Discovering Women's Lives and Women's Empowerment in Tanzania
Veronica Fuog | August 17, 2009
Volunteer Hailey Smith and Fuog play with the children of a woman who runs an orphanage and school out of her house.
After taking three planes and traveling for 36 hours through three different continents I finally stepped off the plane with my best friend into the crisp night air of Tanzania. At the airport, we got our residence visas and went through the quickest security check I’ve ever experienced. A smiling man had his dog smell our bags and asked a few simple questions about their contents and our stay. At that point, we were so excited to be in East Africa but had no idea what to expect.
I had come to Tanzania thanks to the Arusha Project a nonprofit organization that works to promote HIV/AIDS relief and gender equality in Tanzania. It partners with many Tanzanian-run organizations in and near Arusha, a city in Northern Tanzania. During my month-long stay in the country, I would get to learn more about the lives of Tanzanian women, hike at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro and dance and sing with members of the Masai tribe.
Volunteer Jen Cordileone and Fuog riding a camel on a weekend excursion.
I worked with one of the Arusha Project’s partners, an organization called Faraja Women Empowerment—Faraja meaning “courage” in Swahili. It was established in 2005 by a nurse and two teachers who saw a need to respond to the impact that HIV/AIDS was having in a ward of Arusha called Sombetini. There are many aspects to the organization, including a school and home care for women affected by HIV/AIDS, which includes referrals for treatment, education, counseling and financial support. As an economics major and international studies minor, this was the perfect placement for me, academically and personally.
The nine other volunteers, directors and I lived together in a wonderful house with banana trees outside our windows and chickens running around. To get to the Faraja offices, Michelle, another Arusha Project volunteer, and I stuffed ourselves each day into vans they use as public transportation here, called dala dala. I’ve seen up to 25 people cram into the vehicles!
Five women posing with their money after signing the loan contract.
During my time with Faraja, the organization was going through one of its bi-yearly rounds of granting of loans, which was extremely exciting for me since I was very interested in microfinance. Women can apply in groups of five for microloans from the Arusha Project, through Faraja. A typical first-time loan was 100,000 shillings (about $80) to each woman, paid back with a 10 percent interest rate over a period of six months. The group loans fostered a sense of support and trust between the women because if one woman defaulted, the other four are responsible for paying her share back.
A home visit was required for the application process, and I had the amazing opportunity to visit about 50 Tanzanian women’s homes. With the help of a translator, I heard about their family background, children, living conditions, health status, business and plans for the loans, etc. We also told them about all the resources Faraja can provide for them.
Many women I visited were widows and lived in one-bedroom houses, sharing just one bed with their children. Many lived in homes made of mud and were struggling to provide food, upkeep to their home and their children’s school fees—the essentials. If granted, the loan would give them the capacity to expand their business, since most women did not have the capital to make the initial purchases that would help them in the long run, such as buying seeds for new types of vegetables to sell.
Faraja Director Sister Felly, Veronic Fuog, Joseph, a translator and Sister Theresa, a teacher for Faraja's school.
The groups approved for loans all received them on one of two loan distribution days. Those days were filled with energy, gratitude, singing and support and were some of my favorite days on my trip. Seeing the women improve their own lives and show such happiness for being able to do so, instead of just receiving a handout, was so amazing. Getting to know these women taught me so much. I learned not just about the loans they were requesting, but also about their culture, struggles, desires and relationships.
When we didn’t work, the nine other volunteers, directors and I took Swahili lessons and visited neighboring towns. We danced and sang with members of the Masai tribe. We hiked at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro and sat in on a U.N. trial for a suspected perpetrator in the Rwandan genocide. We gave presentations to a board of directors after visiting organizations that applied for grants from the Arusha Project. We rode camels. We visited each others’ placements to learn about them and get to know the Tanzanian directors. We went on a safari and saw many animals, including monkeys that stole some of our lunches!
The month I spent in Tanzania was an experience I value immensely. The learning experiences I had, the friends I made there and the funny and touching memories I bring back are absolutely priceless. I can’t wait to go back!
|
