students here. I interviewed them about their dreams for the future. Do you know what the children hope to be some day? ____ They told me they want to be nurses, doctors, the president of Tanzania, engineers, electricians.
Shule hii ni kwa ajili ya watoto wenu na wajuku zenu. Mwaka uliopita, nilizugumza na wanafunzi hapa. Niliwauliza juu ya ndoto zao za badae. Waliniambia wanataka kua manesi, madactari, maraisi wa Tanzania, walimu, engineer. Naomba mjua kwamba shule hii itatoa watu hao.
These children are still full of hope and their dreams are big. Let’s be sure to give them every chance possible – even here in the village. So much is possible with education.
Wanafunzi hao baado wanandoto hizo. Tuhakikishe tunawapa nafasi hizo. Kila kitu kinawezekana katika elimu.
But first, I thank you all for your support and ask that you continue to believe in this school and trust that it can and will make a better life for your children and therefore your village.
Lakini kwanza, tena, napenda kuwashukuru kwa kunipa mchagowenu. Naomba mtambue kwamba shule hii itawapa watoto wenu maisha mazuri na bora.
Thank you very very much. I like you all very much. Together we will build this school for the village to ensure great education for all. Thanks.
Asanteni Sana Sana Sana. Nawapenda wote, sana! Tushilikiane kujenga kijiji chetu kwa kuwapa elimu nzuri vijana wetu. Asante!
This has been a remarkably productive trip! Lucas and I feel more supported by the various government entities than ever before and that’s because, after flailing around on our own for 3 years, we’ve finally stumbled upon the right people.
The first year we simply said ‘yes’ to the request of Mjumbe (chief) Bitata to help with a secondary school for Mgaraganza Village, to serve the children of Mgaraganza, Mtanga, Bubango, Kigalye and Kagongo. The second year, I came with donors’ money and the builders worked until the money ran out – putting up a foundation and starting the walls on our first four classrooms. That year, we also talked to the village government about finding additional local support for the project – such as that from the regional and national sources of funding for the educational sector. On their part, that momentum died in that meeting and they never sought that additional support.
Back in Dar es Salaam, the capital, on my way home – I popped into the Ministry of Education for Tanzania. I was told that I could receive matching funds. I was told that a group from Norway pledged to raise a certain amount of money for a boarding secondary school and the government matched their efforts – up to $400,000! I was psyched to hear that, but was told to deal with the Ministry of Education in the Kigoma Region.
The following year, I insisted a little harder. We asked the local leaders to walk us through the usual process of building a secondary school in the village. To the best of my understanding, they said that the villagers and village leaders work together to gather bricks, water, sand and stone to start building the foundation and classrooms. After showing that they are invested and making headway, the regional leaders are advised, and subsequently check on the progress and support them as needed. In some villages, the larger support only comes after the entire school has been completed; it comes in the form of desks, chairs, teachers and teachers’ housing. Honestly, I think it varies from village to village, regional government to regional government and likely – year to year with the ‘changing of the guards’.
During this second year, Lucas and I tracked down some potential ‘powers’ to seek support or advice. We encountered a woman in an office who told us that we should be a registered NGO entity in Tanzania. She asked us to submit documentation of our NGO status. (We didn’t. We’re not a Tanzania NGO.) She also advised that we make sure the village leaders are selecting the children for our scholarship program to ensure that they are on the ‘most vulnerable children’ (MVC) list kept by the government (good information). We also met a man from the Ministry of Education for the Kigoma Region who told us that the Ministry of Education does not chip in until the school is finished. Huh?
During the third year, I was at my wits end with the lack of support from Tanzania to complete this soon-to-be government run, public secondary school. I flailed around with Lucas in one office – actually losing my cool and becoming a little emotional (i.e., shedding a tear in desperation). Then we went to the top boss – the District Commissioner, which I found out this year is kind of like the Governor. He was so gracious and took us in, no appointment, no special designation -just a couple of gumbies trying to get something done. He told us to seek support from the Ward level government to get a letter on behalf of the village government to invite the ‘right’ people to the village to see the school. He also said the local village government would have to submit a budget requesting money in order for the national government to even take this into consideration. (Complicated as it should be; I think I was naive and oversimplified it all in my head.)
You can probably guess what we did next and if not, my tales from last year might fill you in. Basically, the ward leader came with us to the village and gave the village leaders and the villagers a lashing for not contributing enough to this effort. I left that year with great hope that the budget would be submitted and the Tanzanian government would be contributing in a significant way to complete this school.
Sigh.
This year, I returned to see some great progress by our builders. As long as the funds flow, the work they are responsible for is completed. When the funds don’t flow, their work stops. Unfortunately, regardless of the funds, the contribution of the villagers as per our ‘memorandum of understanding’ should be continuous – but is minimal in a good week. The agreement was that they would contribute sand, stone, water and the local labor to get those materials to the building site.
Upon arrival this year, I was told two bits of discouraging news.
The leaders did not submit the budget in time last year for consideration by the regional leaders to take to the national level for approval. (Fail)
The local leaders (one or two in particular) were not encouraging the villagers in their district to contribute the carrying of stone, sand and water; they were in fact telling them to ‘be free, relax’ – in the name of votes come election time.
Last week, Lucas, our intern Katy and I went to the village to contribute by carrying water so that Isaya and the builders could continue to work on the next foundation. They did continue to work with our meager contribution (our necks got tired!).
The following day … the builders returned home to Kigoma town because they couldn’t continue working without the sand and water necessary to make the cement and without the stones to build a foundation.
In addition to this speech, Lucas and I finally stumbled upon the ‘right’ people in town with the help of the diwani or executive chief of the village, Patrick Maganga. First, Lucas, Maganga and I visited the Development Officer for the rural areas of the Kigoma region (our villages included). His insight was invaluable, educational and hard to swallow – the latter because I wish we had known what we know now then. He taught us about the ‘chain of command’ and how to climb up it. Going straight to the top and working our way down last year was not the correct way to go about things.
Also, Lucas learned that his continued efforts to nudge the village leaders into action during the past year were useless because they were not calculated. He told Lucas that any time he plans to meet with a village leader, at any level, about the project, he must do so in the office with the secretary to have everything documented. As such, when it reaches the top – there will be a paper trail showing that he has taken the steps necessary to prompt action without success. Lucas learned a great lesson this day as much of his efforts were in passing, on the phone, through a messenger.
After meeting this development officer, we visited the Chairman who supports the Director of the office that oversees Education for the Kigoma Region. He was immensely impressed that we had completed as much so far and was equally disappointed at the lack of support we were receiving from the village leaders. He told Chief Maganga that he and the executive chair needed to put politics aside (i.e., wanting votes for future elections) and do their jobs, which is to promote development, encourage productivity and energize his village. He said he wouldn’t stop until he saw the village in action. He insisted on a visit to the village to have a private (firm) meeting with the leaders, a viewing of the school and another meeting to motivate (i.e., scold) the villagers into action.
His talk with the village leaders at the site of Amahoro Secondary School as well as his speech to the villagers at large were compelling. He was a powerful, firm speaker but he also had them laughing and thinking.
In the end, I believe there was some contention as villagers argued over which districts were contributing and which were not, but after an additional calming talk with the big boss, they were all at ease.
The next day, as promised, Lucas, Katy and I showed up at Amahoro Secondary School in the morning after breakfast to carry water to the well. We were surprised and happy to see at least 50 people on site – working away.
There were women carrying sand and men carrying stone. We decided to start with the water because the tank was empty the day before. We didn’t check the tank – just headed straight to the stream.
Upon arrival at the tank we were shocked to see it was full! The women had been filling it all morning and they had just started on the sand.
We joined them in carrying sand and as the sun took over the day, we all retired.
It was a joy to see this process unfold. It’s been an uphill battle for many reasons – not the least of which are 1) Lucas and I are rookies. Lucas isn’t trained as a project manager and I’m just a linguist 😉 ; 2) I am a great motivator in person, but can do little from the US (and shouldn’t have to once promises are made?); 3) the villagers think if the builders aren’t on site, they don’t have to do their part; and, 4) there is little accountability when the leaders don’t want to enforce agreements.
After sharing with them my thoughts about their children’s future and my role in this process, in addition to the urging of important local leaders, I do believe we’ve turned a new leaf. Either way – we’ve gotten an awful lot done in a short amount of time since the funds started flowing in early June.
The roofs are going up on the next set of classrooms. The foundation is in place for the third set of four classrooms. The villagers are in action. And most importantly …
The Kigoma leaders who came to our side in support of this endeavor have pledged to finish the floors, windows and doors on the first four classrooms in time to OPEN THE SCHOOL IN JANUARY 2013!!
We’re so excited that children, who are currently in standard 7 in the local primary school, will be able to attend Amahoro Secondary School in six short months! The builders work is secured. The regional government is chipping in significantly. New teachers and headmasters will have a job with our school. It’s a huge breakthrough and we’re over the moon! 😎
I was recently reading Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Only a few pages into the Introduction I was thrown back to Mwanga, Tanzania – the home of our co-founder, Lucas Lameck. I remembered a conversation that took place at Lucas’ home with Lucas, his brothers Maiko and Kefason, my friends Hadley and Laura and me. One of Lucas’ brothers wanted to understand ‘Why are America and China progressing so much and we are staying behind?’ (China was on his mind because the Chinese are working in the area – building a highway that will connect the Kigoma Region of Tanzania to its neighbor country to the north, Burundi.)
Thinking about this book and its capacity to shed light on this question, it occurred to me that it might be a good book (among others) to share with Lucas. As I started thinking about books that I could bring over to Lucas (who LOVES to read and learn as much as he can) I thought about the light situation. It’s dark by 7pm in Tanzania and with the work to be done each day coupled with the heat of daylight hours, the evening is the perfect time to read – but there’s no light. Lucas doesn’t have electricity in his house.
Lucas isn’t alone. Last year, the children asked me if they could have extra money to pay for fuel to have light so they could study at night. I didn’t feel comfortable paying for gas for a few reasons. The primary reason was that I couldn’t be sure it would be used for the purposes it was intended. The request lingered with me, though. I thought about the children’s lives – long walks to and from school daily, work around the house to help parents after school and then as darkness falls, they sit with their family or go to bed, but studying can no longer be an option.
So, as I sat reading Guns, Germs and Steel – the simple idea occurred to me (better late than never) – what about lanterns and headlamps? Simple and small – but major game changers!
I contacted a longtime friend at Black Diamond (BD) to see about getting a discount on headlamps or lanterns. Not only did he reply with the response below, but he and another friend at BD made some great suggestions, leading me to order Apollo lanterns with rechargeable battery packs and wiz headlamps. The wiz headlamps last a long time and they have an auto shut-off after two hours, so if the students fall asleep studying, the batteries won’t die. Each of the soon to be 20 students in our scholarship program will get a wiz headlamp. The Apollo lanterns will go to Lucas (and incidentally his family), Isaya (our general contractor and his family) and Ashahadu (our village contact and host of our summer intern, Katy).
From Chris at BD:
Of course! BD will give them to you. You could get Apollo’s with rechargeable batteries and if you could score some small solar panels, they could recharge them every day. We (BD) are very proud of you, Rai!
I’m excited to have the support of Black Diamond, a company that I’ve worked for as a retail employee in past years. I’ve also been psyched to explore the mountains in BD gear for almost 20 years! I can’t wait to share the goods with our students and friends in Tanzania!
On any given school day you will see school age children walking this way or that from neighboring towns and villages with firewood, sugar cane stalks, buckets of water, sacs of flour or baskets of fish on their heads. ‘Unatoka wapi?” “Where are you coming from?” Three girls we met were returning to Mgaraganza village from Mwandiga town by foot on a Wednesday. This is a trek of about 1.5-2 hours (depending on the heat of the day). There was school, but they had to go to town to buy the sugar cane on their heads and return to the village so their mothers could sell it in the market. This is not a surprising response to our question “Hakuna masomo leo?”
