It has been over a week since I have been able to access the blog. A shortage of precious computer time due to busy schedules and power outages are primarily to blame.
As to our team of CCS volunteers, we have now reduced from "The Group of 7" (the image of shadows is the "Group of 7" on Safari) to "The Group of 5". Four of us will end our month of assignment on Friday and one (Andy) will continue for 3 more weeks. 
I will attempt to capture the highlights of last week.
WEECE: Last week was a highly administrative week at WEECE. Mama Mrema had alot of correspondence to catch up on with her teams that support her globally. I assisted her with most of these interactions. Also, she made another visit to the Village of Nganjoni to follow-up on matters with the school Head Master. I assisted with a few school supplies for the children, but it's still on my heart that the children go without lunch and several had no uniforms. Related to the children of Nganjoni, it may sound like a small accomplishment, but last week we were able to document the sponsored children of Nganjoni with photographs and names and send to their sponsors, which took us the better part of an entire workday to do. The unstable electricity, power outages due to rain storms, and frequent computer crashes are such major productivity challenges to our days. The computer environment is extremely frustrating. Mama Mrema should be out visiting with new prospects for microloans and providing counseling (she is a licensed social worker) and spends too many hours doing the basic administrative matters.
Tomorrow and Wednesday WEECE will be conducting "Train Our Trainers" seminars - which are basically two days of teaching the new WEECE members the basics of microloans, women's rights, business planning, and legal matters in preparation for dispersing prospective microloans. There are more prospects for loans than there are funds so if anyone might wish to see their donations benefit an impoverished woman starting a new business, visit: http://www.weece.org/ (The is the U.S. arm of WEECE referred to as "Friends of WEECE"). It is a very basic website (I now understand the challenges they face with computer technology here) but it is secure and transacts through GuideStar. I have confirmed that $100 U.S. can provide the capital to change a woman's life - and her families.
I have included a picture of the tailoring class that is taught at WEECE. They crafted a very nice batik skirt that I wear to work.
I have included a picture of the tailoring class that is taught at WEECE. They crafted a very nice batik skirt that I wear to work.On a sad note, Esther, who was in the picture with me a week ago at the Chips and Chicken business, lost her dear sister a week ago. It was a very tragic accident. She has only returned to WEECE today. Due to the family tragedy we have not visited any other businesses that were created with the support of capital from WEECE. I am hoping there is a chance to do more visits prior to the week ending and my departure from Tanzania - but I am doubtful under the circumstances.
OTHER CULTURAL OUTINGS:
BATIK: Last week, we were trained on the art of batik (wax is applied to fabric to customize in 
to artwork) and made our own batik art. It was a fascinating process and our projects turned out great!
to artwork) and made our own batik art. It was a fascinating process and our projects turned out great!RWANDA TRIBUNAL: We traveled to Arusha (about an hour from Moshi) and spent the afternoon at the Rwanda Tribunal. We watched part of a trial (it has been underway since 2001) and heard the live interpretation to English through headsets. We later viewed a documentary of the history of the Tribunal proceedings. It was very informative, and also very sad. It is hard to believe they are still working to bring justice for actions of genocide that took place in 1994!!! Supposedly the trial proceedings are to be completed in 2009 but the long list of open cases makes me think otherwise.
TRADITIONAL AFRICAN DANCE: Mid-week last week, we went to dinner offsite and watched a dance group perform some traditional (for the local area) African dances . After they performed, they taught us some of their dance steps and we enjoyed the evening dancing. It was a fun time!
THE WATERING HOLE: There is another local spot that is somewhat of a favorite to the Mzungus (the westerners). It is a local restaurant/bar that shows movies on an outdoor screen on Thursday evenings. It is a beautiful and fun evening and I would have never pictured it (in my mind's eye) in a million years. Last week we saw "Frost/Nixon".
AMANI CHILDREN'S HOME (pictured below): The Amani Children's Home is on the road to 
our home base (the road is attrocious, btw, and completely indescribable). Amani works to provide shelter and care for street children. You can find more information about their organization at www.amanikids.org. The owner's of The Watering Hole (mentioned above) work at Amani.
our home base (the road is attrocious, btw, and completely indescribable). Amani works to provide shelter and care for street children. You can find more information about their organization at www.amanikids.org. The owner's of The Watering Hole (mentioned above) work at Amani.
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