Completing the project

Yesterday was the final day of the project.  It feels fantastic to have completed our work, but it is also very sad to have to say goodbye to everything that has become our life these past seven weeks.  Fortunately, we will all be sticking around for the next couple weeks, and will have some time to tie up loose ends, and say goodbye to a lot of the friends we have made.

On our last day, we were able to accomplish very much!  Some of us handed out donations in the villages of Nkoaranga and Maji ya Chai, and were able to make some significant food purchases (for donation) at the market in Tengeru with the help of friends.  We have so much to tell about when we get home. 

My team, with Elaine, Nimira and Laura made contact with an orphanage in one of the slummiest areas of town.  They were SO happy to receive us, and what an amazing experience for us.  The children were in this shoddy building with boards nailed to the side... it turned out to be a classroom.  When we went in and brought our knitted items and some classroom materials, they were so excited!  They even sang three or four songs for us (and we in return sang them our 'Piga Mswaki' - or Brush your Teeth - song).  It was really a tremendous experience for us all.  Thank you to all of our knitters for your tremendous help!

We made donations to several medical centres, including Dr. Mhando, Dr. Tekle, and Nkoaranga and Kaloleni Government hospitals.  These will go to help treat people who otherwise cannot afford proper treatments and medications.  They will also go to help treat some of the children we have identified through our screenings.

It is really tremendous to look back at the many things we have accomplished over our seven weeks here.  We have managed to teach medical topics in five highschools (topics such as Vision, First Aid, Substance Abuse, Oral Health, Hygiene, STDs, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and probably most importantly, sexuality and condom use).  It is amazing how they tell their youth that if they must have sex, they should use a condom - but no one has ever been shown how to use, let alone even SEEN a condom. 

The things we have learned are immeasurable, and the impact we have had on this community is going to be long lasting - this was one of our most important goals in coming here this summer.  So many things that we have seen we will unfortunately never be able to explain to friends and family at home.  I think that you really have to be here, and live life with the people to understand this place. 

I have uploaded more pictures to the photo website at: http://www.flickr.com/people/18752926@N00/

In addition, there is an article in the Arusha Times today describing our group.  It will probably soon be available on the internet at: www.arushatimes.co.tz/