Last day at TAFCOM and Good Hope
Wednesday was our last day at TAFCOM. I was sad to be leaving these kids! From Thursday- Saturday we planned to go to Arusha to visit the Tim Harrington School and two high schools as well as visit the Sober House.
The TAFCOM tailoring program was doing a demonstration on making batik fabric. You can read about the presentation we saw in 2015 here:
Owen and I stayed in the classroom. It was good to have more time with the kids in the classroom and outside!
Before leaving we gave the kids the backpacks. Doug's friend made the knitted animals.
I will miss Lilian and the other teachers!
After visiting the Minnesota school, Owen told me that he wouldn't be as sad the last day at TAFCOM because he knew the kids were in good hands and that he would be back again in 2 years!
After that a group of us went to the Good Hope school where Cathy did a presentation on HIV and we distributed the washable sanitary pads to the girls and women.
We first visited Good Hope on July 4 when Kelly, Cathy and Doug were in Arusha. We learned about the organization through Zubea at Springlands.
As a new organization, Good Hope's mission is to "provide education, skills, knowledge, support, comfort, safety and love to children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, orphans, people suffering from illness, and the disadvantaged, in order to help them create an empowering life of hope."
The free secondary school is Good Hope's most visible program. Its students come from financially disadvantaged families who cannot afford to pay school fees. Good Hope provides them with an opportunity to stay engaged in education. They also have community outreach programs.
When we visited, the students were gone for the day, but there were some neighborhood kids around that we engaged with... It amazed me how they spent time entertaining themselves with nothing. You would be hard pressed to find that at home! Check out the video clips of the kids playing:
Hopping and giggling Ring around Owen Swahili London Bridges
After that first visit, we made plans to return so Cathy could present to the group of girls from the secondary students and women in the community.
We first visited Good Hope on July 4 when Kelly, Cathy and Doug were in Arusha. We learned about the organization through Zubea at Springlands.
The free secondary school is Good Hope's most visible program. Its students come from financially disadvantaged families who cannot afford to pay school fees. Good Hope provides them with an opportunity to stay engaged in education. They also have community outreach programs.
When we visited, the students were gone for the day, but there were some neighborhood kids around that we engaged with... It amazed me how they spent time entertaining themselves with nothing. You would be hard pressed to find that at home! Check out the video clips of the kids playing:
Hopping and giggling Ring around Owen Swahili London Bridges
After that first visit, we made plans to return so Cathy could present to the group of girls from the secondary students and women in the community.
Kibelo came along to translate. He is one of the guides at Springlands. We got to know him well during the last trip and stayed in touch. His daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition and in the hospital at the beginning of the trip. Even with all of that going on he still made time for us. If you pray, keep his little girl in your prayers.
A rooster wandered out during the talk. Nobody batted an eye....except the white folks. We all jumped up to take pictures. We all helped to pass out reusable sanatary pads to the group. They were thrilled!
After Good Hope, Kibelo took us to Mimosa's for lunch. We were so excited because they had Heinz ketchup!! The food was amazing, so I think we have a new favorite restaurant in Moshi.
Then I fell on my way to the bathroom and cracked my head. Lucky for me our last volunteer, Yajaida, an APRN had arrived the night before! I'm ok.
Mama Zara (the head of Zara hotels, Zara tours and Zara charities) had her physician come by to check me out. He cleared me to go to Arusha in the morning and gave me an antibiotic and ointment to use over the next week. Check out the packaging!
You will notice I have sunglasses on in all the pictures after this day because I ended up with a substantial shiner ...
No comments:
Post a Comment