There is a Swahili proverb—mtu ni watu—translating to a person is people, or something akin to no man is an island. This concept is central to our local, women’s microloan program and was reiterated yesterday in nearby Tloma. After about a month of very hard work on everyone’s parts, our GWOCO leaders were finally able … Continue reading Lions and tembo and microloans
Lifting the smoke
While most of us might associate smoke-related health problems with cigarettes, everyday life creates harmful exposure for many Tanzanians. Most houses here, especially those in rural villages, have no windows or very poor ventilation. Those factors coupled with open fires, which most people use for cooking, creates an extremely unhealthy environment. One of our partner … Continue reading Lifting the smoke
Paper snowflakes and alterations
As the western world scurries about preparing for Christmas, life is moving along here in Karatu. But despite the very slow nature of life in Tanzania, the past month has been a bit of a whirlwind. New staff arrivals, old staff departures, program rearranging, prolific social invitations and a little white kitten have all contributed … Continue reading Paper snowflakes and alterations