fws team blog

Kizunguzungu!

Today is a day where “kizunguzungu” (dizzy in Kiswahili) is becoming less a state of mind for me!! It has been an amazing first six weeks at Sinon, the time has gone so quickly, yet so much has happened and some days I do feel 'dizzy'! My first few weeks were spent with Heather, sharing some time to learn of: the Mamma’s and children’s health needs, good places to source various materials, the Kesho Leo Clinic plans, various networks that Heather has tapped into, some of Heathers experiences with meeting the Mammas and children’s health needs and generally an opportunity to ask Heather many many questions.. and I did!!!

Heather was able to build such a solid bond with the Mamma’s, the trust and empathy that she and the Mamma’s shared was inspirational to witness. This mutual respect was so clearly illustrated at Nick and Heather’s Kwaheri. The Mamma’s speak of Heather often and will on a regular basis remember something that they learnt from health class with Heather and share their knowledge with great pride. I hope to implement some of the visions that Heather has for the Kesho Leo health clinic/program in the coming year.

More recently an exciting time is beginning for me as the health and social welfare team begin to establish some common links: challenges and unique experiences are just beginning! Kelsey, Loretta and myself were recently hoping to attend the HIV support group meeting in the local community, unfortunately we had just missed the meeting, none the less we continued to walk and talk and it felt like the beginnings of something great that fws can achieve for the Mamma’s and children and local community. Fws certainly has some very motivated individuals committed to meeting the objectives of fws through Kesho Leo Children’s Village.

Speaking of “kizunguzungu”, this was a real state of mind for one of the workers recently, with my very limited Kiswahili one of my first questions was to ask if he was “kizunguzungu”, it is quite bizarre the random Kiswahili that I have remembered from my time in Arusha in 2005, none of it terribly useful on a regular basis unfortunately! However, it did seem to be a bit of an ice breaker when used on this occasssion.

Omari sustained a scalp laceration from a piece of electrical building equipment. Kelsey, several workers and I had taken him to a clinic to receive treatment for his injury. It was a bad injury but he was lucky to have only received a few sutures. So, on each of the three times I have visited him at home since the injury I have felt very fortunate to know him and his beautiful family (however saddened that he sustained such an injury and has missed work as a result).

I stroll down the road and before long am accompanied by many happy, giggling children all eager to be the one to hold my hand. For some reason every time I pass Aggie, Massway and Mary’s home I glance to my left and there is Killi; gracing me with her most beautiful and mystical presence, the scenery and atmosphere is something very special. I continue on my way to Omari’s home, my lack of Swahili makes it difficult to communicate in great detail, but I can tell by his presence and expressions that he is well and his smile conveys his appreciation for my assistance. I try to have a chat with Omari’s daughters and put on my best baby chatter for his baby girl; who is absolutely beautiful, always smiling. I return through the village again feeling fortunate that I was in a position to be of assistance and also wondering why home visits aren’t this rewarding at home… My pride for being a nurse has been reinforced by my involvement with Omari and his family.

There are constant reminders of the differing access to health care here; this week I sat in on two kids classes on consecutive days. The first day I met a boy who has burns on both lower arms and the backs of his upper and lower legs, my heart breaks to think of what may have happened to this young boy? For the moment he moves around quite freely but what assistance may be available to him in the future if required? The following day I met a boy who had a marked deficit in his right side, he drags his foot and moves it in a difficult motion and his elbow is contracted as is his fingers. However he eagerly kicks the football with his friends, again my mind wonders what has caused this condition, what treatment is available for him and what opportunities he may have for an education and future employment. I meet these boys, but when I ask others at fws they have no memory of these boys being to class in the past, it saddens me that I may not have the opportunity to meet them again. We shall see… So many kids and so many individual needs.

I now find myself with a sense of excitement at being back in Tanzania and an overwhelming feeling of the familiar. As soon as I arrived back in Tanzania I was reminded by the culture, food and aroma, scenery and the ever smiling faces of the Tanzanian people. I was greeted with a warm welcome from everyone at fws and again this was a feeling of the familiar with many faces and names that I knew of but may have never previously met.

Time now to move on and continue to build up rapport and trust with the Mamma’s and children; part of a poignant message reads "Open my heart to new possibilities .... create new space in your heart and mind that will allow you to consider a new way of living, a new way of relating, a new way of just being ... in the present". I look forward to the coming year evolving and “this new way of being”, influenced by the relaxed pace, no worry attitude, overwhelming friendliness, community and welcoming spirit of the Tanzanian people.