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| From Tanzania Album 1 |
It was a bleary-eyed but nevertheless exhilarated team that set off on the ferry across the Dar es Salaam harbour to Maweni. We were somewhat concerned to discover that not only did our driver not speak English, but he also had no idea where we were going once we disembarked the ferry.
He did have one redeeming feature: he did not hesitate to stop and ask for directions.
We arrived at Maweni and were greeted by Mama Wandoa, Director of the Upendo AIDS Centre and the voices of hundreds of curious children in the school yard.
It was immediately apparent that the children were needy. Mama Wandoa pointed out a few children wearing a red stripe on the sleeve of their school uniform. This marked them as special needs children with AIDS or epilepsy.
Tonight, six hundred children are sleeping with the comfort of a mattress and protected from mosquito-borne diseases by an LLIN (Long-lasting Insecticide Treated Net).
Following the distribution, we visited the home of a past bedkit recipient. The mother of this family was recently widowed. Mama Wandoa explained they were living in dire poverty in a small shelter. Because of the generosity of a school teacher who had built a small row of rooms, this mother and her three children had a roof over their heads. The poverty was palpable. It was an emotional time and six subdued volunteers left that little home to return to the comfort and -- in contrast -- the luxury of our hotel.
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| From Tanzania Album 1 |
The photos show some of our adventures today including photos of some some of the
beautiful Tanzanian children. It is always about the children and for the children.
Linda Webb for the SCAW 2007 Tanzania travelling team.
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