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WIPE THEIR TEARS
ACTIVITIES SUMMARY

June 2008

I have finally returned from Tanzania.  Although it was a very successful trip, there is still much to be done.  I am counting the days to go back and continue our work!

Mchukuuni Village seems like the ‘lost village’.  The first time I visited, I knew this was where WTT should be.  The poverty is pitiful; the needless deaths are heartwrenching – and their daily struggle for life goes beyond words!

When you witness the starvation and sickness – and you know you can do something (no matter how small) – it makes all the inconveniences very trivial in comparison.  Not that I wouldn’t have loved clean water or fresh food or housing without rats and rats and rats – that goes without saying.  It’s just that the value of one life is so much more important.

Each and every day presented its own problems  – either with the beaurocracy, corruption, poor transportation, lack of materials/labour, extreme heat or sickness etc.  However, with the relentless perseverance of the villagers, we’ve made the first big step.  Stonetown Centre has a home!

We began clearing in April and that was a challenge in itself.  It was over 35 degrees Celcius every day and, of course, there was no electricity nor running water.  Every day, we walked and brought food to a ‘mama’ in the Village to cook for the workers (10).  A few hours later, we would pick it up together with water.

Even the simple task of purchasing tools was very labour-intensive.  As you only buy the ‘heads’, all of the handles had to be handcarved to fit perfectly.  Then each had to be taken into Tanga Town for sharpening.  This is done by young boys riding stationary bicycles backwards.  They hold the tool in front of them where the grinder is mounted and pedal like crazy.  They do not wear goggles and no safety precautions are taken!

Construction of the first banda commenced in May.  It is a very slow and difficult task as each and every tree must be purchased in Tanga and brought to the site by bicyle.  The maximum load is approximately five trees per trip.  If the road is muddy, they have to walk the bicycle.

The holes for the fence posts have all been dug with simple shovels – another labour intensive job.  We purchased bags of concrete in Town and the workers did the mixing themselves.  Due to lack of monies though, the fence construction has stopped.  In view of this, the workers take turns staying at the land 24 hours a day.

While living in the Village, I learned of the strife of the fishermen.  Not only are most of them and their families starving to death, but their situation can never improve without help.

I saw many of them walking back from the ocean after a full day in the ocean with no catch.  To see the bleakness on their faces brings tears to your eyes.  No fish – no food!.

There are very few small dhows in the Village area.  As each only holds a maximum of six fishermen, many do not get the chance to go deep.  The ones that do must pay the equivalent of $1.00 (which is steep considering the average monthly salary is $25.00).

The fishermen who don’t get on the dhow swim out with their traps and dive to set them for lobster.  Very very few have flippers (no goggles nor snorkeling equipment) and if they do, they are basically falling apart.

As good flippers are not available in Tanga Town, we took the ten-hour (3 bus) trip to Bagamoyo to arrange the purchase.  Since being back in Canada, I have sent the monies and they will be picked up in Bagamoyo and brought to the fishermen in Mchukuuni Village.

When we return to Tanzania, Wipe Their Tears will arrange for the building of two small dhows, and if funds permit, one large dhow.

I have always felt a connection to the Masai – perhaps because they remind me of our Canadian natives whom I hold in the highest regard.  They are a very proud people who value their culture.

I was approached by several Masai to help the elder women.  This was something that I could not refuse!

Together with the help of my friends, we hired a fundi (carpentar) to build a shelter for the elder women to sell their jewellry.  This was such a necessity as these poor women would sit on the ground during both the cold rains and the blistering heat.  The absolute gratitude I received was overwhelming.  Because Masai do not normally show emotion, I felt especially blessed.

Education is a great priviledge in Tanzania.  As very few villagers can afford to send their children to school, buy books, uniforms etc., the number of children in rags sitting around the village is staggering. 

There are also numerous situations where the family cannot send the children to school; as they are needed at home to look after their siblings or do chores.

Wipe Their Tears is paying for several children to attend school – as well as the costs for their uniforms, books, regular hair shaving etc. (A boy is not allowed to attend school without his head regularly shaved.)

Transportation and accommodation were also huge expenses.  As I always took at least one local person with me to either Dar es Salaam or Bagamoyo, we covered all costs.  I at no time ever felt afraid while travelling the long journeys; I knew my friends would protect me.

Wipe Their Tears also financed several “small” projects.  These came to light after I arrived in Tanzania.

In the mountains outside Magoma, a grandmother together with her daughter and family had to come down because of age and sickness.  Wipe Their Tears purchased a small piece of land and paid for the building of a three-room mud hut and cooking hut.  We also bought blankets, cooking utensils, basic necessities and food.

While we were standing in the pouring rain the next morning waiting for the local bus to leave Magoma, there stood all the relatives, families and friends.  They had walked so far in the mud and cold rain to thank us again.  We had given them a new lease on life!

On a regular basis, we bought food for the villagers in Mchukuuni.  The majority exist on such a small amount of food, it is heartwrenching.  And if you ask them if they ate that day, it’s not a big thing to them when they reply, “not today – but yesterday.  I will eat tomorrow.”

These people want to be self-sustainable.  They don’t want to beg – but they also don’t want their children to starve to death or die from simple illnesses that could be prevented.  But when they have to feed and care for their family, how can they do it without help!  They can’t!  Wipe Their Tears will help Mchukuuni Village.  This is the ‘forgotten village’ and we will do whatever we can to improve their lives.

We also bought several mosquito nets for families with many children.  They were not the best quality but it was all we could purchase in Tanga.  When I go again, I would like to buy much better quality from Dar es Salaam.

Wipe Their Tears also brought many villagers to Tanga Town for various medical conditions.  We not only paid for the transportation but also the hospital/clinic costs and prescriptions.  In one instance, we took a villager to Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam for an emergent operation (costs exceeded $1,000).

We also financed the purchase of a small piece of land for the development of a village/community gathering place where the villagers can meet, problem solve and ultimately decide on solutions to improve life in the village.  As it was, there was no central place where everyone could meet.  And with the lack of communication (telephones etc.), so much time was wasted waiting at the wrong location.  This “gathering place” will be the central place for village meetings and where notices/concerns/messages etc. can be left. 

When I return to Tanzania, Wipe Their Tears will buy numerous chickens, goats, cows etc. for the villagers.  We will also buy tools, seeds etc. for those farmers in need.  Without help, the villagers will never become self-sustainable.  We will try to help them – one at a time!

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