by Alison McKinney
Waking up this morning wrapped in the mosquito net was extremely refreshing after a very long full day of travel, especially walking out to Jane’s amazing breakfast. I may be talking for myself, but jetlag was nonexistent, which was an added bonus. Today was more of an acclimation day for us but started with a walk through the compound to see Jane and John’s banana farm – which also boasts sugar cane and mango. The morning was cool and we could hear music from the Methodist church which lifted spirits and set a great tone.
Since there are 3 UhuruPad “veterans” on the team, we were able to watch them actually do the presentation we’ll be giving to nearly 4000 girls this week. We are glad to be welcomed into so many schools but, just as it is in the US, classroom time is critical so our presentations (given to the girls in groups of no more than 50 at a time) have to be spot on.
Practice completed and 15 boxed lunches loaded, we hit the road. While the Uhuru Champions team from the US is female, we have 3 male drivers and they do their best to keep eyes on these crazy roads, all while there is quite a bit of entertaining conversation in the background. We also have 3 US guys who are “pseudo-team members” (we’ll have to come up with a name for them…”) and they have their own mission they’re focused on. More on them another day.
We headed to the market they call the Maasai Market. I loved getting to see all of the Tanzanian art and jewelry. It was overwhelming at first as people came out of their little shops to invite us in to look at their different products, but we all got great stuff from beaded bracelets, handcrafted bowls, pants, and even a machete! I loved getting to see the women beading more bracelets so swiftly as they sat there selling them.
From there, we loaded back up in the cars and got to see the UhuruPad factory. THIS was definitely the highlight of everything we’ve seen so far. It’s one thing to read and watch videos about the pads, but we got to actually see them being made and meet the women who make them which made it so much more real and amazing. From there, we got to meet the women who are going to be with us and translate at the schools tomorrow. My presentation partner, Perry Ann, and I will be supported by Maureen. Maureen is 18 and is so sweet and gentle and was earnest in making sure that what we’re communicating to the girls we meet will be understood. We worked through the presentation all together to make sure we were on the same page and then just relaxed and all got to hang out.
Paige and I enjoyed spending time with Joshua, the son of the operations manager, Sara, and Junior, her nephew. We headed down to the chicken coop (which is a source of nourishment and income for the women who work in the facility). Going in to see all of the chickens and a. big rooster I chose to stay away from. As we “met” the chickens, the rooster decided to waddle out of the coop…yes, Team Uhuru had made the chicken literally fly the coop. I had no option but to sprint by him to escape which the little boys found hysterical. Without fear, they saved the day by shooing the rooster back in and closing the door.
As we went to leave, most wanted to hit the restroom – the roads in Tanzania can be quite bumpy! In this place, space is at a premium – Sara and Joshua live in the facility so as to safeguard the equipment (which is quite valuable and the only machines of their kind in Tanzania) and Sara stores both the precious pads and much of her shop inventory here. So, we were not surprised when Perry (who is Perry Ann’s mom!) came out of the bathroom holding an awesome basket and went looking for Sara to see if she could buy it! As if bargaining at the market wasn’t enough, by the time we left, three more people had purchased a beautiful basket.
Being a Sunday, we were amazed to see several members of the production team remove their white lab coats and sterile masks to reveal the beautiful dresses they would be wearing to evening worship. The women had all come in on Sunday to allow us to see production of the product we’ll be using to provide girls with the “Uhuru” – this means “Freedom” in Swahili – they deserve to learn and succeed.
Cars and hearts full, we headed back to the house to eat some more of Jane’s amazing food! It’s only been one day, and I am already blown away by this place, this project, and the people. I can’t wait to get to meet so many new faces this week!
Waking up this morning wrapped in the mosquito net was extremely refreshing after a very long full day of travel, especially walking out to Jane’s amazing breakfast. I may be talking for myself, but jetlag was nonexistent, which was an added bonus. Today was more of an acclimation day for us but started with a walk through the compound to see Jane and John’s banana farm – which also boasts sugar cane and mango. The morning was cool and we could hear music from the Methodist church which lifted spirits and set a great tone.
Since there are 3 UhuruPad “veterans” on the team, we were able to watch them actually do the presentation we’ll be giving to nearly 4000 girls this week. We are glad to be welcomed into so many schools but, just as it is in the US, classroom time is critical so our presentations (given to the girls in groups of no more than 50 at a time) have to be spot on.
Practice completed and 15 boxed lunches loaded, we hit the road. While the Uhuru Champions team from the US is female, we have 3 male drivers and they do their best to keep eyes on these crazy roads, all while there is quite a bit of entertaining conversation in the background. We also have 3 US guys who are “pseudo-team members” (we’ll have to come up with a name for them…”) and they have their own mission they’re focused on. More on them another day.
We headed to the market they call the Maasai Market. I loved getting to see all of the Tanzanian art and jewelry. It was overwhelming at first as people came out of their little shops to invite us in to look at their different products, but we all got great stuff from beaded bracelets, handcrafted bowls, pants, and even a machete! I loved getting to see the women beading more bracelets so swiftly as they sat there selling them.
From there, we loaded back up in the cars and got to see the UhuruPad factory. THIS was definitely the highlight of everything we’ve seen so far. It’s one thing to read and watch videos about the pads, but we got to actually see them being made and meet the women who make them which made it so much more real and amazing. From there, we got to meet the women who are going to be with us and translate at the schools tomorrow. My presentation partner, Perry Ann, and I will be supported by Maureen. Maureen is 18 and is so sweet and gentle and was earnest in making sure that what we’re communicating to the girls we meet will be understood. We worked through the presentation all together to make sure we were on the same page and then just relaxed and all got to hang out.
Paige and I enjoyed spending time with Joshua, the son of the operations manager, Sara, and Junior, her nephew. We headed down to the chicken coop (which is a source of nourishment and income for the women who work in the facility). Going in to see all of the chickens and a. big rooster I chose to stay away from. As we “met” the chickens, the rooster decided to waddle out of the coop…yes, Team Uhuru had made the chicken literally fly the coop. I had no option but to sprint by him to escape which the little boys found hysterical. Without fear, they saved the day by shooing the rooster back in and closing the door.
As we went to leave, most wanted to hit the restroom – the roads in Tanzania can be quite bumpy! In this place, space is at a premium – Sara and Joshua live in the facility so as to safeguard the equipment (which is quite valuable and the only machines of their kind in Tanzania) and Sara stores both the precious pads and much of her shop inventory here. So, we were not surprised when Perry (who is Perry Ann’s mom!) came out of the bathroom holding an awesome basket and went looking for Sara to see if she could buy it! As if bargaining at the market wasn’t enough, by the time we left, three more people had purchased a beautiful basket.
Being a Sunday, we were amazed to see several members of the production team remove their white lab coats and sterile masks to reveal the beautiful dresses they would be wearing to evening worship. The women had all come in on Sunday to allow us to see production of the product we’ll be using to provide girls with the “Uhuru” – this means “Freedom” in Swahili – they deserve to learn and succeed.
Cars and hearts full, we headed back to the house to eat some more of Jane’s amazing food! It’s only been one day, and I am already blown away by this place, this project, and the people. I can’t wait to get to meet so many new faces this week!
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