Friday, Jan 26
Friends Together was founded in 1999 as the vision of Cathy Robinson Pickett and Steve Pickett of Florida. Within 10 years, Friends Together became internationally known for its work providing education, support, and a plan for living to families, particularly those with children infected and affected by HIV/AIDs. (https://friendstogether.org/)
Cathy was in Tanzania the summer of 2016 with a group from Friends Together. Their work brought them to Moshi and Arusha. Zara Tours has a charity it works with and Friends Together has been supporting some of their projects. Zara is located less than a 10-minute walk from TAFCOM. During her visit in 2016, Cathy asked about other organizations that might be working with people affected by HIV/AIDS. A friend of Nie & Jonas recommended TAFCOM and a partnership was born.
When Cathy came to TAFCOM she learned of the sanitary pad project and immediately saw the positive impact for young girls and women. TAFCOM’s tailoring center sews reusable sanitary pads for distribution, especially to school girls. There is a huge problem of girls missing school when on their period. (Read more details in past Blog: http://connectingcontinents.blogspot.com/2016/01/one-big-happy-family.html )
Cathy is bringing a group again this summer. She is raising money for a classroom for the tailoring women which would move them out of their cramped space. In addition, her goal is to provide 1,250 girls and young women with sanitary pad kits not only in Pasua but other areas of Tanzania! The tailoring women are hard at work and although I cannot sew, I will help them attach the snaps. I see the potential for a new Guinness World Record of some sort!
Friends Together is sending funds for the purchase of material for the pads. Catherine, the tailoring teacher goes to Memorial, the 2nd hand market, and typically purchases flannel sheets which are the most absorbent.
Today, Nie and I went with Catherine, spending several hours and ending our shopping spree with 3 huge and heavy bags of material. Any local market is always an adventure and the Memorial is no exception. It is very similar to the market in Rwanda – large, colorful, crowded and loud!
Weekend of Jan 27 & 28
It was a restful weekend spent catching up on emails, taking walks with Elly, and napping - which is one of my new favorite pastimes!
Monday, Jan 29
I will not bore you with details but I will be developing an inventory of all the books, reports and supplies at TAFCOM and Minnesota Academy. Everything will then be organized and distributed so that each school has adequate supplies and grade appropriate books. I cataloged many of the books last time I was here. Some of them are now at Minnesota Academy since there is now a designated space for a library. Suffice it to say this is going to be a monumental task. I am probably in the minority of those who enjoy this kind of work. Those who know me well are probably chuckling as you know this totally appeals to my sense of order and organization!
Nie was going into Moshi so I tagged along to go to the ATM. For a 2nd time, my card was blocked! "Nime tulia" means “I am calm”, and is fast becoming my mantra. I emailed the credit union as soon as I got home; they resolved the issue within 30 minutes – woohoo!
We are visiting an orphanage tomorrow and taking a number of items. I brought 2 adorable pieces of fleece with children’s patterns donated by a friend. (Thanks, Kim) I was able to cut 4 blankets out of each piece and spent the rest of the afternoon fringing the bottoms. I found this to be quite therapeutic in alleviating my heightened frustration over the blocked credit card.
Tuesday, Jan 30
Home-based care is an integral part of TAFCOM’s work and the foundation of the organization. Today we visited 4 families. I love the home visits even though they are emotionally difficult. Each visit presents a reality check of how much I have to be grateful for, as well as a reminder of the significance of humility and compassion.
TAFCOM maintains a profile on the families and individuals receiving home-based care. It includes family and health history plus how TAFCOM can be involved. For me, the most poignant question is about their personal wishes. There is not a family on the entire caseload that does not express a desire for a good education and better life for their children.
Our first two home visits were in the same divided house. I have been here many times before. It looks ready to collapse. The floors are dirt and each rental has one room with a small window, dirt floors, no electricity and no running water. There is no ceiling and the sun shines thru the holes in the exposed metal roof. The rooms are very small, usually able to fit one double bed, a few chairs or small couch, and minimal storage space.
Mariam is a new client to TAFCOM. She has 2 daughters from her first husband who died of AIDS in 2015. She remarried and they had a son. When Mariam discovered she was HIV+, her 2nd husband left and has had no further involvement with the family. Her young son is also HIV+. Sadly, this is very typical and a story I have heard far too many times.
I noticed some crocheted and embroidered pieces and asked if these were her work. When she answered that she had made these I commented that I had some donated craft kits that I would be happy to give her. We suggested that she could sell them as extra income. (Of course, Nie translated. My Swahili is nowhere near this level.) Mariam is Muslim and cooks and cleans at the local Madras which is a center/pre-school for young children.
Our next stop was to visit another new client who lives in the same building. She rents the space where Jasmine used to live. (We will visit Jasmine next week.)
Francisca’s husband passed away in 2016. She has 3 sons. Both Francisca and her youngest son are HIV+. Her husband’s family is unable and unwilling to help her and she is requesting a Micro Loan from TAFCOM as she currently has no income. She would like to set up as a local food vendor and has already secured a spot.
We also stopped in to see Rehema and Fatuma. I have known these two families for close to 10 years. I met them on my first visit in 2009! They have both received Micro Loans in the past. They definitely struggle and their housing is only a minor improvement over the first housing we visited. Both women are single moms and have worked hard over the years to make ends meet, ensuring that their children will finish school and have a trade. Rehema recently took in her oldest child’s grandmother (on her father’s side). She is 92 and very frail.
The stigma around HIV/AIDS is slowly improving but is still a very heavy burden, especially for the women who are single mothers.
It does not matter how many times I come here but every home visit impacts me emotionally. The feelings of unfairness that people in this world have to live like this never leaves me. I am a strong believer in paying forward. Those of us who live with so many of life's comforts have a responsibility to give in whatever way we can. Nie and Jonas are dedicated and passionate, working tirelessly to empower families and children to know their worth and to inspire them to move forward in spite of all their challenges.I am so grateful to be a part of their mission.
On our way to the orphanage in the afternoon we stopped at an ATM. With fingers and toes crossed I inserted my card and Voila, Tanzania shillings appeared!
Upendo Orphanage (https://upendo-childrens-home-cps.jimdo.com/) provides a home for up to 60 children. From age 3 onwards the children go to the nursery school, then to the kindergarten located on the premises. The children get a head start on reading, writing, math and English skills before entering a primary school.
I visited Upendo several times when I was here in 2012 with Amanda, another volunteer. I have never forgotten one young girl who was severely handicapped. She was unable to walk or speak and had minimal movement. She had to be hand fed and required constant care and attention.
Meeting first with an administrator, we delivered crocheted baby hats (Thanks Barbie), blankets (Thanks, Kim) and some children’s clothing (Thanks, Chris).
We were then escorted in to the play area where the children were enjoying themselves on a merry-go-round. The young girl was still there. It felt good seeing her and knowing that she was still alive but it is heartbreaking to see someone so handicapped. She is being well cared for and is now 15 years old.
There were a number of adults in the play area. Some were staff and others were interns studying Social Work at a university. The children swarmed us, climbing on us, clinging and yearning to be held, not wanting to share us with the other children who were also trying to scramble for a spot on our lap or some physical contact. I am sure the children here are loved but there could never be enough staff to offer the 1-on-1 love and contact that is so nourishing for young ones.
An emotional yet very fulfilling day.
Friends Together was founded in 1999 as the vision of Cathy Robinson Pickett and Steve Pickett of Florida. Within 10 years, Friends Together became internationally known for its work providing education, support, and a plan for living to families, particularly those with children infected and affected by HIV/AIDs. (https://friendstogether.org/)
Cathy was in Tanzania the summer of 2016 with a group from Friends Together. Their work brought them to Moshi and Arusha. Zara Tours has a charity it works with and Friends Together has been supporting some of their projects. Zara is located less than a 10-minute walk from TAFCOM. During her visit in 2016, Cathy asked about other organizations that might be working with people affected by HIV/AIDS. A friend of Nie & Jonas recommended TAFCOM and a partnership was born.
When Cathy came to TAFCOM she learned of the sanitary pad project and immediately saw the positive impact for young girls and women. TAFCOM’s tailoring center sews reusable sanitary pads for distribution, especially to school girls. There is a huge problem of girls missing school when on their period. (Read more details in past Blog: http://connectingcontinents.blogspot.com/2016/01/one-big-happy-family.html )
Cathy is bringing a group again this summer. She is raising money for a classroom for the tailoring women which would move them out of their cramped space. In addition, her goal is to provide 1,250 girls and young women with sanitary pad kits not only in Pasua but other areas of Tanzania! The tailoring women are hard at work and although I cannot sew, I will help them attach the snaps. I see the potential for a new Guinness World Record of some sort!
Friends Together is sending funds for the purchase of material for the pads. Catherine, the tailoring teacher goes to Memorial, the 2nd hand market, and typically purchases flannel sheets which are the most absorbent.
Today, Nie and I went with Catherine, spending several hours and ending our shopping spree with 3 huge and heavy bags of material. Any local market is always an adventure and the Memorial is no exception. It is very similar to the market in Rwanda – large, colorful, crowded and loud!
Weekend of Jan 27 & 28
It was a restful weekend spent catching up on emails, taking walks with Elly, and napping - which is one of my new favorite pastimes!
Monday, Jan 29
I will not bore you with details but I will be developing an inventory of all the books, reports and supplies at TAFCOM and Minnesota Academy. Everything will then be organized and distributed so that each school has adequate supplies and grade appropriate books. I cataloged many of the books last time I was here. Some of them are now at Minnesota Academy since there is now a designated space for a library. Suffice it to say this is going to be a monumental task. I am probably in the minority of those who enjoy this kind of work. Those who know me well are probably chuckling as you know this totally appeals to my sense of order and organization!
Nie was going into Moshi so I tagged along to go to the ATM. For a 2nd time, my card was blocked! "Nime tulia" means “I am calm”, and is fast becoming my mantra. I emailed the credit union as soon as I got home; they resolved the issue within 30 minutes – woohoo!
We are visiting an orphanage tomorrow and taking a number of items. I brought 2 adorable pieces of fleece with children’s patterns donated by a friend. (Thanks, Kim) I was able to cut 4 blankets out of each piece and spent the rest of the afternoon fringing the bottoms. I found this to be quite therapeutic in alleviating my heightened frustration over the blocked credit card.
Tuesday, Jan 30
Home-based care is an integral part of TAFCOM’s work and the foundation of the organization. Today we visited 4 families. I love the home visits even though they are emotionally difficult. Each visit presents a reality check of how much I have to be grateful for, as well as a reminder of the significance of humility and compassion.
TAFCOM maintains a profile on the families and individuals receiving home-based care. It includes family and health history plus how TAFCOM can be involved. For me, the most poignant question is about their personal wishes. There is not a family on the entire caseload that does not express a desire for a good education and better life for their children.
Our first two home visits were in the same divided house. I have been here many times before. It looks ready to collapse. The floors are dirt and each rental has one room with a small window, dirt floors, no electricity and no running water. There is no ceiling and the sun shines thru the holes in the exposed metal roof. The rooms are very small, usually able to fit one double bed, a few chairs or small couch, and minimal storage space.
Mariam is a new client to TAFCOM. She has 2 daughters from her first husband who died of AIDS in 2015. She remarried and they had a son. When Mariam discovered she was HIV+, her 2nd husband left and has had no further involvement with the family. Her young son is also HIV+. Sadly, this is very typical and a story I have heard far too many times.
I noticed some crocheted and embroidered pieces and asked if these were her work. When she answered that she had made these I commented that I had some donated craft kits that I would be happy to give her. We suggested that she could sell them as extra income. (Of course, Nie translated. My Swahili is nowhere near this level.) Mariam is Muslim and cooks and cleans at the local Madras which is a center/pre-school for young children.
Our next stop was to visit another new client who lives in the same building. She rents the space where Jasmine used to live. (We will visit Jasmine next week.)
Francisca’s husband passed away in 2016. She has 3 sons. Both Francisca and her youngest son are HIV+. Her husband’s family is unable and unwilling to help her and she is requesting a Micro Loan from TAFCOM as she currently has no income. She would like to set up as a local food vendor and has already secured a spot.
We also stopped in to see Rehema and Fatuma. I have known these two families for close to 10 years. I met them on my first visit in 2009! They have both received Micro Loans in the past. They definitely struggle and their housing is only a minor improvement over the first housing we visited. Both women are single moms and have worked hard over the years to make ends meet, ensuring that their children will finish school and have a trade. Rehema recently took in her oldest child’s grandmother (on her father’s side). She is 92 and very frail.
The stigma around HIV/AIDS is slowly improving but is still a very heavy burden, especially for the women who are single mothers.
It does not matter how many times I come here but every home visit impacts me emotionally. The feelings of unfairness that people in this world have to live like this never leaves me. I am a strong believer in paying forward. Those of us who live with so many of life's comforts have a responsibility to give in whatever way we can. Nie and Jonas are dedicated and passionate, working tirelessly to empower families and children to know their worth and to inspire them to move forward in spite of all their challenges.I am so grateful to be a part of their mission.
On our way to the orphanage in the afternoon we stopped at an ATM. With fingers and toes crossed I inserted my card and Voila, Tanzania shillings appeared!
Upendo Orphanage (https://upendo-childrens-home-cps.jimdo.com/) provides a home for up to 60 children. From age 3 onwards the children go to the nursery school, then to the kindergarten located on the premises. The children get a head start on reading, writing, math and English skills before entering a primary school.
I visited Upendo several times when I was here in 2012 with Amanda, another volunteer. I have never forgotten one young girl who was severely handicapped. She was unable to walk or speak and had minimal movement. She had to be hand fed and required constant care and attention.
Meeting first with an administrator, we delivered crocheted baby hats (Thanks Barbie), blankets (Thanks, Kim) and some children’s clothing (Thanks, Chris).
We were then escorted in to the play area where the children were enjoying themselves on a merry-go-round. The young girl was still there. It felt good seeing her and knowing that she was still alive but it is heartbreaking to see someone so handicapped. She is being well cared for and is now 15 years old.
There were a number of adults in the play area. Some were staff and others were interns studying Social Work at a university. The children swarmed us, climbing on us, clinging and yearning to be held, not wanting to share us with the other children who were also trying to scramble for a spot on our lap or some physical contact. I am sure the children here are loved but there could never be enough staff to offer the 1-on-1 love and contact that is so nourishing for young ones.
An emotional yet very fulfilling day.
Thanks for the reminder of how important it is to give back. Be safe and be well.
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