Coronavirus in Tanzania

NOTE: Originally written by Carol Parker on March 18, 2020

Hello Friends-

Two days ago Tanzanian health officials confirmed their first case of the coronavirus in a woman who had recently returned to the country from Belgium. Within 24 hours of the report, Tanzanian health officials acted to limit spread of the disease.

• As of Wednesday, all schools will be closed for 1 month.

• No gatherings of more than 20 people will be allowed.

• All sports competitions have been cancelled.

• Chinese billionaire Jack Ma announced he was donating 20,000 testing kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 protective suits to each of the continent's 54 countries.

I am so proud of Tanzanian officials for proving that even "developing" countries can rise to meet great challenges that prove difficult for very rich ones.

Pamoja Project is in touch with our partners to offer whatever support might be needed, whether it is additional food support or increased sensitization programs about hand washing.

We know how much you care about these folks, so we’ll keep you updated.

Carol

When Is A Chair Not Just A Chair?

Answer: When it is a means to selling locally made items instead of imported ones.

Two chairs, side by side.

OK, so you probably figured out that the one on the left was made by our students because it is unfinished and needs some work, the one on the right imported from China.

But our welding teacher is showing our students how to be local competitors for widely sought items once they begin their welding careers. It's not just about gates and window frames, but furniture, too.

A Special Shout-out to Alice Riley

Do you see the cocky way Ibrahim is wearing that super-cool welding helmet? It's thanks to Alice Riley of the UK, who participated in a charity run with proceeds from her efforts going to purchase welding helmets for our students.

Safety is an often overlooked aspect of work here in Tanzania, and Alice is helping keep our kids in one piece.

Thanks, Alice!

Carol

If Tanzania Can Do It...........

On June 1st of this year, Tanzania banned plastic bags. Period. The whole country, every shop and vegetable stand. New little businesses weaving bags from sisal and hemp began to appear on street corners and in the markets. A couple of large manufacturers began to mass produce light-weight inexpensive cloth bags that are available everywhere for about a dime.

When Olais and I go on home visits, we always bring a few household staples for each family, and we used to carry them in plastic bags.

This year, we did this:

Buying Generic Cloth Bags

Isack, my driver and finder-of-all-things bought some of the new bags.

Packing the Bags

Zubeda, multi-tasking assistant extraordinaire at WAMATA, filled the bags with an assortment of non-perishable foods.

Ready, Set, Go!

The bags are organized now for the households we are visiting this week.

It’s just not that hard to do.

When the environment department decreed the change, the populace got on board. It’s not a civil liberties issue, it’s a save-the-planet issue. No reason why America can’t do it, too.

Carol

Bubbles and Balls

Yup, I’m back in Tanzania.

No matter where in the world you have some kids and a ball, you will have a soccer game. And for an hour, it doesn’t matter that they sleep in a house with a dirt floor, or their skin is covered with an infection because they are living with HIV/AIDS.

Saturday was one of the joyful monthly meetings of Pamoja Project families, here to talk about life, have some juice, play a bit, and collect food support. Some kids and the balls we provide immediately took to the field. Others excitedly accepted the bottles of bubbles I had brought from home.

For me, just hanging out with these folks is enough. Some I have known for years and years, and we excitedly embrace and look into each other’s eyes- because we don’t share language. Others are new to our group, but when they see I can be trusted they begin to shyly open up.

I discuss climate change with Yaseni, an articulate high school senior who has seen the reports of the impending hurricane in Florida. Rehema and Queen, aged 8 and 9, want to practice their English and put me through the paces of “tall, short, fat, thin”- complete with hand gestures.

I love this.

You who are part of Pamoja’s efforts already know the lesson that we are they, and they are us. I carry you with me this week.

Carol