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Revision of: Thu, December 6, 2007 |
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Energy is to a country what the backbone is to the body. Take it away and the body collapses. Tanzania, like any country, requires energy in many forms to meet its agricultural, industrial and domestic needs. It is fortunate to presently have adequate supplies of natural gas, and its electrical system steadily improves, but for the vast majority of the people, these forms of energy are beyond their resources. Most homes in Tanzania depend not on the electric stove or gas range for boiling water and cooking food, but upon charcoal. It is the main source of heat for food preparation, and as a result there is the continual sting of pungent smoke in the air. It is also a strong measure of the economy. There are many who rely on charcoal for their income. It is a microscopic example of an economic structure from producer to consumer. The process begins in the countryside, in the many small villages surrounding the core of Dar es Salaam. It is here that the charcoal makers take one to two weeks to cut and gather the mixture of soft and hardwood (particularly cashew nut) which will be transformed into the charred remains known as charcoal. They cut the wood into approximately three to four foot lengths. It is then stacked like cord wood into an area sixteen feet by six feet, and is four feet high. This is topped with a further two to three foot layer of grasses. Finally the entire structure is buried beneath a two foot layer of sand which creates a sizable castle with a dry moat surrounding it. This work has taken up another full week. Finally the wood is set afire at one end and is allowed to smoke and smolder for yet a final week. The charcoal maker constantly monitors the process to make certain that neither too little nor too much air is getting to the burn, and small holes in the sand emitting plumes of smoke, attest to the inferno below the warm sands.
When the metamorphosized wood is finally cold, it is unearthed and bound up into ten one-hundred pound sacks. They are now ready for market, and will be sold to the buyers for 2,000 Tanzanian Shillings (TS) or approximately $2 US. Thus, for four to five weeks of work, the “farmer” will realize an income of $20 US. The next part of the infrastructure is equally fascinating, for the buyers arrive not in large trucks but on bicycles to purchase their two to three bags. This entire load (300 pounds) will be loaded over the rear tire section of the bicycle and, travelling over hill and dale for upwards of 15 to 20 miles, will be transported to Dar. No matter what time of day or from what direction, one can observe a steady flow of these charcoal laden bicycles making their way into the city. Here the “wholesaler” will hope to sell his three bags for 3,000 TS each, realizing a total profit of $3 US for a trip that will take him two to three days to make. Finally, the “retailer” will break open the bags and sell the charcoal – one lump at a time – until he has hopefully made a profit similar to the “wholesaler” of $1 US per bag. Without this backbreaking labour, the majority of people in Dar would be without the energy to cook supper. Perhaps this short course in Tanzanian economics will demonstrate to you, the donors, how important your bedkit is. To the children who receive this precious package, it is a gift of royal proportions. On their behalf we thank you for both your caring and your sharing! Special Note About Albino Children On this occasion, as in previous times in Tanzania, we distributed to a large number of albino children. It is important to note that often we would have these children continue to wear their sunglasses (if they had a pair) or their hat (if they had one), for their photographs, as the sun can be very detrimental to them. We thank you, the donors, for your understanding and care. Challenges, whether small or large are a part of each of our lives. Those of us who travel for Sleeping Children meet many challenges on our trips that differ considerably from those that we meet daily at home. Some are simple. Some are complicated. Some we accept. Some we would like to reject as they are so alien to our thinking. A simple challenge with which to deal and accept is the total flight time of 18 hours in an aircraft with only one break after the first six-and-a-half hours. One’s legs and back yearn to stretch out, to turn and twist. The challenge is in convincing yourself that you are and will be comfortable and that you will sleep! Somewhat! Once in Tanzania, the challenges change daily as we travel away from the centre of Dar es Salaam down rough narrow roads – sometimes paved, but often rutted dirt roadways. The smells of diesel exhaust, decaying garbage, garbage burning, and body sweat mingle and assault our senses as the blowing wind constantly changes. Setting up the bedkits to enable you, the donor, to have a wee peek at Tanzania in the background is the ultimate challenge. Here it is ever shifting sand on which to set up the bedkits. Now, what will there be in the background? Will it be barren ground, scraggly bushes, small mounds of garbage, or a barren wall that will reflect the sunlight and thereby distort the photos? Often the best site is one we cannot choose – it would usually be in front of, or behind, the village throughway – too much traffic would distort the pictures, or at schools, it would be the only pathway to the children’s washrooms. The ultimate challenge in setting up the bedkit is the sun. We can contend with the wind as we can pin down, tape down or set rocks inside of blowing objects. The sun, however, we can’t alter. We finally choose a suitable site, take a half hour to set up the bedkits, photograph perhaps 10 groups of children and…by then the sun has shifted. Now it is shading their faces and we still have 470 children to photograph. We gather a team of eight people, simultaneously lifting the sheet holding the three bedkits and move forward, set it down, move the cement blocks holding the signs, move the stools, straighten the bedkits, make wind adjustments and start all over again. Then about one-hour later, the challenge begins again. The children are not a challenge – excited and anxious as they are, they wait patiently as we sit them down [jo ka in Swahili], straighten out T-shirts, call out chukka (smile), and snap the photos. The albino children experience the worst challenge of any of us. Their blue eyes and their pale white skin are super sensitive to the sunlight which we need for taking the photos. Many have cancerous skin sores on their arms and faces. As a result, this year we chose to leave the hats or sunglasses on those few who were fortunate enough to have them. As some of you will see, many do not have these commodities. Not a complaint came from them, just a big smile and a quiet, gracious “tank you” or asante (Swahili for thank you). The 45?C heat, the constant sweating of the team, the frequent reminders – Did you drink water? Are you feeling O.K.? What number are we at? Etc. Yes, all of these are challenges – some heftier and tougher than others, but none of these compare to the challenges the beautiful children of Tanzania face on a daily basis. Hunger is a constant challenge. With soil very sandy and water difficult to obtain, it is not easy to grow enough food to feed your family. A family’s dinner is cooked in one pot on a small charcoal burner. It often consists of ground cornmeal added to water (hopefully from a nearby well and not a river) with bits of beans, yam, etc. added to it. Usually it is cooked in a corner inside the small, dark, smoky hut while the baby lies beside it on the floor. Medical attention is rare. Good health is an ongoing challenge. It is estimated there is only one doctor to every 30,000 people. Malaria is the country’s greatest child killer – thank God for the mosquito nets your donation has provided. Mosquitoes are always very prevalent. Many children face challenges just walking to school, either barefoot or wearing footwear too big or too small for them. Articles of clothing are cherished – regardless of the number of holes or rips in them. When it comes right down to it, our challenges melt away to nothing as we come to realize and understand that these smiling, giggling or shy quiet children face a far greater challenge than we are ever likely to face – that of survival. Thanks to you donors for giving them some hope, and the knowledge that others care for them.
On July 16, 2003, I connected with Joan and Richard Hryniw representing Sleeping Children. We met years ago when they did a presentation on their trip to India for my Brownie unit. This year I had vacation time to use before December 31st, and I was inquiring whether any Sleeping Children team could use another volunteer. This was the beginning of my good fortune. A team led by Richard and Joan would be leaving on August 22nd for Tanzania. Richard told me that while they usually have a team of five persons, this time they only had four. However, Richard was cautious because he did not think I could get a flight and the necessary visas and immunizations with only six weeks prior to departure. I assured him that “Kathleen Murphy luck” would prevail, and I would appreciate joining the team. Less than 24 hours later I had a call from Richard with good news that a flight was confirmed. I was going to be able to go. Unfortunately, Bud Adams was unable to join us because of an accident four weeks before our departure, so in actual fact our team remained a four-person one. My travel experience to date brought me into a world of cultural exchange and the opportunity to be an ambassador for Canada and learn about other countries. This time I was looking for a deeper involvement, with hands on experience, and an opportunity to participate in a tangible way. Sleeping Children fit the bill with the task of delivering 4,000 bedkits over a 12 day distribution period to some of the poorest children in Tanzania. Sleeping Children is built on the contributions of so many volunteers. Over the six weeks prior to leaving, and since coming to Tanzania, I have been overwhelmed by their dedication and effectiveness. In observing the volunteers at the Sleeping Children office, I was so impressed with their efficiency and commitment to prepare the labels and tax receipts. My team leaders, Richard and Joan, provided the comprehensive orientation for new travelling volunteers. Together as a team, we had a pre-departure dinner and label sorting experience. Until that time, I had no appreciation for how much time is spent with the labels ensuring that the donors who give multiple orders, get a variety of photos. Then there is our key volunteer in Africa, Mama Wandoa. She met us at the airport. Her bear hugs were full of love, and her heart so appreciative of Sleeping Children and the work it has done in her country over the past three years. She, with the help of her children, grandchildren and friends searched out sources for the best cost and quality for all the contents of the bedkit. Mama’s home became the assembly work area every night as 500 pieces of foam were rolled, and the contents of the bedkits were bagged so the children had an easy way to carry them. Mama, in cooperation with the teachers, principals and the local volunteers, ensured that the kids receiving bedkits met Sleeping Children criteria. They assisted with checking the lists, dressing the children, and providing interpretation to the children and parents who wanted to speak with us. Now as I finish typing my thoughts for this newsletter, I know that more volunteers will edit and print this publication, sorting and finally sending the photos to you, the contributors. This trip has reminded me that each person doing his or her own small bit can collectively make a huge difference. It is awesome to be part of the Sleeping Children team! To look back on the 12 distribution days, so many images and memories come to mind. We were up and on the road daily at 7:00 a.m., and most days returned to our accommodation by dinnertime. We endured mid 40?C humid temperatures, and at some sites limited shade. When the temperature was in the thirties, we would comment on what a cool day it was! We enjoyed listening to the children say thank you, softly, as sometimes they were afraid they would mispronounce the words. The children taught us action songs about looking for butterflies or reminding us that reading is fun. We also learned some Swahili words, which the children found very amusing when we practiced using them. Each child beamed with joy on receiving their bedkit. Upon leaving one of the distribution sites, we passed a child five kilometers away, still walking home with the bedkit on his head and with a kick in his step, knowing that he would be going to have a great sleep that night. On our last day of distribution we had a rain shower, reminding us that not everything goes quite perfectly. The bedkit and labels dried out in less than an hour, and we were back in business. I will also remember the appreciation of the school children who did not receive bedkits, but who got to take home a pencil or crayon that were given by some of our Canadian friends who wanted to share something with their friends in Africa. Pencils were treated like a 20 dollar bill might be coveted by a Canadian student. This trip has been a wonderful way to use my vacation, and has allowed me to fulfill my dream to be of service to others and learn about a different way of living. I would encourage you, the donors, to consider becoming a travelling volunteer. We were fortunate to meet many Tanzanians—each with their own unique set of circumstances. Let me tell you about some of the people we met in one village. Beside the school there was this long pile of sandy dirt with smoke coming out some holes in the side of the pile. An older man was tending the fire inside the pile through these holes. He was very friendly, although he could not speak English. He was genuinely happy that we were interested in his job of making charcoal. See Richard’s story for more information about charcoal making. We exchanged names and he wrote his name in the sand. We wrote our names in the sand for him to read, but he did not understand, so it would be fair to say that all he knew how to write was his name. He will work four to five weeks making charcoal, and it will reap him less money than the cost of one bedkit! After the distribution, we went on a walking tour of the village. There was no village proper that we could see, just some mud huts scattered throughout the fields and trees. The first family that we visited was a widow who had four young children. We recognized her from the distribution because she had to carry one of her children, who had cerebral palsy, to have his photo taken. The boy, who was just about all that she was capable of carrying, was wearing a hand-sewn pair of underpants that kept falling off (there was no elastic at the waist). The family’s mud hut had two rooms of the same size. The entrance room was open on two sides. The kitchen/living/eating/sleeping room was approximately four feet wide by five feet long. The foam mattress from the bedkit was already in place on the floor. It took up more than half of the room. The mattress would double as bed and seating for the entire family of five people. There was a little fire going in the corner of the room. The mosquito net from the bedkit was hanging from the ceiling and it would be big enough to cover the whole family. The widow survived by asking others for flour and other food items. The next family we met was a woman who had a handicapped child as well. The mud hut she lived in was bigger. It had three rooms. An elderly man owned the house and he had taken in the woman and her child. He lived in one room and she and her child lived in another. The middle room was for storage, and I’m not sure what else because there was no furniture. This village had no electricity. The people were so poor and their living conditions were absolutely primitive. The Headmaster of the school said that next year they hoped to get electricity. I’m sure someone would get a TV (although information we have suggests there are only two TV’s per 1,000 people in Tanzania). What will happen to these people when the whole world opens up to them? Will they despair that they have been left out? Will it inspire them? What will it do to their social structure? I had a hard time sleeping that night because of the terrible living conditions of these people. Why had I been born in Canada? The next day’s distribution had me asking that question all over again! One girl who looked about nine-years-old arrived at the photo spot wearing only the T-shirt that had just been given to her. Mama Wandoa came to say that this girl did not go to school. Her grandmother was blind, so she had to stay home to help her grandmother get around. She came to the distribution naked because she had no clothes. We quickly took her kanga out of her bedkit and put it on her so that she was totally clothed for the picture. A kanga is a wrap around skirt made of thin material. A regular skirt is worn beneath the kanga. What could I do? I had my “new” skirt from Value Village in my backpack. I quickly pulled it out and gave it to her. The smile on her face was incredible. The joy in my heart was overwhelming. That was the best $4.99 I’ve ever spent! (Matthew 25:35-40)
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