January 18, 2007
A Little History
Welcome to the first of several Podcasts about Southbanks trip to Tanzania in 2007. Prior to leaving, I had the opportunity to talk to staff and students about the schools previous visits. Click here to listen.
Southbanks first trip to Tanzania was in the summer of 2001 when we travelled to Moshi on a CAS trip organised by the International School Moshi. Students built temporary classrooms for the Mkombozi Street Childrens Centre. Activities also included a trip to Tarangire National Park and a hike up Mount Meru.
We returned in February 2005 after fund raising to build a new kitchen for Mkombozi and also made contact with Mwereni Primary School which has a visual impairment boarding school as well as 700 day school students. Students built desks, painted and helped with the kitchen at Mkombozi. They later went on Safari in the Ngorongoro Crater.
This year, we will be returning to Mwereni Primary School. Subscribe to the Podcasts to hear the daily account of our experiences.
Kuishi kwingi ni kuona mengi.
To live long is to see much.
February 8, 2007
Arriving at Moshi
Hello and Dubai
We touched down in Dar es Salaam at 1430 local time. It's about 34°C. We've heard it's snowing in London. The cold already seems a long way behind us.
The flights so far have been as good as long haul flights can be - but the waiting to get through customs was a pain. It seems Nida's guitar is still in Dubai and we'll have to try and get it picked up from Kilimanjaro tomorrow. Mr Clarke slept all the way, Ms Clancy beat everyone at Multiplayer Battleship. It all seems a little surreal.
Greg: "Russ, do you watch snooker on TV?"
Russ: "You're going to tell me I look like the Cue Ball, aren't you...."
We leave Dar for Kilimanjaro around 1800... looking forward to proper food and a bed tonight.
Update: 2326 at Kilimanjaro Lodge
Had a weird drive from Kilimanjaro Airport to the lodge. Saw several Pool Tables out in the middle of nowhere with small groups of young men playing.
Feels like we have arrived.
February 9, 2007
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara National Park and the Maasai Retreat
When Eli and I went to wake Greg this morning we were surprised to find out he had not used his mosquito net. He had bites all over his arm. When questioned about this he replied that the net seemed liked decoration and that he thought he had been booked into the bridal suite. We laughed so much we nearly cried.
We left Kilimanjaro for Arusha, passing the large UN complex where the Trials for the Rwandan genocide of 1994 are currently taking place. It was a sobering reminder of how fragile the stability of East Africa can be. After stopping at a supermarket we drove on to Lake Manyara National Park.
The rest of the day was spent leaning out of the roofs of Toyota Landcruisers spotting Wildlife. Best not to ask what Eddie filmed the Baboons doing.
Having been brought up on BBC Nature documentaries, seeing an Elephant close up in the wild felt quite familiar. Being close enough to smell them, hearing their deep growl and watching them stroll majestically past the windscreen was of course impressive. But perhaps not as surprising as the landscape - the grandeur of which seems to translate less well to film. The sheer scale of which was mind blowing.
After leaving Manyara we drove to our Lodge at the E Unoto Retreat. The drive took us down endless dirt tracks, passed lots of small Maasai settlements. The roads were filled with Maasai in their brightly coloured Red and Purple clothes... all waving cheerfully as we passed.
Later that evening there was a massive storm. Sheets of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the imposing escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. This brought an unusual array of animals into our huts. It seemed that the day's safari was to continue into the evening. Large spiders, a giant caterpillar, families of lizards, all came to take shelter from the rain. Eli swears a Rattle Snake was outside the door... although I suspect it may have been Matt with a pair of Maracas.
February 10, 2007
On Safari in Tarangire National Park
The Massai Village
This morning, Phyl, Nida, Marine, Andrea and I decided to cycle down the valley to a local Massai Village. It was a very hot and a difficult ride after last night rain. Shortly after arriving at the circle of small huts, Andrea felt faint. Whilst she sat down with her head between her legs, the rest of us were invited into a small hut to talk to the chief. A few minutes later we suddenly became aware of a crowd outside and I immediately jumped to the conclusion that Andrea had passed out. Phyl was closest to the door - and quickly got outside to be with Andrea. As Phyl's eyes got accustomed to the sunlight, she discovered Andrea smiling from ear to ear. The women of the village had dressed her in their necklaces and were teaching her how to dance. By the time I was outside, Andrea was jumping up and down alongside a group of Massai. Priceless.
The children of the village were very excited to see us. We took photographs of them - and to their delight - were then able to display the images on the LCD panels on the back of the cameras. Children and adults alike, were fascinated to see themselves. They were amazed when we explained that our friends and family might be able to see these pictures on the Internet later that day.
Click here to continue reading "On Safari in Tarangire National Park" » 
February 11, 2007
Travelling to Arusha
Tarangire to Arusha
Last night, several of us sat with the drivers to watch the football. Broadcast live from the UK, it appears that Tanzanian's are as enthusiastic about the Premiership as those who live in the UK. Particularly where African players are concerned. They all have their affiliations with various English teams and the usual banter between supporters of opposing clubs was hilarious. Eli - the sole Tottenham supporter came off quite badly. Miles from anywhere - in the middle of Tarangire National Reserve - Staff, Students and Tanzanian guides - shared the same language.
After the rain this morning, the track back across Tarangire park from Sopa Lodge was treacherous. Paris-Dakar now looks easy. Soon after leaving one of the Toyotas got stuck. Despite changing to lower gear ratios, attempts to rock the car out of the rut only entrenched it axle deep in mud. With all hands on the bull bars it was eventually pushed, levered and towed back on to dryer ground. On freeing the vehicle that was axle deep in mud - Emanuel was lambasted for "driving the car like Arsenal play football..." Everyone laughed. It seems berating the supporter of another football team is an universal form of humor.
The ride was really exciting - a spectacular feat of off-road driving. Two hours later, having steered across fast flowing rivers, deeply rutted gullies, careered down impossible steep slopes and powered the 4WD through corners using more under steer that Tiff Nidel... it was clear that our Guide did indeed drive a car like Thierry Henry plays football.
February 12, 2007
Mwereni Primary school
The Satellite Dish goes up
When we arrived at Mwereni Primary School this morning, the Engineer (Fredrico) from Dar es Salaam had already arrived with the satellite disk and all the components. Although this is the date we had arranged, I can't quite believe it all came together. A series of long distance calls, emails to the Head Master at Mwereni, every ISP in Tanzania, signing of contracts, a money transfer, etc... I thought there was too much that could go wrong.
The machines were in a better state than I thought. They're quite old IBM's but all run Windows 2000 quite happily. We convinced the Head that the room needed to be completely re-arranged. While Fredrico aligned the satellite - with interested onlookers, we moved and re assembled the 20 machines that make up the Computer Lab. A trench was dug, holes were drilled, cables were pulled and machines re-configured. Tomorrow we'll be able to bring it all up online.
It's difficult to countenance the investment in an internet connection when the school has so many needs. I watched children drinking what looked like pond water from a huge trough and thought how ridiculous the investment in Technology might appear to others. However, the Head maintains a clear and determined strategy. He knows there is significant funding to be had - he has been successful at raising capital for building projects, grants and a small army of voluntary staff. He wants a school that is progressive and ambitious and knows that this is also what Governments, Businesses and Charities invest in. I hope this opens the door for them.
February 13, 2007
Mwereni Primary school
Day 2 at Mwereni
Several rooms painted, many desks made, a lot of lessons taught.
Heavy rains this morning wrecked the muddy roads around the school and it took us an hour to get the bus onto the main road. With the rain came yet another power outage which fused the sockets in the Computer Lab. An electrician came promptly and we were back up and running by midday. The power cut gave us an excuse for a trip to Kilimanjaro town to buy more cable and a switch for the network. It also gave me an excuse to visit the Kilimanjaro Coffee House to try the Arabica beans grown on the side of the mountain.
After school, word got around that we had Internet access in the computer lab and the room soon filled up with excited staff eager to surf the net. For most this was the first time they had used the Internet.
Meanwhile, the teaching rota kept everyone busy in the classroom. Maths, English, Gymnastics went on until 1600. After work, everyone went for a swim at the Impala Hotel. Afterwards we had guests for Dinner. Our drivers from the Safari, the engineer who installed our Sat Dish, Silvanas and Isaac, all came back to Kili Lodge. After the meal we sat around and Nida played the guitar and sang. It's been a long day.
February 14, 2007
Mwereni Primary school
Miss Clancy Writes...
Trenches, Maths, PE and configuring computers – that was yesterday and a mixture of delight and exhaustion as the computers were all up and running as Russ and I left at 7:30pm to catch up with the group for dinner. Rain fell for an hour yesterday and turned the whole school into a mud bath - the only advantage was that the trenches were easier to dig. After the rain, Eli and Russ needed to go down to pick up extra cables, but the bus that was taking them was stuck in the mud and they ended up pushing the bus halfway to town (but they need to build some muscles)!
There have been massive improvements at Mwereni with the electricity now all installed in the boarding block, and a special indoor play area that has tinted glass in order to provide protection for the albino children and others that have sensitive skin. The computer block is impressive with a small room for the visually impaired with special equipment and programmes on the computer. One of the teachers (who is also visually impaired) told me how delighted he was to be connected to the Internet, as he is studying for a degree and now says that he can study online.
The excitement is palpable and there have already been many visits from local dignitaries who have heard that "Mwereni is online”. The toilet blocks are being renovated and I am sure this will be completed within the next two months.
The students have done a great job teaching in the classroom and Matt B already has his favourite sixth grade. I met two of the boys to whom Matt had given football boots – they had them close to their chests and I would not be surprised if they slept with them this evening. Andrea has fallen in love with some of her visually impaired students and I will have to check her luggage to make sure that there are no stowaways.
There is always something so refreshing about working here and you cannot help but fall in love with the place and I think the students have felt this. I have been very impressed with their performances in the classroom, but I have to admit that digging trenches is not their forte! We will return with this journey always in our mind's eye – not a bad vision to have!
February 15, 2007
Mwereni Primary school
Alex writes....
This trip has been truly amazing. I have enjoyed myself every single step of the way and I felt that the interaction between the students and I has been life altering. There are far too many great highlights to start listing, so I shall try and make this paragraph as brief and in depth as possible. Strangely, the most touching and unbelievable experience for me happened on the final day. Nida had previously taught me ‘Wonder Wall’ by Oasis on the guitar earlier during the trip. After the students of Mwereni Primary School made the extremely touching presentation, I was playing ‘Wonder Wall’ for the blind students. Amazingly, one of these students was able to rap along to the rhythm perfectly. I was honestly speechless for this young man had no sight whatsoever, but yet was able to create a perfect masterpiece of Swalihi rap verse with no pauses. It showed me just how talented some of these children truly are. Over all, this trip has been an entirely different and amazing experience. It will become a memory that will last a life time.
February 16, 2007
Leave Moshi for Dar es Salaam
Flight 0007 from Dubai Terminal 1 to London Heathrow... boarding at gate 27 now...
Click here to continue reading "Leave Moshi for Dar es Salaam" »
March 7, 2007
Letter from the Headmaster at Mwereni
MWERENI SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
We feel profoundly privileged today to the teachers, students and parents of Southbank International School for accepting our invitation to come and support Mwereni in a number of community projects aimed at finding panacea to some of the big challenges facing the school. Your wonderful services and support you have rendered to our school since your arrival on 12th February 2007 up to 15th February 2007 have lit a fire in our heart, a fire of faith, a fire of friendship, a fire of hope and optimism, a fire of love and care and a declaration of solidarity between our two societies. We say THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Click here to continue reading "Letter from the Headmaster at Mwereni" »
