WIth a little help from our friends.

Student Reflection

 Below is a bit that one of our students wrote into our group journal...

"We do not care about what we have, what we care about is happiness” Explained Revo, a Tanzanian man working at the Noloholo center. It’s a simple concept, yet like the many other aspects of Africa it seemed foreign.  In America we have a true love for our possessions. Consumption runs through our veins. To dismiss something we value so highly seems odd, maybe even uncomfortable for some.  But here we are the strangers forever thinking differently. It is so refreshing to be in a place where success is measured by happiness. Intrinsic values appear to be extremely important, and the sense of community is strong. You can see the respect that people have for each other. There is something about the relationships here that seem to involve a deeper level of understanding. Our insight into this place has just begun. 

-Dia Huggins

A few shots from the field: (1) Giraffes sighted during our wildlife count with African People and Wildlife Fund and Tanzanian government staff, (2) Cowboy Up in Africa, (3) Building structural supports for the library, (4) Three legged race with the Simba Club, and (5) Our new friends on the Maasai Steppe.

Jackson Crew Meets the Loibor Siret Simba Club!

After work yesterday our students and leaders met the incredibly committed members of Loibor Siret primary school's Wildlife Club, and we bonded while learning about water, cleaning the environment, and a fantastic three-legged race!

A Few Shots (bricks, lorry, Arusha)

First Day of Work

As we bounced and rocked through dried ruts left from the long-since-passed rainy season’s runoff, our “Serbian Lorry” kicked up red dust and someone shouted over the engine’s low growl, “Duck, torn branches!” Everyone leaded forward as if imitating the giant wild ostriches we’d seen the day before. “A warthog,” someone pointed out as it rumbled away quickly into the thorny African bush. “Pumba” our new Tanzania friend interpreted as he pointed to the squatty beast. We continued along further, a plume of red dust billowed in our labored wake. Then the hand of Zeke Nelson silently motioned to something ahead. “It caught my eye because the trees looked like they were running,” he explained later. The “trees” emerged out of the thicket and crossed directly in font of our truck – a mama giraffe and her young baby – pausing long enough in front of us for everyone to sit in wonderment and awe…

So began our first day of work – the commute, anyway. We arrived at the Maasai village of Liobor Siret – our Serbian Lorry full of strange foreigners amped and anxious for the first day or work. The village shaman began the opening ceremony with words of welcome and solidarity. “Our color may be different, but we are all the same in the eyes of the Creator,” he remarked and continued with elegant words of support and thankfulness for our efforts. After the ceremonial first bricks were laid by representatives of our group and the community, the sun emerged from the typical morning cloud overcast and our work began. Team were formed – brick layers, brick carriers, sifters, cement mixers, and those that hand chiseled half bricks for when we needed them at the corners of the building. Our students dove in head first and many hands both local and our own promised good results. Our production goal for the day was exceptionally exceeded thanks in large part to the late afternoon arrival of approximately 30 children from the village. These young Maasai, ranging in age from about eight to thirteen years old, seemingly found themselves motivated to contribute to the library that would ultimately serve them. Without request or hesitation, they began carrying the heavy, handmade red-dirt bricks (some weighing nearly as much as they did) to those of us waiting to stack them. Like a swarm of worker bees descending on the hive, a chaotic “running of the bricks” ensued. Young girls dressed in wraps of vibrantly beautiful Maasai patterns of red and blue traded enormous smiles with our own students as they eagerly passed brick after brick. “Without a doubt, a highlight of the day,” Sammy Douville shared at our nightly, reflective group meeting. The goal for Day One was to lay three rows of bricks. We laid five rows and on some walls seven rows. Measured success. Our students returned to camp and enjoyed a well-earned bucket shower – water boiled over a fire was mixed to take some of the shock out of the initial pour. There were no problems falling asleep after our first workday.  More to come!

~Mark

Good morning from the Noloholo Environmental Center

Habari za asubuhi! Good morning from the Noloholo Environmental Center where we arrived safe and sound on Thursday evening. After our expert drivers from King’s Safari navigated the long and rutted road from Arusha in three matching stretch Land Cruisers, we veered right, catching our first glimpse of the school at Loibor Siret and a set of zebra butts (a sign of good luck?). The students are in high spirits and (knock on wood) no stomach ailments have been reported yet. Yesterday, Buddy, who is Laly’s husband and the facilities manager here at Noloholo, gave us a thorough tour of the Center and walked us through the construction process, including a hands-on intro to making rammed-earth bricks. As the fog of jet lag begins to fade and we fall into a regular work routine, we look forward to watching these young adults develop further into the boisterous, dynamic, kind and thoughtful group we know they are! Stay tuned.

Note one: we’ve found that Internet service here is finicky at best. Please bear with us if a few days transpire without a post. We will inform Lina at the IC 21 office in anything urgent occurs.

Note two: We now have a Tanzanian mobile phone and may be reached (IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ONLY) at +255 (76) 24 90927.