(Welcome to Tanzania)
After 2 months here I have experienced some interesting things in Tanzania. At first these seemed very strange but now, after some time, I have grown quite accustomed to them.
Karibuni Tanzania:
-a duka (shop) that sells only oranges and rebarr
-everyone knowing only 3 phrases of English:
- "my friend!"
- "give me money"
- "hawayou"
-getting proposed to by a woman or (if a man) on behalf of their sisters
-men always holding your hand
-9 people in a 5 seated taxi, none of the dials work and there is only 1 window (the windshield)
-Bikes that sell the irresitable comination of phone cards and ice cream
-5 hour long church services
-children that play with bottle caps, garbage, and chickens instead of video games
-full meals for under 80 cents
-riding public transport (dalladallas) and barely having enough room to breathe
-being yelled at MZUNGU! an average of 8 times per km
-buying armfulls of groceries, fruit, vegatables and more for under 5$
-monkeys that steal your clothes
-hand shakes that last entire conversations
-bartering for EVERYTHING including a bus fare
-having hundreads (literally) of eyes on you when in busy areas
-never feeling a drop of rain in these 2 months!
-taps that dont work and children walking 2 (often 8) Kiliometeres to get water
-people with malaria or typhoid who come to work anyway and brush it off as no big deal
-finding strange bugs in your bed in the morning
- leaving for a day and when returning to your room finding thick layers of dust on everything
-a relentless sun that is always right above you
That is all for now, but I am sure there is more to come...
Friday, July 24, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Micah Network Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change
After a week of discussion and working on several drafts, here is the finished statement from my conference in Kenya:
Micah Network Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change
17 July 2009
We, members of the Micah Network , gathering together from 38 countries on all 5 continents, met at Limuru, Kenya from 13–18 July 2009 for its 4th Triennial Global Consultation. On the matter of Creation Stewardship and Climate Change, we sought God’s wisdom and cried out for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we reflected on the global environmental crisis. As a result of our discussions, reflections and prayers, we make the following declaration:
1. We believe in God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit in community – who is the creator, sustainer and Lord of all. God delights in His creation, and is committed to it.
2. In the beginning, God established just relationships amongst all of creation. Women and men – as image-bearers of God – are called to serve and love the rest of creation, accountable to God as stewards. Our care for creation is an act of worship and obedience towards the Creator.
3. We, however, have not always been faithful stewards. Through our ignorance, neglect, arrogance and greed, we have harmed the earth and broken creation’s relationships. Our failure to be faithful stewards has caused the current environmental crisis, leading to climate change, and putting the earth’s ecosystems at risk. All creation has been subjected to futility and decay because of our disobedience.
4. Yet God remains faithful. In Christ’s incarnation, life, death and resurrection, God is at work to reconcile all of creation to Himself. We hear the groaning of creation as in the pains of childbirth. This is the promise that God will act, and is already at work, to renew all things. This is the hope that sustains us.
5. We confess that we have sinned. We have not cared for the earth with the self-sacrificing and nurturing love of God. Instead, we have exploited, consumed and abused it for our own advantage. We have too often yielded to the idolatry that is greed. We have embraced false dichotomies of theology and practice, splitting apart the spiritual and material, eternal and temporal, heavenly and earthly. In all these things, we have not acted justly towards each other or towards creation, and we have not honoured God.
6. We acknowledge that industrialization, increased deforestation, intensified agriculture and grazing, along with the unrestrained burning of fossil fuels, have forced the earth’s natural systems out of balance. Rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions are causing the average global temperature to rise, with devastating impacts already being experienced, especially by the poorest and most marginalized groups. A projected temperature rise of 2°C within the next few decades will significantly alter life on earth and accelerate loss of biodiversity. It will increase the risk and severity of extreme weather events, such as drought, flood, and hurricanes, leading to displacement and hunger. Sea levels will continue to rise, contaminating fresh water supplies and submerging island and coastal communities. We are likely to see mass migration, leading to resource conflicts. Profound changes to rainfall and snowfall, as well as the rapid melting of glaciers, will lead to more water stress and shortages for many millions of people.
7. We repent of our self-serving theology of creation, and our complicity in unjust local and global economic relationships. We repent of those aspects of our individual and corporate life styles that harm creation, and of our lack of political action. We must radically change our lives in response to God’s indignation and sorrow for His creation’s agony.
8. Before God we commit ourselves, and call on the whole family of faith, to bear witness to God’s redemptive purpose for all creation. We will seek appropriate ways to restore and build just relationships among human beings and with the rest of creation. We will strive to live sustainably, rejecting consumerism and the resulting exploitation. We will teach and model care of creation and integral mission. We will intercede before God for those most affected by environmental degradation and climate change, and will act with justice and mercy among, with and on behalf of them.
9. We join with others to call on local, national, and global leaders to meet their responsibility to address climate change and environmental degradation through the agreed inter-governmental mechanisms and conventions, and to provide the necessary resources to ensure sustainable development. Their meetings through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process must produce a fair, comprehensive, and adequate climate deal. Leaders must support the efforts of local communities to adapt to climate change, and must act to protect the lives and livelihoods of those most vulnerable to the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. We recognize that among the most affected are women and girls. We call on leaders to invest in the development of new, clean technologies and energy sources and to provide adequate support to enable poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups to use them effectively.
10. There is no more time for delay or denial. We will labour with passion, persistence, prayer and creativity to protect the integrity of all creation, and hand on a safe environment and climate to our children and theirs.
For those with ears to hear, let them hear.
Micah Network Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change
17 July 2009
We, members of the Micah Network , gathering together from 38 countries on all 5 continents, met at Limuru, Kenya from 13–18 July 2009 for its 4th Triennial Global Consultation. On the matter of Creation Stewardship and Climate Change, we sought God’s wisdom and cried out for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we reflected on the global environmental crisis. As a result of our discussions, reflections and prayers, we make the following declaration:
1. We believe in God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit in community – who is the creator, sustainer and Lord of all. God delights in His creation, and is committed to it.
2. In the beginning, God established just relationships amongst all of creation. Women and men – as image-bearers of God – are called to serve and love the rest of creation, accountable to God as stewards. Our care for creation is an act of worship and obedience towards the Creator.
3. We, however, have not always been faithful stewards. Through our ignorance, neglect, arrogance and greed, we have harmed the earth and broken creation’s relationships. Our failure to be faithful stewards has caused the current environmental crisis, leading to climate change, and putting the earth’s ecosystems at risk. All creation has been subjected to futility and decay because of our disobedience.
4. Yet God remains faithful. In Christ’s incarnation, life, death and resurrection, God is at work to reconcile all of creation to Himself. We hear the groaning of creation as in the pains of childbirth. This is the promise that God will act, and is already at work, to renew all things. This is the hope that sustains us.
5. We confess that we have sinned. We have not cared for the earth with the self-sacrificing and nurturing love of God. Instead, we have exploited, consumed and abused it for our own advantage. We have too often yielded to the idolatry that is greed. We have embraced false dichotomies of theology and practice, splitting apart the spiritual and material, eternal and temporal, heavenly and earthly. In all these things, we have not acted justly towards each other or towards creation, and we have not honoured God.
6. We acknowledge that industrialization, increased deforestation, intensified agriculture and grazing, along with the unrestrained burning of fossil fuels, have forced the earth’s natural systems out of balance. Rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions are causing the average global temperature to rise, with devastating impacts already being experienced, especially by the poorest and most marginalized groups. A projected temperature rise of 2°C within the next few decades will significantly alter life on earth and accelerate loss of biodiversity. It will increase the risk and severity of extreme weather events, such as drought, flood, and hurricanes, leading to displacement and hunger. Sea levels will continue to rise, contaminating fresh water supplies and submerging island and coastal communities. We are likely to see mass migration, leading to resource conflicts. Profound changes to rainfall and snowfall, as well as the rapid melting of glaciers, will lead to more water stress and shortages for many millions of people.
7. We repent of our self-serving theology of creation, and our complicity in unjust local and global economic relationships. We repent of those aspects of our individual and corporate life styles that harm creation, and of our lack of political action. We must radically change our lives in response to God’s indignation and sorrow for His creation’s agony.
8. Before God we commit ourselves, and call on the whole family of faith, to bear witness to God’s redemptive purpose for all creation. We will seek appropriate ways to restore and build just relationships among human beings and with the rest of creation. We will strive to live sustainably, rejecting consumerism and the resulting exploitation. We will teach and model care of creation and integral mission. We will intercede before God for those most affected by environmental degradation and climate change, and will act with justice and mercy among, with and on behalf of them.
9. We join with others to call on local, national, and global leaders to meet their responsibility to address climate change and environmental degradation through the agreed inter-governmental mechanisms and conventions, and to provide the necessary resources to ensure sustainable development. Their meetings through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process must produce a fair, comprehensive, and adequate climate deal. Leaders must support the efforts of local communities to adapt to climate change, and must act to protect the lives and livelihoods of those most vulnerable to the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. We recognize that among the most affected are women and girls. We call on leaders to invest in the development of new, clean technologies and energy sources and to provide adequate support to enable poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups to use them effectively.
10. There is no more time for delay or denial. We will labour with passion, persistence, prayer and creativity to protect the integrity of all creation, and hand on a safe environment and climate to our children and theirs.
For those with ears to hear, let them hear.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
"A Matter of Life and Death"
I have the wonderful experience of attending the 4th triennial Micah Network conference on Climate Change in Nairobi Kenya.
The conference is organized by the Micah Network, a international coalition of over 550 Christian relief, development, and justice organizations, churches and individuals from over 80 countries.
The conference I am able to attend is composed largely of the directors and CEOs of these organizations with representatives of 39 countries (me being the youngest in attendance and clearly least qualified to be here). The purpose of this gathering is to adress the issue of climate change and the church's response to it. Some of the organizations are dealing with mitigating the effects of climate change on the field in their various regions (South America, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, etc.) while others are working towards advocacy in the church in the North and working towards pressuring world leaders. One of the objectives of this conference is to together create a statement representing the views of the Global Church on the issue of climate change. (When this statement is finished I will try to post it.) It will be drafted and be send to the UN climate gathering at Copenhagen (at a gathering of world leaders in December of this year) and also be presented to thousands of church congregations and organizations in over 80 countries. What an incredible place to meet Christian leaders and be a part of such an important movement in the world church.
It has been radically eye-opening for me to listen to (and see for my self) the reality of the issue of climate change here in East Africa. Headlines in a Ugandan newspaper announced just this past weekend that, as I write these words, over 2 million are in danger of starvation in Uganda alone ( with a population of only 30 million). This same story is true for most East African countries including Tanzania and Kenya where I have been able to travel in these past months and visit with and talk with farmers. All these East African countries (and most developing countries) are completely dependent on agriculture, not only for income and exports but for their own survival and nutrition. Much of this East African region is incredibly rich in abundance, wildlife, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and a dual raining season meaning there are two harvests each year. These farmers have been raising crops to sustain their livelihood for thousands of years. Yet these farmers are fully reliant on the seasonal rains and predictable climate patterns, WHICH HAVE CHANGED. The climate IS changing and HAS changed. I have heard it from the mouths of farmers as well as from NGO workers that these droughts and famines are worse than they have ever experienced in the past. Here in Limuru (just outside Nairobi), I am told that there has been about 16 inches of rain so far in the year. This after the first heavy rainfall which should be yielding over 35 inches by this time. As a result, fields are producing less and less crops that many families are not even able to support themselves.
I have realized that for us, at least in Canada, Climate Change seems distant, improbable, even laughable. Yet here in East Africa, and I am learning from those also in Bangladesh and in Argentina and other corners of the world, climate change is very real and felt in the lives of those starving and being forced to seek food relief in countries which should be exporting abundance of crops. I have been told time and time again here: Climate Change is a matter of life and death for millions of people.
What is humbling about this is that those in the African church who have seen and are experiencing starvation first hand (along with years of violence, genocide, and oppression) are not blaming the North or the developed world. As church leaders have gathered together here, they have collectively announced that the entire human race, the entire church has failed our calling to be stewards over God's earth. It is the brokenness and corruption of all human relationships and sin that has allowed this to be. Together our church leaders are seeking repentance and looking to move forward.
However, the cry of the church in the developing world and specifically here in East Africa is that we in the developed world come to terms with the fact that the implications of climate change are very real, they are being witnessed here, now. Again and again I am reminded that this is "a matter of life and death". May we acknowledge that those suffering the most from climate change are those contributing the least to it and are the most vulnerable to disease and starvation. May we repent, seek forgiveness and begin to take responsibility and find ways to move forward to restore the earth and all its interconnected relationships and complexities.
The conference is organized by the Micah Network, a international coalition of over 550 Christian relief, development, and justice organizations, churches and individuals from over 80 countries.
The conference I am able to attend is composed largely of the directors and CEOs of these organizations with representatives of 39 countries (me being the youngest in attendance and clearly least qualified to be here). The purpose of this gathering is to adress the issue of climate change and the church's response to it. Some of the organizations are dealing with mitigating the effects of climate change on the field in their various regions (South America, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, etc.) while others are working towards advocacy in the church in the North and working towards pressuring world leaders. One of the objectives of this conference is to together create a statement representing the views of the Global Church on the issue of climate change. (When this statement is finished I will try to post it.) It will be drafted and be send to the UN climate gathering at Copenhagen (at a gathering of world leaders in December of this year) and also be presented to thousands of church congregations and organizations in over 80 countries. What an incredible place to meet Christian leaders and be a part of such an important movement in the world church.
It has been radically eye-opening for me to listen to (and see for my self) the reality of the issue of climate change here in East Africa. Headlines in a Ugandan newspaper announced just this past weekend that, as I write these words, over 2 million are in danger of starvation in Uganda alone ( with a population of only 30 million). This same story is true for most East African countries including Tanzania and Kenya where I have been able to travel in these past months and visit with and talk with farmers. All these East African countries (and most developing countries) are completely dependent on agriculture, not only for income and exports but for their own survival and nutrition. Much of this East African region is incredibly rich in abundance, wildlife, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and a dual raining season meaning there are two harvests each year. These farmers have been raising crops to sustain their livelihood for thousands of years. Yet these farmers are fully reliant on the seasonal rains and predictable climate patterns, WHICH HAVE CHANGED. The climate IS changing and HAS changed. I have heard it from the mouths of farmers as well as from NGO workers that these droughts and famines are worse than they have ever experienced in the past. Here in Limuru (just outside Nairobi), I am told that there has been about 16 inches of rain so far in the year. This after the first heavy rainfall which should be yielding over 35 inches by this time. As a result, fields are producing less and less crops that many families are not even able to support themselves.
I have realized that for us, at least in Canada, Climate Change seems distant, improbable, even laughable. Yet here in East Africa, and I am learning from those also in Bangladesh and in Argentina and other corners of the world, climate change is very real and felt in the lives of those starving and being forced to seek food relief in countries which should be exporting abundance of crops. I have been told time and time again here: Climate Change is a matter of life and death for millions of people.
What is humbling about this is that those in the African church who have seen and are experiencing starvation first hand (along with years of violence, genocide, and oppression) are not blaming the North or the developed world. As church leaders have gathered together here, they have collectively announced that the entire human race, the entire church has failed our calling to be stewards over God's earth. It is the brokenness and corruption of all human relationships and sin that has allowed this to be. Together our church leaders are seeking repentance and looking to move forward.
However, the cry of the church in the developing world and specifically here in East Africa is that we in the developed world come to terms with the fact that the implications of climate change are very real, they are being witnessed here, now. Again and again I am reminded that this is "a matter of life and death". May we acknowledge that those suffering the most from climate change are those contributing the least to it and are the most vulnerable to disease and starvation. May we repent, seek forgiveness and begin to take responsibility and find ways to move forward to restore the earth and all its interconnected relationships and complexities.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Half way reflections: "Development"
I just relized my internship is about half over. Its crazy how fast time goes. I thought that this would be a good oppurtunity to write about some of the major things I have been learning about 'development' in general. Although, it is sort of a rediculous idea that I am a "Student for Development" as my internship states. Apparently I should supposed to be developing Tanzania?
As I mentioned before, the idea of development is a gigantic term that continues to be larger than I imagine. It can be defined in so many different ways from expanding the wealth of the economy to reducing poverty and from to increasing infastructure and communication to eradicating diseases; it encompasses all people and all sectors of society.
I have had many conversations with people (rrual Tanzanians, fellow SFD interns, businessmen, and CRWRC staff) here about what poverty is and what development is. Many Tanzanians tell me they are poor and need to be 'developed' and 'organized' (their words) and are happy to see wazungu (white people) doing this, but most cannot define what being poor means or what development they need. But often it comes down to increasing their income. Undestandably people want more money, especially those who make barely enough to support their own families. Although I have my concerns with the idea of development being reduced to increading income or poverty simply reduced to a lack of money, I can feel their desperation and frusteration.
Yet when I look at the overall development plan of the Tanzanian government, it doesn't seem to make much sense, even if they define development as increasing the income of the poor. Let me try to explain...
The history of Tanzania is heavily influenced by socialism under the highly respected and honored first President Nyerere, who united the country in a single language and worked towards the best for the very poor. However, this history of socialism has created an attitude of suspicion to outsiders and foreigners which has also led to very closed off trade borders and a reluctance to capitalist policies. Only recently has Tanzania begun to open up their borders and has been encouraging investment from large foreign corporations.
A recent budget released in June announced that the government would offer tax exemptions for large corporations importing oil and exemptions for new foreign businesses being started. These appealing prospects for foreign investments have attempted to attract business from abroad to boost GDP and other economic indicators. However the same budget announced new taxes on non-profit organizations (such as CRWRC) and religious organization, charities and churhes.
Thankfully the Tanzanian parliment shut down the budget in outrage and demanded adjustments (which is still being debated). Yet by looking at the budget we can observe what the development plan is for Tanzania. There is a large desire to increase the size of the economy and GDP, assuming that it will eventually help the poor ("trickle down"). However, my stay in Dar Es Salaam (financial/business capital) showed me that large amounts of wealth and property were owned by a few foreigners and rarely gets to the poor. Often I would see huge construction projects happening in the city only to realize that this building is being contracted by an American or Chinese man who does not even live in the country and in fact owns many other projects. Although these large scale developments boost indicators like GDP they do little to improve the lives of the poor who are begging in the streets in front of the construction site without work.
At the same time, non-profit organizations like CRWRC, are working with the poor and for the poor at a very basic and grassroots level. I have seen the effects of small micro-finance projects and co-ops and how a cippled man is able to own a farm that now employs several non-crippled men and can support his family (and theirs) well. The problem with this is that these small entreupenures have very little effect on the overall economy or measures such as GDP, because most cannot even participate in the 'official economy' since they trade and barter goods at small markets, which simply dont measure on national scales but is how most people engage in market activity dat-to-day (thier own economy).
But at the same time a government must be responsible to its citizens, not foreign NGOs or outside governments, and not be dependant on foriegn aid to do so. Many people say that the long-term goal of development should be that governments are able to care for their own citizens (even in Canada, which also has NGOs and charities). If this is true then how does a government reach the very poor when they are often very heirarchal/top-down structures and can often only influence large scale policies. Perhaps this is the central issue of development. Sorry about the rant....any thoughts?
As I mentioned before, the idea of development is a gigantic term that continues to be larger than I imagine. It can be defined in so many different ways from expanding the wealth of the economy to reducing poverty and from to increasing infastructure and communication to eradicating diseases; it encompasses all people and all sectors of society.
I have had many conversations with people (rrual Tanzanians, fellow SFD interns, businessmen, and CRWRC staff) here about what poverty is and what development is. Many Tanzanians tell me they are poor and need to be 'developed' and 'organized' (their words) and are happy to see wazungu (white people) doing this, but most cannot define what being poor means or what development they need. But often it comes down to increasing their income. Undestandably people want more money, especially those who make barely enough to support their own families. Although I have my concerns with the idea of development being reduced to increading income or poverty simply reduced to a lack of money, I can feel their desperation and frusteration.
Yet when I look at the overall development plan of the Tanzanian government, it doesn't seem to make much sense, even if they define development as increasing the income of the poor. Let me try to explain...
The history of Tanzania is heavily influenced by socialism under the highly respected and honored first President Nyerere, who united the country in a single language and worked towards the best for the very poor. However, this history of socialism has created an attitude of suspicion to outsiders and foreigners which has also led to very closed off trade borders and a reluctance to capitalist policies. Only recently has Tanzania begun to open up their borders and has been encouraging investment from large foreign corporations.
A recent budget released in June announced that the government would offer tax exemptions for large corporations importing oil and exemptions for new foreign businesses being started. These appealing prospects for foreign investments have attempted to attract business from abroad to boost GDP and other economic indicators. However the same budget announced new taxes on non-profit organizations (such as CRWRC) and religious organization, charities and churhes.
Thankfully the Tanzanian parliment shut down the budget in outrage and demanded adjustments (which is still being debated). Yet by looking at the budget we can observe what the development plan is for Tanzania. There is a large desire to increase the size of the economy and GDP, assuming that it will eventually help the poor ("trickle down"). However, my stay in Dar Es Salaam (financial/business capital) showed me that large amounts of wealth and property were owned by a few foreigners and rarely gets to the poor. Often I would see huge construction projects happening in the city only to realize that this building is being contracted by an American or Chinese man who does not even live in the country and in fact owns many other projects. Although these large scale developments boost indicators like GDP they do little to improve the lives of the poor who are begging in the streets in front of the construction site without work.
At the same time, non-profit organizations like CRWRC, are working with the poor and for the poor at a very basic and grassroots level. I have seen the effects of small micro-finance projects and co-ops and how a cippled man is able to own a farm that now employs several non-crippled men and can support his family (and theirs) well. The problem with this is that these small entreupenures have very little effect on the overall economy or measures such as GDP, because most cannot even participate in the 'official economy' since they trade and barter goods at small markets, which simply dont measure on national scales but is how most people engage in market activity dat-to-day (thier own economy).
But at the same time a government must be responsible to its citizens, not foreign NGOs or outside governments, and not be dependant on foriegn aid to do so. Many people say that the long-term goal of development should be that governments are able to care for their own citizens (even in Canada, which also has NGOs and charities). If this is true then how does a government reach the very poor when they are often very heirarchal/top-down structures and can often only influence large scale policies. Perhaps this is the central issue of development. Sorry about the rant....any thoughts?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sasa, ninakaa kijiji
Now I am living in the village.
I have had a busy week of travel, planes, ferries, and buses. I went to mwanza for a few days and was able to meet some other SFD interns from Western University in Ontario, who let me sleep at their place for free(fellow Canadian students make great friends). I was also to meet with a few other individuls who work in all sorts of areas from development, missionary work to businessmen. It was fascinating to learn what a diverse and complex area Lake Victoria and Mwanza is. [For anyone with an interest in Northern Tanzania, specifically Mwanza, there is a facinating and shocking documentary called Darwin's Nightmare which is banned here in Tanzania. It tries to depict the socio-economic, environmental, and political aspects of poverty and globalization in the region. Although I am told it is not completely an honest film, I believe it is still able to expose certain problems that are really are massive issues here (trade injustice, environmental degredation, HIV, streetchildren, and prostitution). I recommened it... it gained some popularity a few years ago so you can probably find it in Blockbuster.]
I am now staying in Sengerema, which is a small district of many villages but home to about 500 000. Despite the population it is a very rural and spread out district with over 90% of individuals working in agriculture as farmers or livestock herders.
Staying here, I am able to live with the Malekela family, a wonderful family of about 11 including 3 generations and a handful of children. They have taken great care of me and are trying to fatten me during my stay. I have a nice room beside the chicken coup, enjoying the bucket showers, and how there is only one family memeber who speaks english in the family. It has been such a learning experience so far living with them. I have already picked up so much swahili. I am also privileged to join them in their meals, to their church (5 hours and in swahili) and prayer/singing time before they go to sleep. There are three young girls who cook for me, draw me a hotbath, do my laundry, make my bed, and insist that they carry my bag for me where ever I go. Although having three servants sounds pretty great, it can be a little ackward and is still a little strange when they dont let me do anything. Yet hospitality is highly prized here and I have been told that they would be insulted if I refused. Nonetheless, I am able to get to know the family and build some wonderful relationships. I was connected to the family through SISA (sengerema informal sector association), as mama Malekela is the chair-woman.
Here in Sengerema I will be working with SISA a NGO that is now of the most mature partners of CRWRC. They are directly and closely related to CIDA, USAID, and the UN but are also under the Prime Ministers Office of Tanzania. SISA has shown such good potential and organization that they have gained the attention of many and is appointed to lead many sectors of informal development work in the Sengerema area, including areas of adult literacy, trades, micro-finance, agricultural education, environmental work, and several more.
Joseph shigulu, the director of SISA, is my new 'boss' who is a very intelligent and kind man who seems to know just about every person in Sengerema. When he shows me around the city (there are few cars and even less taxis, so everyone walks or bikes) everyone is greeting him. So far he has shown me the various government offices, different farms (including that of the Jatropha, Moringa and Amirinth plants, all of which are facinating and will write about some other time), tree plantations, production facilities, projects and their personal radio station which uses the airwaves to reach farmers in the surrounding area and offer news and information about recent developments in agriculture. I am facinated and inspired by the work I am seeing.
Very soon I will be travelling to Nairobi for around 2 weeks for the Micah Conference on Climate Change and to visit the work of CRWRC in Kenya. But I will be able to return to Sengerema and the Malekela family for the 2nd half of my internship (which is approching half way). My stay in Sengerema looks like I will be travelling to the different areas of Sengerema meeting with and interviewing fisherman and farmers to understand their challenges. I will also be able to meet with government employees incharge of natural resources and fisheries to hear the challenges that they face. I am also told I will be able to participate in many other areas of the work that SISA does.
I have had a busy week of travel, planes, ferries, and buses. I went to mwanza for a few days and was able to meet some other SFD interns from Western University in Ontario, who let me sleep at their place for free(fellow Canadian students make great friends). I was also to meet with a few other individuls who work in all sorts of areas from development, missionary work to businessmen. It was fascinating to learn what a diverse and complex area Lake Victoria and Mwanza is. [For anyone with an interest in Northern Tanzania, specifically Mwanza, there is a facinating and shocking documentary called Darwin's Nightmare which is banned here in Tanzania. It tries to depict the socio-economic, environmental, and political aspects of poverty and globalization in the region. Although I am told it is not completely an honest film, I believe it is still able to expose certain problems that are really are massive issues here (trade injustice, environmental degredation, HIV, streetchildren, and prostitution). I recommened it... it gained some popularity a few years ago so you can probably find it in Blockbuster.]
I am now staying in Sengerema, which is a small district of many villages but home to about 500 000. Despite the population it is a very rural and spread out district with over 90% of individuals working in agriculture as farmers or livestock herders.
Staying here, I am able to live with the Malekela family, a wonderful family of about 11 including 3 generations and a handful of children. They have taken great care of me and are trying to fatten me during my stay. I have a nice room beside the chicken coup, enjoying the bucket showers, and how there is only one family memeber who speaks english in the family. It has been such a learning experience so far living with them. I have already picked up so much swahili. I am also privileged to join them in their meals, to their church (5 hours and in swahili) and prayer/singing time before they go to sleep. There are three young girls who cook for me, draw me a hotbath, do my laundry, make my bed, and insist that they carry my bag for me where ever I go. Although having three servants sounds pretty great, it can be a little ackward and is still a little strange when they dont let me do anything. Yet hospitality is highly prized here and I have been told that they would be insulted if I refused. Nonetheless, I am able to get to know the family and build some wonderful relationships. I was connected to the family through SISA (sengerema informal sector association), as mama Malekela is the chair-woman.
Here in Sengerema I will be working with SISA a NGO that is now of the most mature partners of CRWRC. They are directly and closely related to CIDA, USAID, and the UN but are also under the Prime Ministers Office of Tanzania. SISA has shown such good potential and organization that they have gained the attention of many and is appointed to lead many sectors of informal development work in the Sengerema area, including areas of adult literacy, trades, micro-finance, agricultural education, environmental work, and several more.
Joseph shigulu, the director of SISA, is my new 'boss' who is a very intelligent and kind man who seems to know just about every person in Sengerema. When he shows me around the city (there are few cars and even less taxis, so everyone walks or bikes) everyone is greeting him. So far he has shown me the various government offices, different farms (including that of the Jatropha, Moringa and Amirinth plants, all of which are facinating and will write about some other time), tree plantations, production facilities, projects and their personal radio station which uses the airwaves to reach farmers in the surrounding area and offer news and information about recent developments in agriculture. I am facinated and inspired by the work I am seeing.
Very soon I will be travelling to Nairobi for around 2 weeks for the Micah Conference on Climate Change and to visit the work of CRWRC in Kenya. But I will be able to return to Sengerema and the Malekela family for the 2nd half of my internship (which is approching half way). My stay in Sengerema looks like I will be travelling to the different areas of Sengerema meeting with and interviewing fisherman and farmers to understand their challenges. I will also be able to meet with government employees incharge of natural resources and fisheries to hear the challenges that they face. I am also told I will be able to participate in many other areas of the work that SISA does.
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