Welcome to the Chronicles of Daraja Archives!
Here you will find stories from our volunteers since the beginning of the Daraja Foundation in 2013.
These reflective experiences will take you through the inspiration and vision of creating Daraja Foundation, our successes and challenges, providing a real view of volunteerism and how we keep moving forward. For our latest updates and photos, please visit our social media pages.
Our Volunteers make Daraja Foundation a family, here are their stories...
Here you will find stories from our volunteers since the beginning of the Daraja Foundation in 2013.
These reflective experiences will take you through the inspiration and vision of creating Daraja Foundation, our successes and challenges, providing a real view of volunteerism and how we keep moving forward. For our latest updates and photos, please visit our social media pages.
Our Volunteers make Daraja Foundation a family, here are their stories...
Providing Girls Access to Feminine Hygiene Kits
Posted by Devin on Thursday, 01 September 2016
Posted by Devin on Thursday, 01 September 2016
DURING THE WORKSHOPS WE HAD MANY LAUGHS AND THE GIRLS WERE ABLE TO GO AWAY WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH... |
In January 2016, I had the opportunity to travel to Zanzibar and spend three months living in Stone Town. I had been volunteering with the Daraja Foundation in Calgary, as the Director of the Volunteer Abroad Program, for about a year and a half and I was eager to see the projects in person. One of my favourite experiences was getting to meet the girls involved in PLCI Schoolʼs Girls Club - a club were girls develop and run social programs for themselves and their classmates. When I came to Zanzibar, I brought 35 feminine hygiene kits with me for the Girls Club, from the organization Days for Girls. Days for Girls is a global organization that has a goal of providing women and girls around the world with access to feminine hygiene products. The kits that I brought contained reusable pads that I was going to give to the Girls Club, since disposable pads are quite expensive for them to buy.
In order to give out the kits, we held two separate workshops about female health and hygiene. The girls were so open to discuss health issues with us and were eager to learn. During the workshops we had many laughs and the girls were able to go away with valuable information for their own health, and with the Days for Girls kits that were now theirs to use!
These workshops were great because the girls were able to learn so much about health and hygiene and they appreciated receiving the kits. However, my favourite part about these meetings was getting to talk with the students about regular life and just be silly - we would joke about school, food, and take selfies! Girls Club is also working on a number of other projects, including food safety and job skills. Meeting the students involved in the Girls Club was truly inspiring to me. Their commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated that the Daraja Foundation is very meaningful to the girls of the Girls Club. I cannot wait to see how these girls continue to grow their confidence and leadership skills in the future through this partnership with Daraja.
In order to give out the kits, we held two separate workshops about female health and hygiene. The girls were so open to discuss health issues with us and were eager to learn. During the workshops we had many laughs and the girls were able to go away with valuable information for their own health, and with the Days for Girls kits that were now theirs to use!
These workshops were great because the girls were able to learn so much about health and hygiene and they appreciated receiving the kits. However, my favourite part about these meetings was getting to talk with the students about regular life and just be silly - we would joke about school, food, and take selfies! Girls Club is also working on a number of other projects, including food safety and job skills. Meeting the students involved in the Girls Club was truly inspiring to me. Their commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated that the Daraja Foundation is very meaningful to the girls of the Girls Club. I cannot wait to see how these girls continue to grow their confidence and leadership skills in the future through this partnership with Daraja.
FOLLOWING THE DREAM OF AN AGRICULTURE TRAINING PROGRAM
Posted by Sharon on Wednesday, 03 August 2016
Posted by Sharon on Wednesday, 03 August 2016
The open air classroom is transformed into a sleeping area for Masai people who have no home in the city. |
When I met up with Arsheen in Zanzibar last November, I joked that Daraja should provide a warning that volunteering in Zanzibar is addictive. I now craved to return to Zanzibar and always wanted more and more time there… my first year was 4 weeks, my second year was 9 weeks and this year I returned for 3 months. So be warned… volunteering with Daraja in Zanzibar is very addictive.
In January 2014, my daughter and I volunteered at the Mazazini orphanage. That year, my mission was to assess the needs of the older youth, who are required to leave the orphanage at the age of 18. When I asked the Director of Children’s Services what usually happened to the youth when they left the orphanage, she looked away, hesitated and then with a sigh of frustration stated “They usually go on to very difficult lives”. She could only think of one or maybe two success stories of youth who had left the orphanage.
I had grown fond of the youth I had met at the orphanage and didn’t want to see them go on to ‘difficult lives’. I was eager to explore how Daraja could support the youth as they left the orphanage. At the end of my three weeks I provided Daraja with a report, full of recommendations and suggestion. One of my top recommendations was creating business opportunities… most specifically a chicken farm. Establishing a chicken farm was identified by several local business people as a needed business on the island. I was told that every week thousands of dollars were spent to bring chicken in from the mainland. I envisioned the chicken farm as a business and as a place where they youth leaving the orphanage could be employed, learn skills, and gain knowledge as part of a transitional process to self-subsistence.
When I called Arsheen in December of 2014 to explore the possibility of returning to Zanzibar with my husband in early 2015, she had all the pieces in place for this project. Not only did she have the needed funds, she had also connected with a youth empowerment organization called Prospective Learning and Charitable Institute (PLCI) who already had an organic farm up and running and plans for creating a chicken farm, but no funding. Arsheen said we could start the construction as soon as I was ready.
So with just three weeks to prepare, my husband and I packed our bags for a two month stay in Zanzibar.
When I arrived in Dar es Salam, I met with Arsheen, Gasica, the inspiring founder of PLCI, and Faza, the president of PLCI’s Farm Club to visit a chicken farm I had toured the previous year. I wanted them to see how the farm was set up and the various options for raising chickens. They were excited to see what could be done and eager to set up their own chicken farm. Esta, the chicken farmer in Dar, was amazingly helpful. She walked them through the process, answered questions, provided advice, warned of possible problems and even offered to come to Zanzibar to help train the youth when our farm was complete. When I arrived in Zanzibar I visited the PLCI centre where they offer English, Math and computer classes to the youth of Fuoni Meli Tano, a community just outside of Stone Town. There I met the Farm Team that I would be working with for the next 8 weeks and they took me to see the farm. I was so impressed with everything… the organization, the people, the land!
PLCI is an amazing organization started by Gasica when he was just 15 years old. He saw a need for an English training program to assist youth to develop their English skills, so they could stay in school. In Tanzania children are educated in Swahili until they enter the Tanzanian equivalent to our high school, when the language of instruction becomes English. Many students drop out at this time. Since its start in 2007, PLCI has grown and evolved into a multi-faceted program serving a wide-range of needs. The English training is at the heart of all they do, but PLCI offers so much more… room and board for youth who have no other appropriate housing options, Computer and math courses, employment training, skill development, a sense of community, a place to belong, but, most importantly, it offers the youth hope.
PLCI had access to a small piece of land that belonged to a father of one of the youth at PLCI. They had created a Farm Club and the president of the club was sent to a course on organic farming. On his return he shared his new knowledge with the members of the farm team and a small farm was created. They were already growing egg plants, basil, tomatoes, bananas, passion fruit and several other items. The team was excited about adding a chicken farm, as this would provide fertilizer for the crops and significantly increase their income potential.
PLCI was a perfect organization to offer the transitional support for the youth leaving the orphanage. The youth would have a safe place to stay, as well as options for further skill development and training. It was an ideal match.
The Chicken Farm Construction Team consisted of about 20 young men. About 14 were available to come every day and rest were in school on weekdays, but would come to help on the weekend. With these young men, and the fundis (Swahili word for carpenters) hired to oversee the construction, we managed to complete the building in just 6 weeks! The young men were so wonderful to work with! They worked so hard and they had so much fun doing it. Although there were language issue as most of the team only had a little English and I only knew a few words in Swahili, we somehow managed to make it work… and work well. I attribute this to their kindness and caring. They treated me with such thoughtfulness and respect and made my time with them great fun. I remember walking from the farm to PLCI at the end of the day with team members who would try to teach me a little Swahili, tell me a little about their life in Zanzibar or ask me about life in Canada. I will forever appreciate and treasure their kindness and the memories I have of these weeks working together.
One of my favorite memories was when it became quite obvious that they were having an argument about something. It wasn’t an angry argument, quite the contrary it was very playful. The fundis and young men would take turns emphatically presenting their opinion. Others would laugh, jeer or clap. Their presentations could be quite dramatic. Even though I didn’t understand a word of what they were saying it was so fun to watch. Finally I asked someone what they were arguing about. I was told they were having a debate on whether bottled water or local well water was better. Some were expounding on the quality and taste of the local water, while pooh-poohing the taste of bottled water, while others argued the opposite. So fun to watch!
In addition to building the chicken coops, a well was dug on the land and a toilet pit was constructed. These may seem like minor pieces, but they were significant, both in process and in cost. The well digging was done by hand and was fascinating to watch. A young man literally, climbed down 40 to 50 feet (That is the depth of a four story building… I kid you not!) and filled up a bucket with the soil he loosened. This was then hauled out of the well, emptied and the bucket was lowered again.
The chicken coops consisted of one long building that had a storage shed at one end, two washrooms at the other end and three rooms for chickens in between. Two of the rooms were for broilers and one was for the layers. The smallest of these rooms would house the broiler chicks for their first two weeks of life. The second room was for the broilers’ 3rd and 4th weeks. And the third and largest room was for the layers, who would also free ranged on the land around the coop. The rooms were constructed to meet British standards for chicken farming.
By rotating the broilers through the two room, two rounds of 300 broilers could flow through the farm every four weeks, for a total of 600 broiler chickens every month. Some of these broilers would go to the orphanage or to feed the youth at PLCI, but the majority would be sold. The 300 layers were expected to provide about 200 eggs per day. By late February, when I was preparing to leave, the coops were almost completed. The only thing left was to put the top coat of cement of the floors, finish the washrooms and get the power to the buildings. A German organization had offered to set up a solar power system on the farm to provide power for a well pump and lights for the coops.
The team decided that they would start with just the broiler chickens, so the Farm Team members could live in the layers coop. There needed to be someone onsite at all times, and we did not have enough funds for a residence, so they would live in the layers room until the residence could be built.
The arrival of the first round of broilers was put off until the solar power was hooked up. Once the power was hooked up, the rainy season hit with a vengeance. Zanzibar experienced massive flooding and it was not viable to bring chickens in at this time. When the flooding had subsided, another issue emerged as the youth whose father owned the land tried to get some of the youth who were living on the farm to join him in a quest to take over the farm from PLCI.
This coup turned into a very serious issue. The youth were informed that taking over the farm was not an option… it was PLCI’s farm and needed to stay as such. Unfortunately the landlord, whose son was leading the coup, then decided he would no longer rent the land to PLCI, even though an agreement was in place. PLCI and Daraja offered to purchase the land, the landlord changed the amount he wanted to 10 times the market value. It was a bad situation that resulted in Daraja Foundation raising funds to buy a piece of land and taking down the farm we had built. The materials removed from the original farm were either used on the new farm or sold.
When I arrived in Zanzibar in November of 2015 with my husband, my son and my son’s friend Frances, the new farm was nearing completion. The walls were up, but the roof and floor needed to be completed. I was actually quite impressed with the new farm. The location was much better, as it was closer to PLCI and closer to the main road which made travel to the farm much easier. When going to this farm, I could hop on the bus and take a short 5 minute walk to get to the farm. Also, the soil on this property was much better than on the previous farm, there was a well, and the property was fully fenced, making it easier free range and protect the chickens. It was a much better property all around than the previous farm.
During the time I was there, the chicken coops were completed. Some of the Farm Team members moved on-site and planting of trees and food-bearing plants began. Five members of the Farm Team attended a permaculture training and then used the new knowledge to plan the farm’s layout. A local resident with experience in both organic farming, marketing produce and raising chickens was hired to work with Farm Team as the farm coordinator.
I recently saw a picture of the passion fruit we planted along the back wall. It had grown in leaps and bounds. Local chickens and Kuroiler chickens have been purchased and the farm is starting to make a profit. Last month they were able to pay the Farm Team allowances from the proceeds of the farm… success!!
It is interesting how ideas evolve and change. The initial plan to create a business to employ and train youth leaving the orphanage, evolved into the dream of an agriculture training program. The idea of raising broiler chickens has evolved into raising mainly layers and providing skills and knowledge to support youth in establishing their own farm. Broilers can be very expensive to start and require reliance on store bought feed and on breeders to provide the young chicks. While the eggs of the layers can be hatched making it easy to expand the flock as appropriate to the farmer’s needs and location. A handful of layers can become a flock over time. And a flock can provide income to raise a youth out of poverty and give them hope… and hopefully even support a family as the youth take on new roles and responsibilities.
In addition to chicken farm training the participants are also learning basic farming skills. While I was in Zanzibar, we began to plan out what we wanted to grow on the property and purchased some fruit trees and plants. We planted tomato, cucumber, passion fruit, and squash seeds. We also made screens for sifting dirt, had a compost bin constructed, purchased tools, cleared the land and began planting.
In addition to the chicken farm, another project I took on this year was an Entrepreneurial Training program. There are so few opportunities for employment in Zanzibar, so creating your own income producing project is almost a necessity. Last year, I talked to the youth about offering a business training program. They were very receptive to this. I didn’t want to recreate the wheel and figured someone else must have developed a business training program for Africa, so began to research this online. I found a bit, but not as much as I thought I might. When I returned home, a friend asked me to chat with his friend who was also involved in a project in Tanzania. I met with gentleman and shared my desire to offer a business training program and he told me of a friend of his who was working with Royal Road University’s Business program taking student to Tanzania and said that she had created a Entrepreneurial Training program in Swahili and English. I was so excited.
The woman who had created and implemented the Business Training program in Tanzania wound up being a woman I had worked with several years earlier. It was wonderful to reconnect with her again on a new project. The program she has created is an exceptional training program that covers the basics of starting your own business in a simple yet thorough manner. It had already been tested with over several years with women and she was eager to try it with youth. It is just amazing how the universe provides!
Another project I worked on this year was Red House School. In 2007 my daughter travelled to Tanzania with 5 other students from her school, a teacher and a parent to the Red House School in Ubungo, one of the most impoverished and densely populated suburbs of Dar es Salaam.
The youth had raised fund to construct a small open air classroom so the children would be out of the rain during the rainy season and protected from the hot sun during the rest of the year. When my daughter and I returned to Tanzania in 2014 we spend two weeks at Red House School. We arrived with suitcases filled with school supplies and the musical instrument that Theobald, the principal of the school had requested.
I was so impressed by the school and how much they accomplished in such a small space. Red House School has been in operation for over 12 years and consists of the open air classroom the students built in 2007, two volunteer rooms, a room for the Theobald and his family, washrooms, storage areas, an office, an outdoor cooking area and a small flat outdoor area. As small as it is, Red House is busy 24 hours a day! They even manage to raise a number of chicken on the property for eggs and meat! In the morning about 30 children receive early childhood education for a very reasonable rate (around $7.00 per month). Two trained teacher and a volunteer (from Germany) instruct and care for the preschool children. In the afternoon, about 15 preschool children stay on and receive food, have a nap, participate in class activities and play with each other.
When the Red House preschool children move onto elementary school their teacher are often impressed by the strong academic foundation they have. Many have visited the Red House School to see what they do and why their children are so far ahead of the others. Staff of Red House have often provided Early Childhood Education training and support for other pre-schools and schools.
In addition to the preschool program, classes for youth and adults in English, German, computers and math are provided in the afternoon and evenings. High school students are able to get assistance with their course work or help with English skills all for no fee. These additional services are provided by instructors who volunteer or work for a nominal honorarium when funds permit. In the early evening, the volunteers and Theobald’s family gather for a meal and social time. Traditional African food is provided unless one of the volunteers or visitors takes on the task of creating a meal that reflects their culture. These evening meals were a favorite part of my time in Tanzania.
Once dinner is finished, the open air classroom is transformed into a sleeping area for Masai people who have no home in the city. The Masai are a nomadic people, but many are coming to the city to find work or to educate their children. Many sleep in the streets or under bridges. The Red House offers them a safer place to sleep. They usually arrive in the late evening, set up their beds, sleep and then are gone by early morning... before the children arrive. Some of the Masai children take part in the Red House’s educational programs and many have been sleeping at Red House for several years. On any given night there could be anywhere from 4 or 5 Masai to 15+. Red House provides foam mattresses, mosquito nets and some sheets or blankets. The Masai also have access to toilets, showers and water (really valuable to a nomadic people). In return the Masai volunteer by sweeping and cleaning the school and helping out when and where they can.
I see the Red House as a little oasis in the midst of a lot of hardship. Typically the people in these areas live with minimal support or options for advancement. I am always amazed by how much the Red House does in such a small space and how busy they are... every day many people flow in and out of the Red House both offering and receiving services. On my first visit to Red House Theobald took me to a 5+ acre parcel of land that a volunteer from Australia and others had purchased for Red House School to construct a teacher training center on. The Australian volunteer was a retired educator who saw the need for teacher training in Dar es Salam and wanted to work with Theobald and others to provide this. Unfortunately, she had to leave Tanzania before they were able to fulfill this dream. In consultation with those involved, it was decided that the land would be used for an educational center that would offer pre-school and education supports similar to Red House as well as agricultural training. The area is rural and the schools are quite a distance away. So many of the children receive little or no education. The need for educational support in the area is very evident.
Daraja has recently taken on Red House School as one of their projects. I am so excited by this and think the work of Red House School fits well with the goals and aims of Daraja. In the summer of 2015 I held a fund raising BBQ at my house and we raiser a little over $4,000. In addition, a grandmother of one of the students who travelled to Red House in 2007 to build the open air classroom, contacted me about some funds she had been raising for Red House School. For several years she had been collecting pop bottle. She had many friends and people who saved their bottles for her and she managed to raise about $1,000 per year. She let me know she had $3,000 saved and wanted to know what Red House needed. I talked with Theobald and he said his #1 goal was the construction of an open air classroom and accommodation at the new property.
So with $5,000, ($3000 for pop bottle and $2000 from the BBQ…other $2000 went to chicken farm in Zanzibar.) we started construction on the new Red House property. With these funds we were able to build the foundation and construct the walls. We will need approximately $12,000 more to put on the roof, window and doors, cement the floor, add the washrooms, and purchase the supplies to set up the classroom (shelves, tables, chairs, etc.). It is hoped that these funds will be raised over the next year between Daraja and my own fund raising efforts.
When the funds are in place, I hope to return Tanzania to oversee the construction of the school and connect with my friends in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. I am always looking for an excuse to return… so am hoping the funds will be in place soon!
Through the Red House School and PLCI Daraja is offering skills, knowledge, compassion and hope to many children and youth. With the help of Daraja these children and youth will make a better life for themselves and create stronger healthier communities. I am very grateful to Daraja and Arsheen for the opportunities that I have had in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. Thank you Daraja! Thank you Arsheen. This is best addiction ever!
Sincerely,
Sharon
In January 2014, my daughter and I volunteered at the Mazazini orphanage. That year, my mission was to assess the needs of the older youth, who are required to leave the orphanage at the age of 18. When I asked the Director of Children’s Services what usually happened to the youth when they left the orphanage, she looked away, hesitated and then with a sigh of frustration stated “They usually go on to very difficult lives”. She could only think of one or maybe two success stories of youth who had left the orphanage.
I had grown fond of the youth I had met at the orphanage and didn’t want to see them go on to ‘difficult lives’. I was eager to explore how Daraja could support the youth as they left the orphanage. At the end of my three weeks I provided Daraja with a report, full of recommendations and suggestion. One of my top recommendations was creating business opportunities… most specifically a chicken farm. Establishing a chicken farm was identified by several local business people as a needed business on the island. I was told that every week thousands of dollars were spent to bring chicken in from the mainland. I envisioned the chicken farm as a business and as a place where they youth leaving the orphanage could be employed, learn skills, and gain knowledge as part of a transitional process to self-subsistence.
When I called Arsheen in December of 2014 to explore the possibility of returning to Zanzibar with my husband in early 2015, she had all the pieces in place for this project. Not only did she have the needed funds, she had also connected with a youth empowerment organization called Prospective Learning and Charitable Institute (PLCI) who already had an organic farm up and running and plans for creating a chicken farm, but no funding. Arsheen said we could start the construction as soon as I was ready.
So with just three weeks to prepare, my husband and I packed our bags for a two month stay in Zanzibar.
When I arrived in Dar es Salam, I met with Arsheen, Gasica, the inspiring founder of PLCI, and Faza, the president of PLCI’s Farm Club to visit a chicken farm I had toured the previous year. I wanted them to see how the farm was set up and the various options for raising chickens. They were excited to see what could be done and eager to set up their own chicken farm. Esta, the chicken farmer in Dar, was amazingly helpful. She walked them through the process, answered questions, provided advice, warned of possible problems and even offered to come to Zanzibar to help train the youth when our farm was complete. When I arrived in Zanzibar I visited the PLCI centre where they offer English, Math and computer classes to the youth of Fuoni Meli Tano, a community just outside of Stone Town. There I met the Farm Team that I would be working with for the next 8 weeks and they took me to see the farm. I was so impressed with everything… the organization, the people, the land!
PLCI is an amazing organization started by Gasica when he was just 15 years old. He saw a need for an English training program to assist youth to develop their English skills, so they could stay in school. In Tanzania children are educated in Swahili until they enter the Tanzanian equivalent to our high school, when the language of instruction becomes English. Many students drop out at this time. Since its start in 2007, PLCI has grown and evolved into a multi-faceted program serving a wide-range of needs. The English training is at the heart of all they do, but PLCI offers so much more… room and board for youth who have no other appropriate housing options, Computer and math courses, employment training, skill development, a sense of community, a place to belong, but, most importantly, it offers the youth hope.
PLCI had access to a small piece of land that belonged to a father of one of the youth at PLCI. They had created a Farm Club and the president of the club was sent to a course on organic farming. On his return he shared his new knowledge with the members of the farm team and a small farm was created. They were already growing egg plants, basil, tomatoes, bananas, passion fruit and several other items. The team was excited about adding a chicken farm, as this would provide fertilizer for the crops and significantly increase their income potential.
PLCI was a perfect organization to offer the transitional support for the youth leaving the orphanage. The youth would have a safe place to stay, as well as options for further skill development and training. It was an ideal match.
The Chicken Farm Construction Team consisted of about 20 young men. About 14 were available to come every day and rest were in school on weekdays, but would come to help on the weekend. With these young men, and the fundis (Swahili word for carpenters) hired to oversee the construction, we managed to complete the building in just 6 weeks! The young men were so wonderful to work with! They worked so hard and they had so much fun doing it. Although there were language issue as most of the team only had a little English and I only knew a few words in Swahili, we somehow managed to make it work… and work well. I attribute this to their kindness and caring. They treated me with such thoughtfulness and respect and made my time with them great fun. I remember walking from the farm to PLCI at the end of the day with team members who would try to teach me a little Swahili, tell me a little about their life in Zanzibar or ask me about life in Canada. I will forever appreciate and treasure their kindness and the memories I have of these weeks working together.
One of my favorite memories was when it became quite obvious that they were having an argument about something. It wasn’t an angry argument, quite the contrary it was very playful. The fundis and young men would take turns emphatically presenting their opinion. Others would laugh, jeer or clap. Their presentations could be quite dramatic. Even though I didn’t understand a word of what they were saying it was so fun to watch. Finally I asked someone what they were arguing about. I was told they were having a debate on whether bottled water or local well water was better. Some were expounding on the quality and taste of the local water, while pooh-poohing the taste of bottled water, while others argued the opposite. So fun to watch!
In addition to building the chicken coops, a well was dug on the land and a toilet pit was constructed. These may seem like minor pieces, but they were significant, both in process and in cost. The well digging was done by hand and was fascinating to watch. A young man literally, climbed down 40 to 50 feet (That is the depth of a four story building… I kid you not!) and filled up a bucket with the soil he loosened. This was then hauled out of the well, emptied and the bucket was lowered again.
The chicken coops consisted of one long building that had a storage shed at one end, two washrooms at the other end and three rooms for chickens in between. Two of the rooms were for broilers and one was for the layers. The smallest of these rooms would house the broiler chicks for their first two weeks of life. The second room was for the broilers’ 3rd and 4th weeks. And the third and largest room was for the layers, who would also free ranged on the land around the coop. The rooms were constructed to meet British standards for chicken farming.
By rotating the broilers through the two room, two rounds of 300 broilers could flow through the farm every four weeks, for a total of 600 broiler chickens every month. Some of these broilers would go to the orphanage or to feed the youth at PLCI, but the majority would be sold. The 300 layers were expected to provide about 200 eggs per day. By late February, when I was preparing to leave, the coops were almost completed. The only thing left was to put the top coat of cement of the floors, finish the washrooms and get the power to the buildings. A German organization had offered to set up a solar power system on the farm to provide power for a well pump and lights for the coops.
The team decided that they would start with just the broiler chickens, so the Farm Team members could live in the layers coop. There needed to be someone onsite at all times, and we did not have enough funds for a residence, so they would live in the layers room until the residence could be built.
The arrival of the first round of broilers was put off until the solar power was hooked up. Once the power was hooked up, the rainy season hit with a vengeance. Zanzibar experienced massive flooding and it was not viable to bring chickens in at this time. When the flooding had subsided, another issue emerged as the youth whose father owned the land tried to get some of the youth who were living on the farm to join him in a quest to take over the farm from PLCI.
This coup turned into a very serious issue. The youth were informed that taking over the farm was not an option… it was PLCI’s farm and needed to stay as such. Unfortunately the landlord, whose son was leading the coup, then decided he would no longer rent the land to PLCI, even though an agreement was in place. PLCI and Daraja offered to purchase the land, the landlord changed the amount he wanted to 10 times the market value. It was a bad situation that resulted in Daraja Foundation raising funds to buy a piece of land and taking down the farm we had built. The materials removed from the original farm were either used on the new farm or sold.
When I arrived in Zanzibar in November of 2015 with my husband, my son and my son’s friend Frances, the new farm was nearing completion. The walls were up, but the roof and floor needed to be completed. I was actually quite impressed with the new farm. The location was much better, as it was closer to PLCI and closer to the main road which made travel to the farm much easier. When going to this farm, I could hop on the bus and take a short 5 minute walk to get to the farm. Also, the soil on this property was much better than on the previous farm, there was a well, and the property was fully fenced, making it easier free range and protect the chickens. It was a much better property all around than the previous farm.
During the time I was there, the chicken coops were completed. Some of the Farm Team members moved on-site and planting of trees and food-bearing plants began. Five members of the Farm Team attended a permaculture training and then used the new knowledge to plan the farm’s layout. A local resident with experience in both organic farming, marketing produce and raising chickens was hired to work with Farm Team as the farm coordinator.
I recently saw a picture of the passion fruit we planted along the back wall. It had grown in leaps and bounds. Local chickens and Kuroiler chickens have been purchased and the farm is starting to make a profit. Last month they were able to pay the Farm Team allowances from the proceeds of the farm… success!!
It is interesting how ideas evolve and change. The initial plan to create a business to employ and train youth leaving the orphanage, evolved into the dream of an agriculture training program. The idea of raising broiler chickens has evolved into raising mainly layers and providing skills and knowledge to support youth in establishing their own farm. Broilers can be very expensive to start and require reliance on store bought feed and on breeders to provide the young chicks. While the eggs of the layers can be hatched making it easy to expand the flock as appropriate to the farmer’s needs and location. A handful of layers can become a flock over time. And a flock can provide income to raise a youth out of poverty and give them hope… and hopefully even support a family as the youth take on new roles and responsibilities.
In addition to chicken farm training the participants are also learning basic farming skills. While I was in Zanzibar, we began to plan out what we wanted to grow on the property and purchased some fruit trees and plants. We planted tomato, cucumber, passion fruit, and squash seeds. We also made screens for sifting dirt, had a compost bin constructed, purchased tools, cleared the land and began planting.
In addition to the chicken farm, another project I took on this year was an Entrepreneurial Training program. There are so few opportunities for employment in Zanzibar, so creating your own income producing project is almost a necessity. Last year, I talked to the youth about offering a business training program. They were very receptive to this. I didn’t want to recreate the wheel and figured someone else must have developed a business training program for Africa, so began to research this online. I found a bit, but not as much as I thought I might. When I returned home, a friend asked me to chat with his friend who was also involved in a project in Tanzania. I met with gentleman and shared my desire to offer a business training program and he told me of a friend of his who was working with Royal Road University’s Business program taking student to Tanzania and said that she had created a Entrepreneurial Training program in Swahili and English. I was so excited.
The woman who had created and implemented the Business Training program in Tanzania wound up being a woman I had worked with several years earlier. It was wonderful to reconnect with her again on a new project. The program she has created is an exceptional training program that covers the basics of starting your own business in a simple yet thorough manner. It had already been tested with over several years with women and she was eager to try it with youth. It is just amazing how the universe provides!
Another project I worked on this year was Red House School. In 2007 my daughter travelled to Tanzania with 5 other students from her school, a teacher and a parent to the Red House School in Ubungo, one of the most impoverished and densely populated suburbs of Dar es Salaam.
The youth had raised fund to construct a small open air classroom so the children would be out of the rain during the rainy season and protected from the hot sun during the rest of the year. When my daughter and I returned to Tanzania in 2014 we spend two weeks at Red House School. We arrived with suitcases filled with school supplies and the musical instrument that Theobald, the principal of the school had requested.
I was so impressed by the school and how much they accomplished in such a small space. Red House School has been in operation for over 12 years and consists of the open air classroom the students built in 2007, two volunteer rooms, a room for the Theobald and his family, washrooms, storage areas, an office, an outdoor cooking area and a small flat outdoor area. As small as it is, Red House is busy 24 hours a day! They even manage to raise a number of chicken on the property for eggs and meat! In the morning about 30 children receive early childhood education for a very reasonable rate (around $7.00 per month). Two trained teacher and a volunteer (from Germany) instruct and care for the preschool children. In the afternoon, about 15 preschool children stay on and receive food, have a nap, participate in class activities and play with each other.
When the Red House preschool children move onto elementary school their teacher are often impressed by the strong academic foundation they have. Many have visited the Red House School to see what they do and why their children are so far ahead of the others. Staff of Red House have often provided Early Childhood Education training and support for other pre-schools and schools.
In addition to the preschool program, classes for youth and adults in English, German, computers and math are provided in the afternoon and evenings. High school students are able to get assistance with their course work or help with English skills all for no fee. These additional services are provided by instructors who volunteer or work for a nominal honorarium when funds permit. In the early evening, the volunteers and Theobald’s family gather for a meal and social time. Traditional African food is provided unless one of the volunteers or visitors takes on the task of creating a meal that reflects their culture. These evening meals were a favorite part of my time in Tanzania.
Once dinner is finished, the open air classroom is transformed into a sleeping area for Masai people who have no home in the city. The Masai are a nomadic people, but many are coming to the city to find work or to educate their children. Many sleep in the streets or under bridges. The Red House offers them a safer place to sleep. They usually arrive in the late evening, set up their beds, sleep and then are gone by early morning... before the children arrive. Some of the Masai children take part in the Red House’s educational programs and many have been sleeping at Red House for several years. On any given night there could be anywhere from 4 or 5 Masai to 15+. Red House provides foam mattresses, mosquito nets and some sheets or blankets. The Masai also have access to toilets, showers and water (really valuable to a nomadic people). In return the Masai volunteer by sweeping and cleaning the school and helping out when and where they can.
I see the Red House as a little oasis in the midst of a lot of hardship. Typically the people in these areas live with minimal support or options for advancement. I am always amazed by how much the Red House does in such a small space and how busy they are... every day many people flow in and out of the Red House both offering and receiving services. On my first visit to Red House Theobald took me to a 5+ acre parcel of land that a volunteer from Australia and others had purchased for Red House School to construct a teacher training center on. The Australian volunteer was a retired educator who saw the need for teacher training in Dar es Salam and wanted to work with Theobald and others to provide this. Unfortunately, she had to leave Tanzania before they were able to fulfill this dream. In consultation with those involved, it was decided that the land would be used for an educational center that would offer pre-school and education supports similar to Red House as well as agricultural training. The area is rural and the schools are quite a distance away. So many of the children receive little or no education. The need for educational support in the area is very evident.
Daraja has recently taken on Red House School as one of their projects. I am so excited by this and think the work of Red House School fits well with the goals and aims of Daraja. In the summer of 2015 I held a fund raising BBQ at my house and we raiser a little over $4,000. In addition, a grandmother of one of the students who travelled to Red House in 2007 to build the open air classroom, contacted me about some funds she had been raising for Red House School. For several years she had been collecting pop bottle. She had many friends and people who saved their bottles for her and she managed to raise about $1,000 per year. She let me know she had $3,000 saved and wanted to know what Red House needed. I talked with Theobald and he said his #1 goal was the construction of an open air classroom and accommodation at the new property.
So with $5,000, ($3000 for pop bottle and $2000 from the BBQ…other $2000 went to chicken farm in Zanzibar.) we started construction on the new Red House property. With these funds we were able to build the foundation and construct the walls. We will need approximately $12,000 more to put on the roof, window and doors, cement the floor, add the washrooms, and purchase the supplies to set up the classroom (shelves, tables, chairs, etc.). It is hoped that these funds will be raised over the next year between Daraja and my own fund raising efforts.
When the funds are in place, I hope to return Tanzania to oversee the construction of the school and connect with my friends in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. I am always looking for an excuse to return… so am hoping the funds will be in place soon!
Through the Red House School and PLCI Daraja is offering skills, knowledge, compassion and hope to many children and youth. With the help of Daraja these children and youth will make a better life for themselves and create stronger healthier communities. I am very grateful to Daraja and Arsheen for the opportunities that I have had in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. Thank you Daraja! Thank you Arsheen. This is best addiction ever!
Sincerely,
Sharon
DELIVERING FAMILY PLANNING AND SEXUAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS
Posted by Laura on Friday, 03 May 2016
Posted by Laura on Friday, 03 May 2016
From their eagerness and endless questions I could tell that this class was exactly what they needed |
Africa has always captured my curiosity. For reasons that I cannot remember, my much younger self used to tell people that the one place I wanted to travel to was Africa. Some twenty five odd years later it finally happened. Arlin and I chose Daraja because the variety of projects allowed us to both utilize our very different skill sets in meaningful ways. It helped that I was already involved with the foundation and could attest to the fact that the work was sustainable and truly in the interest of the populations it serves. This could not have been more accurate and it was absolutely amazing to see the foundation in action.
From the moment we arrived at the airport to the moment we took off, I felt safe and well taken care of by Daraja and the foundation’s network of connections. We were welcomed with open arms by Mazizini Orphanage where the children have no problem effortlessly stealing your heart. At PLCI I was blown away by the dedication that the students have for learning and their willingness to soak up any knowledge that you choose to share. Finally, at Mnazi Mmoja hospital I was utterly inspired by the bravery of both patients and staff alike. I was honoured to meet Dr. Tarek and truly grateful for his genuine passion for improving the conditions of maternity care in Zanzibar.
We had an amazing crew of volunteers while I was in Zanzibar. We came from a variety of different backgrounds and brought varied skills and insight to the table. It felt like a family to me and I looked forward to almost nightly sunset viewings where we de-briefed, laughed and planned our next moves. We collaborated to hold a football match for the students at PLCI and organized a movie and craft night so the kids at Mazizini orphanage could make posters for the game. We held cooking classes and assisted with English tutoring. We delivered and oversaw the installation of medical equipment at Mnazi Mmoja hospital where we had 18 manual blood pressure cuffs installed on the maternity unit. Previously, they had shared just ONE with another floor. We didn’t get to see all of the projects through to completion. Many projects take time and the reward of the end result is often many challenges away. But the volunteers come and go and they carry on where you left off. Some, like Sharon, come back for a second time because they have learned: it’s hard to leave and Zanzibar steals a piece of you when you do.
Although I could speak for days about the varied and amazing work we did while in Zanzibar, one of my favourite memories is when Masira, Arsheen and I met with the PLCI Girls Club for a women's health and family planning class. I was pretty nervous because I had never done anything like this before. Was it going to be awkward? Would we be able to answer all of their questions? We started with the least intimidating topic of menstruation. Pretty soon the questions were rolling and my nerves quickly dissipated. As the girls got more comfortable we moved on to the topics of safe sex, birth control, family planning and sexually transmitted infections/HIV. From their eagerness and endless questions I could tell that this class was exactly what they needed. Between the three of us, we left no question unanswered. I could not believe what a wealth of knowledge we had! I left the school that day with a sense of peace and fulfillment that I have only truly found from positively impacting the lives of others. It was clear that we had positively impacted the lives of these young women. The class was Masira’s idea and my heart is so grateful to have been involved in such a wonderful experience. I could not have asked for two more competent and intelligent people to team up with and deliver that class! Asante sana!
When I left for Zanzibar I had no idea what our three weeks would look like; I worried that there wouldn't be enough to do. I could not have been more wrong about that! As you build connections, potential projects literally fall into your lap. This is where volunteering with Daraja is truly special. The foundation’s incredible flexibility and unwavering support allows you to take advantage of the opportunities that speak to you the most. The ability to choose projects that you are passionate about makes the work you end up doing that much more valuable.
I will never forget all of the inspiring people that I met in Zanzibar: the children at Mazizini orphanage, the students at PLCI, the rotary club members, the brave patients and staff at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Perhaps most of all I will remember the other like-minded and passionate volunteers that I met who continue to inspire me. As Steve Jobs said “the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” I hope I can share some Zanzibar sunsets again with you soon.
XOXO ~ Laura
From the moment we arrived at the airport to the moment we took off, I felt safe and well taken care of by Daraja and the foundation’s network of connections. We were welcomed with open arms by Mazizini Orphanage where the children have no problem effortlessly stealing your heart. At PLCI I was blown away by the dedication that the students have for learning and their willingness to soak up any knowledge that you choose to share. Finally, at Mnazi Mmoja hospital I was utterly inspired by the bravery of both patients and staff alike. I was honoured to meet Dr. Tarek and truly grateful for his genuine passion for improving the conditions of maternity care in Zanzibar.
We had an amazing crew of volunteers while I was in Zanzibar. We came from a variety of different backgrounds and brought varied skills and insight to the table. It felt like a family to me and I looked forward to almost nightly sunset viewings where we de-briefed, laughed and planned our next moves. We collaborated to hold a football match for the students at PLCI and organized a movie and craft night so the kids at Mazizini orphanage could make posters for the game. We held cooking classes and assisted with English tutoring. We delivered and oversaw the installation of medical equipment at Mnazi Mmoja hospital where we had 18 manual blood pressure cuffs installed on the maternity unit. Previously, they had shared just ONE with another floor. We didn’t get to see all of the projects through to completion. Many projects take time and the reward of the end result is often many challenges away. But the volunteers come and go and they carry on where you left off. Some, like Sharon, come back for a second time because they have learned: it’s hard to leave and Zanzibar steals a piece of you when you do.
Although I could speak for days about the varied and amazing work we did while in Zanzibar, one of my favourite memories is when Masira, Arsheen and I met with the PLCI Girls Club for a women's health and family planning class. I was pretty nervous because I had never done anything like this before. Was it going to be awkward? Would we be able to answer all of their questions? We started with the least intimidating topic of menstruation. Pretty soon the questions were rolling and my nerves quickly dissipated. As the girls got more comfortable we moved on to the topics of safe sex, birth control, family planning and sexually transmitted infections/HIV. From their eagerness and endless questions I could tell that this class was exactly what they needed. Between the three of us, we left no question unanswered. I could not believe what a wealth of knowledge we had! I left the school that day with a sense of peace and fulfillment that I have only truly found from positively impacting the lives of others. It was clear that we had positively impacted the lives of these young women. The class was Masira’s idea and my heart is so grateful to have been involved in such a wonderful experience. I could not have asked for two more competent and intelligent people to team up with and deliver that class! Asante sana!
When I left for Zanzibar I had no idea what our three weeks would look like; I worried that there wouldn't be enough to do. I could not have been more wrong about that! As you build connections, potential projects literally fall into your lap. This is where volunteering with Daraja is truly special. The foundation’s incredible flexibility and unwavering support allows you to take advantage of the opportunities that speak to you the most. The ability to choose projects that you are passionate about makes the work you end up doing that much more valuable.
I will never forget all of the inspiring people that I met in Zanzibar: the children at Mazizini orphanage, the students at PLCI, the rotary club members, the brave patients and staff at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Perhaps most of all I will remember the other like-minded and passionate volunteers that I met who continue to inspire me. As Steve Jobs said “the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” I hope I can share some Zanzibar sunsets again with you soon.
XOXO ~ Laura
AND THEN PAY IT FORWARD TO OTHERS IN NEED...
Posted by Denise on Friday, 29 April 2016
Posted by Denise on Friday, 29 April 2016
We were able to get the electricity connected for the chicken farm... to start their sustainable project. |
Daima mbele (“Always Forward”) is one of the foundations of the Daraja Foundation for which I have great respect. The teenagers and young adults who are members of the various Daraja clubs are always counseled to “Pay it Forward”. And that they did, with great pride and great caring for the people of Zanzibar. During another day of heavy rains, they hopped on their bus and handed out free, and much appreciated, umbrellas to people walking down the streets in the relentless rain. They shared who they were with these people and explained the daima mbele. Other clubs are doing the same – the chicken farm boys will cook for the bike shop boys. The bike shop boys learned first aid and will offer free first aid services to local bicyclists who are injured. What a beautiful experience to see the youth of Zanzibar graciously receive assistance through Daraja, and then pay it forward to others in need. The jubilant “Umbrella Bus” will remain a special memory in my heart.
The Girls’ Club was so receptive to the idea of learning to sew using the two donated sewing machines. And they learned so quickly! Soon they were absorbed in the “pad project” – a durable, reusable menstrual pad. The girls were very attentive during the class on female health and hygiene, and now have the materials and curriculum to teach this to younger girls going forward. They will also be sewing aprons and purses, projects which I brought from the US. They plan to host a fundraising dinner at Arsheen’s apartment, where they will cook the dinner themselves, invite local shop owners and volunteers, then offer the aprons for sale. What a truly wonderful idea. These girls are amazing.
Equally amazing are the bike shop and chicken farm and the boys and young men who oversee those projects. They proudly demonstrated what they have accomplished to date. We were able to get the electricity connected for the chicken farm, so soon they will have the actual chickens to start their sustainable project.
The orphanage was another incredible experience. I taught a class on different poetry styles and the students experimented with writing their own poems. The initial nervous giggles gave way to some serious poetry writing, revealing the true hearts and difficulties faced by these children. They wrote about loneliness, and sadness, and they wrote about their sincere love and appreciation for Daraja Foundation. When I presented them with their own locking journals, they eagerly began writing. When I left the class, silence filled the room as the children continued to express themselves on page and page of their diaries.
What makes this all work is Arsheen, and her partnership with Gasica at the PLCI (Prospective Learning and Charitable Institution). I have volunteered in different African countries for the last 10 years, working with different nonprofit organizations. And I can attest that Arsheen and Daraja Foundation is the real deal. Here I witnessed her great love, commitment and kindness to these children and young adults. The respect that they display towards her is well deserved. She listens to what they have to say, and while she gently guides them in major decision making, she allows them to explore their own thoughts and ideas. She is molding leaders of tomorrow for Zanzibar. She and Gasica share a common goal, and their Global Bridges project will only make each program stronger together.
I so enjoyed this opportunity to teach several classes, to be part of meetings, to meet one on one with students and offer advice on their individual projects, and to get to know these young people who benefit so greatly from Daraja Foundation. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Arsheen work with the children, her love and enthusiasm enveloping them as she drew smiles and laughter from their hearts. She made my volunteer experience quite rewarding and I learned much. And I look forward to watching these programs grow, as I wait for the opportunity for when I can return.
Denise Stasik
The Girls’ Club was so receptive to the idea of learning to sew using the two donated sewing machines. And they learned so quickly! Soon they were absorbed in the “pad project” – a durable, reusable menstrual pad. The girls were very attentive during the class on female health and hygiene, and now have the materials and curriculum to teach this to younger girls going forward. They will also be sewing aprons and purses, projects which I brought from the US. They plan to host a fundraising dinner at Arsheen’s apartment, where they will cook the dinner themselves, invite local shop owners and volunteers, then offer the aprons for sale. What a truly wonderful idea. These girls are amazing.
Equally amazing are the bike shop and chicken farm and the boys and young men who oversee those projects. They proudly demonstrated what they have accomplished to date. We were able to get the electricity connected for the chicken farm, so soon they will have the actual chickens to start their sustainable project.
The orphanage was another incredible experience. I taught a class on different poetry styles and the students experimented with writing their own poems. The initial nervous giggles gave way to some serious poetry writing, revealing the true hearts and difficulties faced by these children. They wrote about loneliness, and sadness, and they wrote about their sincere love and appreciation for Daraja Foundation. When I presented them with their own locking journals, they eagerly began writing. When I left the class, silence filled the room as the children continued to express themselves on page and page of their diaries.
What makes this all work is Arsheen, and her partnership with Gasica at the PLCI (Prospective Learning and Charitable Institution). I have volunteered in different African countries for the last 10 years, working with different nonprofit organizations. And I can attest that Arsheen and Daraja Foundation is the real deal. Here I witnessed her great love, commitment and kindness to these children and young adults. The respect that they display towards her is well deserved. She listens to what they have to say, and while she gently guides them in major decision making, she allows them to explore their own thoughts and ideas. She is molding leaders of tomorrow for Zanzibar. She and Gasica share a common goal, and their Global Bridges project will only make each program stronger together.
I so enjoyed this opportunity to teach several classes, to be part of meetings, to meet one on one with students and offer advice on their individual projects, and to get to know these young people who benefit so greatly from Daraja Foundation. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Arsheen work with the children, her love and enthusiasm enveloping them as she drew smiles and laughter from their hearts. She made my volunteer experience quite rewarding and I learned much. And I look forward to watching these programs grow, as I wait for the opportunity for when I can return.
Denise Stasik