Global Volunteers, Ipalamwa
After a 1.5 hour flight from Nairobi to Dar Es Salam, a 50 minute bush flight from Dar, and over 3 hours on a very bumpy dirt road to Ipalamwa, we find ourselves in Tanzania’s remote Southern Highlands! We are at our new home for two weeks - the Global Volunteers Health Clinic and base for Tanzanian staff and volunteers.
We are surrounded by a beautiful green rolling landscape, red dirt roads, and small simple villages. This could be one of the most productive farming areas in Tanzania, but tragically it is one of the poorest regions with the highest rates of childhood stunting. We are told that this is due to lack of knowledge about nutrition and sanitation, lack of access to markets to sell produce, decimation by HIV/AIDS, and the fact that women (who are tasked with most of the farming responsibilities) are also burdened with very large families and all the domestic duties.
We are working with Global Volunteers Reaching Children’s Potential (RCP) program, which houses staff and volunteers who make health visits to the numerous small villages around here, help teach and deliver supplies to nearby schools, and who staff a pretty impressive maternal health clinic.
Our first day was orientation - meeting various staff members, learning about the various ways the program works, some fine points of culture and language, and the rough schedule for the week. We also attended the community church service with about 250 locals, many from the Hehe ethnic group. The only two Wazungus (us!) were placed in front as guests, were asked to introduce ourselves to the congregation, and participated in the infectious music and dancing that comprised much of the service.
Our first duties were visiting the local schools to help teach english and hand out basic school supplies. As our truck pulls up to the schools, excited cries of “wazungu” fill the area and we are surrounded by very curious and adoring children who reach out to hold our hands, touch our heads (sign of respect), and try their simple english out on us. How is one’s heart not to break? They curiously peek (and sometimes push) into the classrooms we are in and vie for our attention amongst the classroom of 50, 60, (or more) other students, sitting crowded together on benches in a room with nothing but a dingy blackboard (we bring our own chalk).
Lessons are from tattered, shared workbooks and there is much repetition. But the excitement level and desire to learn seems high. I don’t see a single student slouching, disinterested, or looking at a screen. In fact, I don’t see a single screen! Teaching to such large groups presents its challenges, but the children make it easy by being so attentive and interested.
A few of you have asked about what the conditions at volunteer headquarters are. We were pleasantly surprised! We have a good size room with beds covered by mosquito nets, a toilet and shower. If we remember to turn the heater on, we even have hot water! Somewhat irregular service comes from a cell tower not too far away (and Steve’s smart pre-purchase of international data).
Oh, and let’s not forget Mama Tony’s African food for the volunteers! She found out we like veggie omelettes and african beans cooked in coconut, so neither of us will be losing any weight on this trip! But at least after work we can walk around the villages, and get a little exercise, unlike our camp in the Masai Mara, where we weren’t allowed more than 20 feet from our tents due to the possibility of being trampled by water buffalo or eaten by lions.
As I write this, we are get news of a large snowstorm hitting the northeast, so I hope you’re all safe and warm! I will write more later as time and internet allows.
“Earth Boxes” provided to RCP families to encourage more nutritious meals
Off to school tomorrow!
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