Rhinelander Rotary Club - in Tanzania

Rotary Photo contest winner

2009-09-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

It has been some time since I posted to this blog, but I intend on getting it up and running again on a regular basis very soon.

In June 2009, I was fortunate enough to have the above photo selected as one of six winners in Rotary International's annual photo contest. The photo was taken on January 3, 2009 - the first day of school for students at Sacred Heart Secondary School.

I was very pleased to be selected and also learned that in August 2009, another one of my photos would be published, this time of villagers walking home after gathering water at one of the village wells.

Look for more to come soon!

The priorities of our project

2009-01-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

Upon meeting with the host partner club, the Bukoba Rotary Club , it was determined that we move forward on the project with three priorities in mind.

1) WATER - clean water is scarce, however thanks to a very generous donation by a COCE board member, Mrs. Eulelia Robinson, clean water is now a reality. While clean water is closer to the school, we still need to get it up the hill to the school.

2) ELECTRICITY - electricity is within a stone's throw of SHSS, it's just that in order to get it to the school, payments must be made to the government for a transformer and installation.

3) FURNITURE - desks are being made but they cannot be made fast enough. New students have entered the school, but until more furniture is completed, they will have to share desks.

The needs go far beyond these priorities, but solving these issues will help to bring much progress to the school.

a simple thought...

2009-01-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

Upon my return to the US, I corresponded with Mark Green, US Ambassador to Tanzania. Mark has been Ambassador for nearly two years and has done a fantastic job for the people of Tanzania during his tenure. No matter where I was in the country, and even in Uganda, people spoke highly of Ambassador Green.

In a short message back to me, Ambassador Green had the following to say:

Karibu. Tz touches us all

I couldn't think of a better way to put it. This has been a life changing experience.

Education is the way up

2009-01-16T15:03:00.000-08:00

After spending some time in the village, you begin to realize why projects such as SHSS are so important to the future of Tanzanian children. Most, if not all of the villagers in Itoju and surrounding villages depend on agriculture as their source of income and survival. Crops such as bananas, plantains, coffee and mangoes are some of the staples of the region. As I learned while visiting, products such as coffee are grossly underpriced. This is interesting, especially when we see companies such as Starbucks out there priding themselves on "making farmers lives better". Not so fast Starbucks...

Education is the way up. It's written on the student's red shirts and it's in their minds. Walking through the classrooms on the first day of school impressed me. The kids are focusing on studies in areas of health, biology and algebra just to name a couple subjects. These can all be very tough subjects...now add to that that for most, all schooling is in the english language, for most students the english language is fairly new. The rule on the campus of SHSS is no Swahili - only english. Sounds tough, doesn't it?

Nothing is handed to the kids - they have to earn it. If it wasn't for projects such as SHSS, what would the future hold for the children of Izigo, Muhutwe & Mayondwe wards? Unfortunately, very little...

2009-01-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

A short excerpt from the welcoming ceremony by the students and staff of SHSS

the arrival

2009-01-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

After two days of air travel, an overnight in Entebbe than two days of travel in a cramped minibus, we finally arrived at our destination - Itoju Village, Tanzania. We were greeted by the students of SHSS. For the students, it was a day off - the new school year had not started yet. They chose to give up a day of vacation to welcome us to the school and to the village.

The welcome included singing, dancing, drumming and personal greetings to us by the students and staff of SHSS. Father Avitus and a couple others even joined in on the dancing - who were the better dancers? I think the kids won this one!

After some time at the school, we proceeded to the Kiguta home where we were greeted by many family members and also members of the village. It was good to finally be somewhere and not in transit (trust me, there were several times that I was questioning as to whether we were going to make it here or not).

A good meal and good night's sleep was very well deserved and appreciated!

I'm back

2009-01-10T14:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I arrived safely back at home near midnight on Thursday, January 8th. It's been a long couple weeks but they have been very rewarding. I have many stories to tell and many photos to share. Still recovering from jet lag and a little illness from the trip, but I'll share a letter that I sent to the members of our club shortly after I returned to Kampala, Uganda on January 6th.

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As many of you know, I have been in Tanzania (Africa) for about a week and a half. I arrived in Kampala, Uganda last night and will be flying home later this evening. I thought it was noteworthy to share an e-mail that I sent to the members of the Rhinelander Rotary Club, that of which I am a member. Our club is sponsoring a service project in Itoju Village, a small village on the shores of Lake Victoria, about 40 km from the nearest town. The message follows...

It has been a long couple weeks, but I am back in Kampala, Uganda and will be flying home this evening. It was my first hot shower and good sleep in a while! For those who have been following the project, I thank you. I can honestly say that everything I have been told about the project by Father Kiguta through our personal meetings, pictures and e-mails does not do the project justice. We have a lot to do - not only at the school but also in the village.

Because of this trip, I have become a changed person. We as Americans do not know how good we have it. Next time your hot water runs out in your shower, be thankful that you have water. Next time you can't find anything that you want to eat at home, be thankful that you at least have something to eat. Next time you are upset that you don't have enough to buy that item in the store, be thankful that you at least have money.

Living with a traditional Tanzanian family was a wonderful experience. Unlike America, everyone is welcome, in every home. Many times throughout the stay in Itoju Village, we had visitors at the Kiguta home. Sometimes there were more than 30 or 40 people there. Everyone got along, everyone was happy, and everyone was thankful.

Sure, I didn't have a warm shower for a week and a half (I had not much more than a trickle of water (ice cold) for a shower, sure I ate the same meal every day (traditional Tanzanian food... matoke - mashed and baked bananas, rice - you can only eat so much, overcooked meat - a little goat and a little beef, fish that at times had dried to the point of shoe leather) and I ate the same thing every day, but at least we had a meal - there were many in the village that went with far less.

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This visit has changed my life. That is all that I can say...

On the way...

2008-12-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning I will be departing for Bukoba. I will be meeting up with Father Avitus in Amsterdam on the morning of Sunday, December 28th and then fly to Entebbe, Uganda for an evening of rest before we travel to Bukoba the following day.

My luggage is less than typical...sure I have clothes, toiletries and the standard stuff, but I also have a suitcase full of soccer balls, fruit snacks, books and pencils for the students. In addition to the education that is normally provided, Father Avitus informed me that we will be hosting a soccer tournament for the students of SHSS. It should be great fun for all.

Unfortunately, I will not have access to blog while I am in Bukoba, but hopefully when I am in Kampala, Uganda the night of January 6th, I will be able to get an update on the project out to you. If not, rest assured, I will have a lot to blog about once I return to the United States.

Thank you to all who have supported this project to date - together we can change the world!

Providing a positive outlook on the future

2008-12-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

Some more thoughts on the purpose & goals of SHSS from Father Avitus...

We believe that Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHSS) is shedding a beam of hope and brighten the future for the children of the three wards. Upon graduation these students will have a sound education that will enable them live, contribute, and successfully compete in an increasingly competitive world. They will not only graduate with an academic certificate, they will also graduate into their communities with a developed sense of pride, integrity, leadership, patriotism and charity. These young men and women will begin a legacy with these qualities inscribed in their mind, soul, spirit and body.

Educational background

2008-12-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

More from Father Avitus - on the Tanzanian educational system...

In Tanzania, Primary (Grade) School Education is provided by the National Government which provides free education to children through the seventh grade. The area of the three wards has 13 primary schools, each of which graduates approximately 70 students per year. However, the area has only one secondary school, located in Izigo. Each year these community graduate approximately 910 children a year but a small number, not more than 100 children, proceed to Secondary Education.

Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHSS) l is the only the only charitable secondary educational institution dedicated to the mission of educating orphans and children from the poorest families of the region. Compelling evidence indicates that education positively affects a person mentally, psychologically, spiritually, emotionally, morally, socially and physically. In an age of globalization, education seems to be the best inheritance that parents or a nation can bestow upon a child. Addressing the 40th Session of the United Nation’s Commission on Population and Developments in April 10, 2007, The Vatican Nuncio, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, emphasized the critical importance of education in Africa, stating “the best and cheapest way to prepare African for a better future is to educate all its youths, especially girls and young women.”

Enesco argues that educating the young people is the best investment.

“the investment in the human capital is the best investment on the longer run" and that "good education is a tool for developing the society and triggering its renaissance; given that the nation's strength is no longer measured by the nation's natural resources or capital or number of citizens or strength of its army, but by its thinkers and creators who trigger change and lead the development process".

We understand that our school cannot provide an opportunity to all eligible students from the community for a secondary school education, but educating 120 students each year at SHSS will make a significant and monumental difference.

The 7 core values

2008-12-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

COCE, the parent organization of SHSS, guides the students of SHSS by 7 core values. It is through the guiding principles of the 7 core values that not only the students, but the area will become better for all. These 7 core values are:

Academic Excellence
Leadership
Faith
Gender Equality
Service
Integrity
Perseverance

2008-12-13T10:47:00.001-08:00

Thanks to a very generous donor, the students will soon be able to enrich their learning in a new library. Thanks to Father Avitus for providing the photos of the construction progress on the HJM Library and the additional classrooms.

Two weeks and counting

2008-12-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

In just two weeks, I will be joining Father Avitus and several other members of COCE on a trip to Bukoba, Tanzania. The purpose of my trip is to evaluate the needs of the school for our Rotary service project, along with performing work at the site of SHSS. I am very much looking forward to the trip and spending time immersed in the Tanzanian culture. Thanks to some generous members of Rhinelander Rotary, I will also be able to bring over sports equipment for the kids. Granted, the travel vaccines haven't been the highlight of this trip, but they are certainly better than the alternative!

A little more about the area

2008-12-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

This information was gathered and prepared by Father Avitus, COCE Director

The people of the Izigo, Muhutwe and Mayondwe wards live in an economic climate that is harsh and volatile. As a people that face such imposing odds, they understand the critical need to make education available for their children. Traditionally, they have invested their limited resources in education because it is the only reliable method to provide their children with the resources necessary to survive. Like all parents, though, the people of the three wards wish for the next generation more than mere survival. It is through education they hope to empower their children and set into motion new opportunities in economic prosperity.

In the past two decades village life has been affected by the growth of cities, the depletion of natural resources, and disease. Parents within the three wards now, more than ever, view education as the sole hope of their children and the entire community. Most villagers of the three wards depended significantly on coffee, a traditional cash crop of the region, which has been grown for centuries. However, the price of coffee per kilo (2.2 pounds) has gradually dropped from US$ 0.70 to US$ 0.20 in the local market. The banana, a staple food which the people depended heavily upon for trade and subsistence, has been plagued by a strain of banana bacteria wilt (technically known as Xanthromonas). This disease has collapsed domestic banana production, deteriorating local consumption and commercial revenue. The over development of commercial fishing in Lake Victoria has also decreased the availability of fish at reasonable prices, compromising the primary source of protein in villagers’ diets. HIV/AIDS has further handicapped the community. Those who contract HIV/AIDS, many of whom would otherwise be capable of positive contribution in the community, are instead unable to be productive. This disease has taken a great toll, both spiritually and economically, within a community already suffering economic plight. The sad consequence of this disease of poverty is a growing army of orphans, left to be cared for by relatives and friends whose resources are often inadequate to do so. Far too often these orphans drop out of school, marry early and these children begin having children of their own. Worse still is the exodus of children to the cities where they engage in promiscuous and immoral acts for their very survival. Although it is difficult to quantify the true impact of disease and food scarcity, Tanzania government statistics reflect the hardship faced by the people of the region. According to national data, the per capita annual income for local villagers from the three wards is among the lowest in the country, about US$132, compared to a national average of US$213. For reference link, click here.

The presence of Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHSS) gives the orphans and poor children of the region the welcome opportunity to receive an education, which will one day help them to build a better future. Further, the school stands as a much needed center of employment, which will hire not only teachers and staff, but will also utilize builders, tradesmen, and the local producers of construction materials. In ten years time, we anticipate that this institution will have played a pivotal role in transforming the community into a more stable and modern society and economy.

About the project

2008-12-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, several members of the Rhinelander Rotary Club embarked on selecting a new international service project. As a result of several meeting, 2 projects were ultimately selected - one in Chimbote, Peru and the other in Itoju Village Bukoba Town, Tanzania. This blog is about the latter.

The Rhinelander Rotary Club has partnered with with Children Outreach and Community Empowerment (COCE), led by Father Avitus Kiguta, project founder of the Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHSS). Father Kiguta is a native of Itoju Village and firsthand witnessed the great need for a quality education for area children. Through his work, SHSS became a reality. Our mission as Rotarians is to assist with the continued development of SHSS, providing the necessary resources for a quality education, proper nutrition and positive outlook on the future for the students.

The Rhinelander Rotary Club was brought to Father Kiguta with the assistance of Mark Green, US Ambassador to Tanzania. We cannot thank Ambassador Green enough for his work in Tanzania and the assistance that he and his staff have provided to make this project a reality.

Through a series of blogs, I will keep those who are interested updated on the status of the project along with more in-depth information on the project and the mission of SHSS.

In the COCE brochure, Father Kiguta sums up the mission of COCE in three words - EDUCATE, EMPOWER, UPLIFT. Many times at the school, students can be seen wearing the SHSS shirt displaying the motto "Education is the way up". Enough said.