Hi everyone,
Robyn and I have now been home for almost 3 weeks and we have settled in nicely. Robyn is back at work at the Migrant Information Centre and I am in job search mode. We thought we would update you all on our last month in Africa. After we climbed Kili we headed to the sleepy town of Bagamoyo, Tanzania. This is where we spent time volunteering at the Uhuru Youth Centre for African Arts.
Bagamoyo was originally the Capital of Tanzania and where Livingstone set off from in search of the source of the Nile. We had organised to stay with a local family while we worked at the Centre. The house was very basic as there was no running water or electricity, however it felt like home as the owners were wonderful people.
After settling in at the house we headed to Uhuru Youth Centre to see where we would be helping for the next 5 weeks. The building itself was not yet finished as they do it in stages when they have funds available. As the photos will show, it was in the early stages of completion including the walls and the roof which was enough for them to make use of it in all conditions. In the next few months they hope to add windows and doors, but most importantly get the electricity hooked up. We could immediately see that we would be able to help.
As a result of our cupcake fundraising day, we raised over $1000 to give to the centre. After discussing with Kifimbo, director of the centre, what would be the most useful thing we could do with the money, it was decided that we would provide a water source. The $1000 was more than enough to allow us to dig a 20 metre deep bore hole, install the piping, buy a foot pump and a 1000L water tank, build a concrete stand for the tank to sit on and install a tap. With the money that was left over, the centre kept it to use for things like medical expenses or school fees. Everyone at the centre and even some of the community close by were extremely grateful to have easier access to water, as previously they had to walk 200-300 metres to the closest water source.
When we weren’t working on the water project, some of the other ways we got involved at the centre were to teach English classes, Health classes, Internet classes and Robyn even did a ballet class. It didn’t matter what we did, the kids loved having us around and really enjoyed learning new things.
In the time that we weren’t at the centre we would explore the town (which wasn’t that big), help make traditional drums, hang out with the kids at the beach while they practiced their dancing and acrobatics, collect water (around 80-100 litres a day in buckets from a pump 100 metres from the house), play soccer on the beach, dance the night away at the local disco, learn how to cook local dishes at one of the students house and many other things as well.
Just before we left, a party was arranged to thank us for our donation and for our time at the centre. We cooked enough food to feed an army of people and the students put on a performance of their traditional dancing and drumming. It was quite special for us knowing that they put in all the effort on the day for us. They were genuinely grateful for us being there and upset that we had to leave.
Overall we had an amazing experience in Bagamoyo and would once again like to thank all of you that helped contribute to the money we raised for the centre. It was great to see first hand how we can help to change the lives of those less fortunate than us. As far as our travelling goes, it’s going to be a while before we can head off again. We now have our wedding to look forward to next March.
We hope you enjoy the photos below.
Cheers, Glen and Robyn
The students taking an art class
Glen and Robyn helping to build materials for the water project
The Uhuru Youth Centre
Glen and Kifimbo digging the bore hole
Everyone helped out with building the water pump and tank
Some students practising their traditional dancing
Titus, Godfrey, Glen and Frankie hanging out
Titus, Godfrey, Sada and Frankie
We spent many hours at the beach 15-mins walk from our house
Glen having fun playing at the beach
The students were always entertaining us :)
Wali Samaki (rice & fish), our daily meal
Robyn teaching English at the Centre
We were invited over to Godfreys house for a feast
Godi, Glen, Frankie, Robyn and Davina
Robyn learning how to cook Chapati - the local way
Kifimbo and Titus making a traditional drum from goat skin
Glen doing some housework - washing :)
Robyn enjoying some chaparti & chai (our breakfast everyday)
Our home while living in Bagamoyo
Godfrey and his family
Robyn taking a ballet class
Our room
Robyn stuffing her face with Adam and Jefari
The students playing pass-the-parcel
There was a fish market on the beach everyday (unfortunatly Glen bought these, not caught them)
The water foot-pump and tank at the Centre
The huge feast at our good-bye party included 25kg of rice
Glen and Goodluck…so cute :)
The students about to perform at the party
Godfrey, Frankie, Adam and Ombeni performing their dance
Haji preparing the mountains of food for the party
Robyn and Godi enjoying the food
Robyn and Adam - Adam taught Robyn some traditional dancing
Everyone loved the water tank! :)
Frankie, Glen, Titus and Robyn
All the students of the Uhuru Youth Centre
A typical street in the heart of Bagamoyo
Some of the famous Zanzibar doors in the old town
Glen collecting some water - the locals would always laugh at us :)
A refreshing moment away from the insane heat
Everyone decided to dedicate the water project to Robyn’s late friend Hannah, who first told us of the Uhuru Centre. The students together made this plaque