2019 Tanzania Trip

Susi Delivering Supplies to the Malangali Blind School So we finally reached one of the places we hoped to help on this trip.  The Malanghali Blind School was originally run by the Diocese of Sumbawanga, but now is managed by the government.  It has 108 students, most of them board here and all have special needs.  The majority are blind, or have degenerative conditions that will make them blind, eventually.  About 40 of the students are Albino, a population particularly hard-pressed in Tanzania as they suffer from blindness, skin conditions, and are horribly maltreated by the society in general.  Albinos will never have regular jobs nor any real life prospects.  Most will die young and are often outcasts from their families.  Regardless, the Malangali Blind School is a refuge for them and others in need.  The government trains the children to read and write in Braille and prepares them with a Primary education.  When we were there we...

Sewing Machines in Action This is an exciting post to write as it feels good to see some of the seeds we planted last year bear some fruit.  Particular thanks here goes to the family who saw a need and funded this outreach last year.  In 2018 the senior women at Malangali Parish told us they wanted to set up a system of training the junior women in sewing.  Being able to make clothes is a skill here that can potentially bring in substantial extra money for a family.  Some genrous donor's quickly sent us some funds and before we left we purchased 6 manual and one electric sewing machines.  In addition, Fr. Chomba donated some space in his Parish House for the women to set up their workshop.  In the six months this has been in operation, the women are proud to report: 22 Young women have been taught to sew.  In the below pictures you will see two of the young girls who are now working unsupervised after completing their training 27 fabric bundle...

Julia at one of the Machine shops at the trade school Emma at a typical classroom in the Masonry section of the Trade School This is another place we are trying to help.  It is a trade school, set up by the diocese in 1950.  It has over 100 students and serves a large area around Sumbawanga.  The students choose a vocational track at this school:  truck-driving, electrical, auto-mechanic, masonry, sewing, secretarial, or computer science.  The Trade School issues two year degrees and can train students to a certificate level or just a skill level.  Many of our friends from the stove-team attended this school and we think they are doing a really good job preparing the next generation of Tanzanian people.  In fact, many of the top builders and tradespeople from the area are graduates of this school. Some of you may recognize the green cylindrical stove in the pictures below, that is an In-stove, a type of institutional wood-burning stove ...

Arrival Shot After a week and half of traveling, already full of several adventures we have finally arrived in Sumbawanga.  We have reconnected with all of our old friends including Fr. Chomba, Gabriel, Charles, and the staff at the Libori Center.  We were greeted warmly and treated to a nice dinner.  After a full rest tonight we will start our real work here in Africa. Meeting Father Chomba (right) and Godfrey (left) upon arrival Catching up with Charles Kasoni after being away for a year

Gavin at Orphanage teaching Kadama Everywhere we went Gavin used his Kadama skills to connect with the other kids his age.  Here you will see him showing the Masai Tribe and some of the kids at the Orphanage how to play this game.  They really enjoyed it and Gavin donated several of his best Kadama's to these two groups.