Pamoja Project

Pamoja’s Safe Drinking Water Project

carol — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:12:01 +0000

Many of you know Proctor and Gamble as the company that makes your detergent and toothpaste. Di d you also know that they are one of the largest corporate donors to drinking water safety? Early in August Pamoja Project was contacted to lead an effort to bring P and G’s clean drinking water initiative to 300 Tanzanian families living with HIV, or with children under 5 years. Water borne disease is especially devastating to these populations, and the water in our service area is filled with bacteria, parasites, and other dangerous elements.

Before we agreed to initiate this program, we were concerned that partnering with the corporation that ultimately would be selling the product in Tanzania was taking advantage of the population. We held a series of meetings with local leadership to get their input, and the response was resounding support. You see, they told us, the cost of losing a child to dysentery, or spending weeks in the hospital with a parasite, were much higher than the cost of not spreading this technology. With local support, we decided to accept the grant.
In September we trained 10 volunteers who became the workforce that began to teach water safety and water treatment with the donated supplies, including packets of PUR. So far our trainees have met with much enthusiasm, and several area schools and clinics have asked for additional trainings. At the end of the grant period in September, 2010, we expect to have reached over 1,000 people as well as created micro-business opportunities to sell PUR at the cost of less than $1 per month per family. For more information on The Proctor and Gamble Children’s Safe Drinking Water Initiative go to: www.csdw.org

Responding to a Changing HIV/AIDS Pandemic

carol — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:08:42 +0000

In Tanzania, the future for people living with HIV/AIDS is looking brighter all the time. Anti-retroviral drugs are available, stigma against those living with the disease is slowly being reduced, and fewer people are in bed at home waiting to die. This is not to say the epidemic has been contained, only that the needs of these folks have changed. What are the new set of needs? Well, the HIV/AIDS clinics are so full of patients that there is no time for doctors or other staff to discuss nutrition, medication adherence, or do any more than register a name and hand out some pills. Patients leave confused and without the support they need to re-engage with a healthy life.
So in October, Winfrida Mwashala, of St Lucia Nursing Home, and I developed a new way to support the folks previously served by our Community Health Worker Program. Monthly meetings are held for 25 local persons to provide not only the very important social support, but also to teach the best way to deal with daily medication and side effects, healthy practices for living with HIV/AIDS, and to distribute vitamins and protein supplements such as beans and ground nuts. By responding to the changing needs of people living with AIDS, we are promoting the best possible outcomes for the AIDS- affected families we serve.

A Year End Message From Carol

carol — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:03:32 +0000

When our nation is in a period of crisis, it is difficult to look a bit further away at the effect upon our neighbors in the developing world. There has never been a time during which we were as economically interdependent, where when one nation suffers, the whole world suffers. It’s not just a matter of money, although that is part of the truth. It is also a matter of faith, and hope, and knowing we are all going to be ok. At this time of year, we are called to remember such things. And so, we at the Pamoja Project hope you will join us in supporting the continued health, education, and prosperity of Tanzanian children, as well as all children living on the planet. May you have a joyous and peaceful holiday season and New Year.

Neither sleet nor rain nor giant mud puddle…

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:19:03 +0000

It can be a challenge to visit sponsored orphans during the rainy season! We visit each sponsored child, either at home or at school, once each year to check in and share your messages of support. The rains have come early this year, with monsoonal downpours that turn the dirt roads into more than just a challenge for humans, animals, and the few vehicles that even attempt to travel them. We try to plan our visits to minimize being marooned in a distant location, mostly with success. Last week we met Eric Gardian at Nkoanrua Secondary School, where the Second Head of School vacated his office to facilitate our visit.

Eric is an 18 year old orphan in his 4th year of secondary school. He lives with 3 other secondary school aged orphans in a rented 2 room house, where they share the costs, food and any support they receive from extended family or the community. At present Eric is number 4 in his class of 180, and is prefect of his class. He has never ranked lower than number 10.

How does sponsorship make a difference to Eric? He told me “When all you can think about is school fees, you can’t think about your education.” This amazingly motivated young man would like to become a university professor in the sciences, and we have no doubt that he will reach his goal. Eric is sponsored by the Rutledge family of Portland, Oregon.

What Makes A Good Life?

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:15:37 +0000

In the last few weeks we have had conversations in “swanglish” (Swahili/English) with young orphans, asking them what their vision is of their future. If you asked an American child that question, you might hear that they wanted to be a pilot, or a movie star, or drive a cool car. Many told us that they wanted to have “a good life”. We probed a bit further, and asked what it meant to live a good life. Number one answer? Two meals a day.

Your generosity has made three meals a day possible for the children of Good Hope Orphanage and St Lucia Orphanage, so that they have the luxury of a full belly that allows them to think about having any future at all.

Stories We Love To Tell

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:11:16 +0000

The changes in the lives of our microfinance loan recipients are just too wonderful. Tumaini Williams is a young HIV infected widow with an 8 year old son named Kelvin. Two years ago Tumaini joined WALIPO, WAMATA’s support group for those living with HIV/AIDS. When Pamoja Project made interest- free microfinance loans available to members of this group, Tumaini borrowed enough to buy a cow. With the milk generated by the cow, she has been able to not only support her son and pay off the loan, but has recently taken another loan to build an outdoor bathroom building near the Williams’ little house. This is Stella the cow, with her owners.

Tanzanian Children’s Rights Advocacy

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:06:54 +0000

Although Tanzania signed the African Charter for the Rights of the Child in 2004, little progress has been made other than lip service paid to the health care and educational needs of Tanzanian children. Presently, caning is an accepted punishment in schoolrooms across the country, and children are expected to be working members of the family without the right to an opinion. Recent movement in advocacy circles that aim to support not only the rights to health and education, but also the child’s right to dignity and emotional support, have begun to reach those in positions of authority.

The Pamoja Project has joined this grassroots movement in the knowledge that an educated and self-respecting child can lead his family and his country into a prosperous future. T shirts we made for such a gathering read: WATOTO WANAHAKI YA KUSIKILIZWA- Children have the right to be heard. We will continue to report on this effort as it develops.