fws team blog

Every day is different here in Sinon, so instead of trying to think of one thing to write about for this blog, I thought I’d keep a photo diary for the week instead..

Sunday

Like everywhere else in the world, Sunday is a rest day here in Tanzania, so some of us volunteers headed in to town to see Mama C (cooler than cool African American blues/jazz singer) perform at Massai Camp, and were treated to an unexpected fashion show by a localdesigner. The clothes were made from Kangas and Kitenge (vibrantly bold local fabrics.. Kangas are the bright pieces of fabric that women here wear over their clothes), and shukas (massai blankets). There were some interesting designs which may well provide some inspiration for our mamas future clothing range. Just as with most things Tanzanian, the show was full of happy energy, bright colours and beaming smiles.

Monday

Monday is usually an office day for me, so it was a nice surprise at lunch time when we had a visit from Aggie’s mama and little sister, seven year old Naomi. They are visiting from their home in Kenya for about a week, and Aggie was excited to show them her workplace and to introduce us all. We enjoyed a lunch of beans and chapati together and took some happy pics before saying kwaheri.

Tuesday

Yesterday I had planned to go to town today to go to the bank and to get one of the sewing machines fixed, but I should know by now not to make plans that far in advance. We’ve been expecting some money to be transferred from Australia, but it still hasn’t come through, so the town trip will have to wait until the funds arrive. Maybe tomorrow…

Tuesday afternoons I help Brenda teach the Mamas computer class, so I headed to Kesho Leo just after lunch, and as usual was joined by some kids whowanted to walk with me, hold my hand and practise their English. In class the Mamas added a couple of sentences (in English) to their emails they have been working on.

After class Brenda and I had to get back to the volunteer village for the weekly team meeting so we piled onto the back of the ute, and after some gangster rapper style posing, we headed home. A wedding was being held about half way home, and we got stuck in a bit of a traffic jam (in the photo it looks like just one other car, but there were actually two). Caused quite a delay, really! After our weekly team meeting where we discussed everything from solar panels to hand washing, we headed to the Engo (local pub) for chipsi mayai and an Eagle.

Wednesday

Wednesday morning started with a budget meeting at Kesho Leo with Mudi, Kelsey, Eve, Barry and I. Ester (one of the Kesho Leo house mamas) surprised us with some delicious sweet potato from the Kesho Leo organic farm. I had some spare minutes to do a quick walk around, got a quick pic of the chekechea (kindergarten), and sewing room.

Then it was off to town to get one of our sewing machines fixed, and what you would expect to be a simple trip always turns into a half day job.. town is hectic and the traffic is slow moving but crazy, and you have to be prepared to dodge people, wheelbarrows and daladalas (pic of that is under Tuesday for some

reason, oops!).

That night we had a barbecue at the vollage for Tom & Helens last night here (Karens visiting family), and being very generous and supportive people, they contributed some cash so that the volunteers could have a table and some chairs in the new garden Eve is working on in the vollage. Thank you Tom & Helen!

Thursday

Usually I have a Kiswahili lesson on Thursday mornings, but had to cancel to go to town to get some fws money from the bank. I had to pick up Mudi and some timber from the mill on the way back.. I just had to remember to turn left at the shoes..

Brenda and I had computer class in the afternoon at the vollage so we could introduce the mamas to the internet. Moses and Richard have been working on the water tank pipes and also building a wall in the vollage all week and kindly posed for a pic.

Friday

Office day.. Lucas helped with some Excel work while I prepared the pay envelopes for Saturday. After the pays were organised, Barry presented me with a cheque for 1200 euros (!) for foodwatershelter, money his family raised in Ireland by holding a trivia night. Huge thank you to the Ryan family!

posted by Bec McQueen (Kesho Leo Bursar)