by Debbie Lieb, July 29
Our day began early with a delicious breakfast in Mama Jane’s kitchen. Our US contingent is now 16 people and so the eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, and breads of all kinds must truly feed an army. Mama Jane and three lovely women handle breakfast (a chef supports her on dinner) and she is a great cook. Her cooking means a healthy start to a long day. The team has come together quickly; this is a fun group but we are ready to work. We’ve been packaging the 5000 information/punch cards the girls will receive to track their menstrual hygiene each month and even the “Uhuru Dudes” – Jeff, Will, and Jack – have jumped into that task. Laura calls this task a fun game named “fold the menstruation cards!”
Departing the beautiful grounds of our homestay, our caravan of three vans (and a truck filled with supplies) traveled down long bumpy and dusty roads, passing cows herded by children, and donkeys pulling carts to a remote school – the Marula Secondary School – where we met 300 girls in uniform who were completely thrilled to see our band of women from the USA. Working in small groups – usually two Americans with a Tanzanian translator – we shared a positive, information-filled presentation in English and Swahili: growing up, the start of menstruation, and other aspects of health hygiene and safety essential to becoming a strong, confident woman.
The girls listen with great attention. We do try to make them laugh which relaxes them and us and helps to break down the age and language barriers. My presenting partner is Ann Gehret McKinney, a Vanderbilt classmate who lives in Nashville. Our accents may confuse the girls a bit but it is a remarkable thing to be in this place and sharing love and compassion with girls with a lifelong friend: we’re a long way from our days sitting on the wall watching the people go by at Vanderbilt.
Each presentation ends with the distribution of underwear and 100% biodegradable sanitary pads, called UhuruPads. These are all made by a team of women in a production facility nearby. Some of the girls get embarrassed and laugh and some have serious questions about their lives and their bodies. They dance and sing while other members of our team build them a tippy tap – a simple handwashing station placed right outside the lavatories (which have no running water). The girls ask to see photos of our homes and families and the selfies go non-stop.
School number two – Nasholi School - with 450 girls was significantly larger. Groups were bigger and lines were longer. But again, the girls were happy that we were there and we danced and sang with them after the presentations and handed out the supplies.
Another long road to a third school – Maroroni School with 360 girls. The girls behaved perfectly, singing and cheering after our presentations.
Over the day we met wonderful and beautiful girls who loved us being there, but we loved them more. We gave them protection and freedom and they gave us brilliant smiles with glimmers of hope. They sang to us and filled our hearts.
Could any day be better?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To Support the UhuruPads Mission distributing pads, undergarments and life-changing education to girls in need in East Africa, shop and support via Her Best Foot Forward's product page or via the UhuruPads donation link here.
Our day began early with a delicious breakfast in Mama Jane’s kitchen. Our US contingent is now 16 people and so the eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, and breads of all kinds must truly feed an army. Mama Jane and three lovely women handle breakfast (a chef supports her on dinner) and she is a great cook. Her cooking means a healthy start to a long day. The team has come together quickly; this is a fun group but we are ready to work. We’ve been packaging the 5000 information/punch cards the girls will receive to track their menstrual hygiene each month and even the “Uhuru Dudes” – Jeff, Will, and Jack – have jumped into that task. Laura calls this task a fun game named “fold the menstruation cards!”
Departing the beautiful grounds of our homestay, our caravan of three vans (and a truck filled with supplies) traveled down long bumpy and dusty roads, passing cows herded by children, and donkeys pulling carts to a remote school – the Marula Secondary School – where we met 300 girls in uniform who were completely thrilled to see our band of women from the USA. Working in small groups – usually two Americans with a Tanzanian translator – we shared a positive, information-filled presentation in English and Swahili: growing up, the start of menstruation, and other aspects of health hygiene and safety essential to becoming a strong, confident woman.
The girls listen with great attention. We do try to make them laugh which relaxes them and us and helps to break down the age and language barriers. My presenting partner is Ann Gehret McKinney, a Vanderbilt classmate who lives in Nashville. Our accents may confuse the girls a bit but it is a remarkable thing to be in this place and sharing love and compassion with girls with a lifelong friend: we’re a long way from our days sitting on the wall watching the people go by at Vanderbilt.
Each presentation ends with the distribution of underwear and 100% biodegradable sanitary pads, called UhuruPads. These are all made by a team of women in a production facility nearby. Some of the girls get embarrassed and laugh and some have serious questions about their lives and their bodies. They dance and sing while other members of our team build them a tippy tap – a simple handwashing station placed right outside the lavatories (which have no running water). The girls ask to see photos of our homes and families and the selfies go non-stop.
School number two – Nasholi School - with 450 girls was significantly larger. Groups were bigger and lines were longer. But again, the girls were happy that we were there and we danced and sang with them after the presentations and handed out the supplies.
Another long road to a third school – Maroroni School with 360 girls. The girls behaved perfectly, singing and cheering after our presentations.
Over the day we met wonderful and beautiful girls who loved us being there, but we loved them more. We gave them protection and freedom and they gave us brilliant smiles with glimmers of hope. They sang to us and filled our hearts.
Could any day be better?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To Support the UhuruPads Mission distributing pads, undergarments and life-changing education to girls in need in East Africa, shop and support via Her Best Foot Forward's product page or via the UhuruPads donation link here.
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