COUNTRY: Tanzania
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Building, renovation & construction
WRITTEN BY: Madi McAllister
Jambo!
This will probably be the hardest blog I’ve had to write, after the best three months of our lives it has come to an end, but for some it’s not goodbye – it’s see you later.
The main project – the toilet block, was scheduled to be a 5 month project, and was supposed to be finished in October… but with all the hard work we put into over the past two and a half months, we were definitely not letting another group finish our work! We were working full steam ahead on the toilet block to get it done. In the final two weeks we have: built doors and door frames, made two "L" shape walls around the doors, laid hundreds of bricks and plastered absolutely everything! We built the structure of the roof and the Fondis (tradesmen) put it all up and put tin sheets on the roof. In our final three days of project work, we were pushing ahead- exhausted, and some sick- to get it done. We spent three full days of painting, starting with a few coats of lime undercoat, then the yellow top half and the bottom blue half. In the final few hours we painted black all around the bottom as a border and we added all of our handprints and the names of everyone who contributed to the building. We could not have been any prouder or happier with completing our project ahead of schedule and showing the school, village and our project workers that with determination, hard work and a focus of finishing it can be done!
There was another group who was also working on a mud house for a Mama in the village next to the school; this project began during our second month and they already finished! The mud house consisted of building the mud walls, painting and putting down a concrete floor. The mud house group put money together and brought her a bed and mattress with a mosquito net and a few items for cooking. It was another incredible moment that touched everyone's heart. The Mama was incredibly grateful of the work put in to her house, and was so thankful she now not just had a bed, but a mosquito net too. We've learnt that even the smallest gifts can truly make an impact on someone’s life.
With all our projects done and dusted and only a few days left in Tanga and Mwambani village, we held an assembly at Mwahako primary school to hand over all our completed projects. The included the classroom repainting and replastering, the verandas, two new taps, re-built desks, the toilet block and 728 books we donated after raising enough money! The head teacher made a lovely and touching speech in Swahili, translated into English by our project leader Eliphas. The village, teachers, school board, students and families were so grateful for our hard work and what we have done for them. They say “You haven’t lived a day until you do something for someone who can never repay you” and I’m pretty sure we all walked away feeling this way. We celebrated by getting tuk-tuks home on our last day, which we have been waiting to do the whole time, and it was a crazy and fun experience enjoyed by everyone!
After all of our work, we spent two days at the beautiful Peponi Beach resort, while we all got to relax by the pool and beach and reflect on the past months we have spent in Tanzania. Our last weekend consisted of our last trip into town, last football match against the locals (like every other game… we lost), last outing to the club 'La Vida Loca' and our last play with all the kids in the village whilst all the girls got their hair braided and henna tattoos for the trip home by the Mama. Saying goodbye was not easy for anyone and many tears were shed- even by the people we least expected it from.
We spent our last day in Moshi on a Safari at Tarangire National Park, where we got to drive around for hours in our opened roof, Jeep type of cars in the hot sun. We saw so many animals, including lots of elephants (like the one above!), zebras and giraffes, which were so amazing.
Now we are all safely back in Australia, Tanga and Mwambani village hold a special spot in our hearts. If it weren't for the friends we made, our project workers, chefs, camp leaders, our camp 'mum' and 'dad', the people in the village and everyone’s welcoming smiles and laughs, we wouldn’t have had such an incredible time. Some of us definitely plan to return there one day.
Thankyou to everyone and my fellow Aussies who I got to share the trip with – it wouldn’t have been the same without any of you. Goodbye for now, and I’ll see you all soon!
Love
Madi
No comments:
Post a Comment