Dreaming with Eyes Open

We must teach children to dream with their eyes open. Harry Edwards

JUNE 2, Monday

Back to reality after a wonderful weekend full of friends and nature. Discussions with Nie about some of the work I did at home resulted in finalizing all the Volunteer Orientation and Evaluation information. 3 volunteers from Germany remain and we gathered to plan sewing projects for the tailoring women. We will all go to Moshi with Nie and Maulida tomorrow to buy fabric.

Mary was not feeling well at dinner tonight. She is planning to go to the clinic tomorrow to get tested for malaria.

JUNE 3, Tuesday

Cramming in a daladala, Nie, Maulida and I met up with the other volunteers in Moshi and headed to one of the larger fabric stores. Floor to ceiling shelves of material whet our appetites. We were all thrilled with our purchases. It is easy to get carried away and I only went over my budget by a small amount. More important is ensuring I have enough space in my duffle bag for what I bring home!

I stayed in Moshi and headed to Jambo Stationery for some printing and copying. I have referred the other volunteers and they are now loyal customers of Alice also. I purchased some treats for Neema and Mary at Abba’s bakery and then meandered around Moshi for a while. I thoroughly enjoy walking among all the people imagining that I fit in as though I am one of them and trying to embrace their reality.

I entered a small book store - one of only a few in Moshi - and those that are profitable sell mostly textbooks. I did find a few children’s books and a limited assortment of self-help books. It is scarce to see novels or pleasure-reading type books. Sadly and understandably, reading does not hold an interest for most Tanzanians. From dawn to dusk life is filled with working, cooking, cleaning and caring for children.

Across the road was a curio shop with traditional African art. It is mostly a tourist shop but the prices were quite reasonable. I ended my wandering at Uhuru Park. This unique park is a treasure with paths and colorful flowers plus a wide assortment of trees and shrubbery. It is also host to a multitude of small fresh food shops similar to a food court. The eating area overlooks the park. I treated myself to a large glass of mango/passion fruit juice and walked thru the park before heading home.

I noticed my running shoes drying on top of the water tank. I think they were whiter than when I bought them. I do not know what is in the laundry soaps but Neema also got a long-standing stain out of one of my running shirts. Neema and I took an hour and a half walk in my freshly washed shoes along the railroad tracks. I truly enjoy her company. She is, like so many Tanzanians, refreshingly pleasant and unpretentious. In addition, she is by far the best cook I have encountered in all my stays here.

Mary confirmed that she has malaria.

JUNE 4, Wednesday

I began work on the profiles of the pre-school children. They have not been updated since I was here in 2012 mainly because Nie was busy with hew newly born daughter. Basically, we take each child’s picture and ask them about their favorite color, animal and school subject. We also ask what they want to do when they grow up. This question troubles me the most. Usually the child does not respond until examples are given; or they may respond with “cooking” or “cleaning”. I suggested asking instead what they wanted to do after they finish secondary school (high school). I feel this subtly plants the idea to aspire to attending school for as long as possible. Nie explained that many children do not even know what secondary school is.

I find the lack of futuristic thinking to be unsettling. I wonder if this relates to the day-to-day survival mode that permeates the culture here. It is “living in the moment” almost to a fault. Planning and future goals are not a part of their thinking when one is focused on securing food for the family’s next meal. This concept fascinates me and I am constantly trying to dissect and understand this aspect of the culture. It all seems to mesh with my observations of a lack of problem-solving skills that might be considered common sense to us. Yet there is a capacity for resourcefulness when it comes to survival.

Speaking of resourceful, I ran for the first time today after purchasing two wraps, one for each knee, as protection. I discovered that if I continue on the main road I take to TAfCOM it is a smooth, dirt and gravel road. To reinforce solid footing I repeated the mantra “I am focused” as I jogged along!

JUNE 5, Thursday

Today was a continuation of yesterday’s work on the profiles for the Upper Level class. These children will attend the new Minnesota Academy next year. Information on their school progress is being added to each profile. The children are taught in English and also study Kiswahili. Lessons in Science and Math, plus time for Sports and Creativity (art) round out the morning session. The grading system here is totally different than ours:

Excellent 81-100

Very Good 61-80

Good 51-60

Fair 41-50

I am sure I know some students who wish the U.S. used this rating system!

I have noticed significant changes in TAFCOM’s pre-school since my last visit. Even with 80 children in 2 classrooms, the children’s behavior is vastly improved. Nie explained that, unlike most schools, they no longer allow hitting as a form of discipline. Jonas spent 2-3 months last year training the teachers in classroom management and honing their English skills. TAFCOM also decided to teach in English. The private primary schools are taught in English; government schools in Kiswahili.

At TAFCOM, the children are tested every Friday and for those who struggle in the Upper Level class, an additional hour is added to their school day for tutoring. I am so fortunate to volunteer with an organization that is so forward thinking. It excites me to see the progress being made. There is a long way to go but the perseverance and passion of Nie and Jonas are key to their continuing successes.

Planning is underway for Lynn and her group. Lynn is the woman from Minnesota who has done such amazing fundraising for TAFCOM and the Minnesota Academy. She is bringing a group from the US and will visit TAFCOM June 16. For past visits, the welcoming event included songs by the children, displays of tailoring items, food and general information on TAAFCOM’s programs. This year the tailoring women will demonstrate the art of Batik. The day will conclude with a trip to the Minnesota Academy for a dedication and blessing of the first two classrooms.

TAFCOM is one of the organizations supported by Project Healthy Smile (www.projecthealthysmile.org). This US organization has created programs worldwide. Their focus is preventative dental care through oral health education and the provision of dental supplies. Today the children received their packets with toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss plus a group lesson.

Mary is not feeling better. Her family lives in Moshi so she will go home for a few days. I will miss her contagious laughter.

JUNE 6, Friday

Nie and I placed our attention on family histories as the final piece of the children’s profiles. Each story breaks my heart. These children are from the poorest families. Many live with single mothers, others have lost one or both parents to AIDS and live with a grandparent or relative. A number of the children are also HIV+. Most families rent one or two rooms for their living space. Some housing is made of mud, some have dirt floors. Very few families can afford electricity. Water, if available, is obtained via outside taps.

All the families TAFCOM works with are affected by HIV/AIDS. AIDS remains a huge problem throughout Africa. 60% of people living with HIV are women, mostly in the reproductive age group. Mother-to-child transmissions (MTCT) account for approximately 18% of new HIV infections in Tanzania.

HIV transmission from mother to child can occur during pregnancy, childbirth or through breastfeeding. If an HIV+ woman becomes pregnant, there is a 35% chance she will transmit the virus to her child if she has not received treatment. Without proper treatment, a majority of these babies die before their second birthday.

In June 2010, United Nations agencies and global partners such as UNICEF, UNAIDS and the WHO committed to work towards the elimination of MTCT of HIV by 2015. Key elements of this Global Plan include: training health workers, access to HIV testing supplies and ARV drugs, quality care and treatment services in community settings, promotion of male involvement, support and follow-up services for infected women and children.

Nie has noticed improvements in health care as well as a decrease in the rate of HIV+ women. This is such encouraging news. Challenges still exist especially in terms of the fear, stigma and denial that discourage people from being tested. The pre-natal clinics, however, have mandatory HIV testing for all pregnant women. If found positive, the woman receives treatment during pregnancy and both mother and newborn are treated at birth. The problem arises when the fears of the women deter them from seeking any pre-natal care during their pregnancy, waiting until they are in labor to seek medical attention.

Definite progress is being made throughout Africa. Reaching remote geographic areas, improving the overall health care system, expanding reproductive health education and early access to pre-natal care, are part of the ongoing effort to eliminate this horrible disease.

I am looking forward to home visits. Once we have held our welcoming event for Lynn I will be able to shift my focus. Home visits, teaching English to the tailoring women, and spending time in the pre-school will fill my last month. I miss spending time in the homes of the people who receive services from TAFCOM. It causes me to feel too sheltered from the realities of the poverty and diseases experienced by these families. For me, it is important to immerse myself in every facet of life here. There is no doubt that it is difficult to understand how these people live the way they do day-after-day with little hope of much improvement. But there is a communal spirit of compassion for one another that seems to get them through each day. I also believe that placing a priority on their children’s education, making what sacrifices they can to encourage their children, is what gives them hope. It is the potential of a more promising future for the children that fuels my optimism that we can teach children to dream with their eyes open.