What My Trip to Europe Taught Me about East Africa

I recently went on a week long trip to Europe to meet other Ambassadorial Scholars, go to the Berlin Rotary Peace Forum, and visit a school in London.  Culture shock wouldn't even begin to describe what I was dealing with as I took advantage of a Starbucks on every corner in Berlin. As fun as the adventure was, I kept thinking that choosing Uganda was the right choice for me. Since I was a little girl, I've always wanted to help others and basically save the world. Well, I know I'm not Wonder Woman (even though my skype screen name says otherwise). But, I do feel as though I can make a difference, even if it is a small difference.

This realization came to me as I was watching "The Lorax". If you haven't seen that movie or read the children's book, I recommend you pick it up. Dr. Suess was an amazing man that had the ability to teach young children how to read as well as teach lessons about equality and social issues. The quote at the end of the movie is what really hit home for me:

 

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

 







That quote really hit home because I had spent the past couple of days listening to Rotarians and Rotaractors from all across Europe discuss what they wanted to do in areas that are plagued with extreme poverty and bad water. I talked to a Rotarian from France about his club's project in Cameroon, and a German Rotarian about his project in Ethiopia. All great projects and for the better good. I even watched a presentation about some European Rotaractors doing an international service project in South Africa called Rotaract Hearts. I just felt as though we all could be doing more.

What I am seeing in Uganda and Tanzania is different than what some of the people were talking about in their presentations. Being on the ground and living among the people gives you a different perspective than just coming to a country every few months to do a project. That's when I thought "why don't any of these well off clubs of Europe or the U.S. partner with some clubs in Africa?" The German Rotarian answered this question for me "There's a negative stereotype about working with clubs in Africa.  People here say they want to help, but they know there may be a risk involved." Now, that's not to say that there aren't clubs in Europe and North America that don't partner with clubs in Africa. I've seen some great projects in Uganda and Tanzania that are a result of partnerships. But, that negative stereotype is what I couldn't shake.

I kept thinking about this conversation with the Rotarian for the rest of the week. There are so many people that have a need in Africa that you would think people would push through those stereotypes and help people. But, I suppose that's not what happens. Even when I was talking to the other Ambassadorial Scholars about my experiences, their reaction to my experience was usually a blank face. I knew they couldn't relate unless they have actually been there, but it was a bit of a downer to realize that they didn't fully understand that people here live more without than with what westerners would consider the "basics to life".

So, after that conversation with the German Rotarian and the other Ambassadorial Scholars, I realized that maybe I can be that bridge to break down those stereotypes. I mean, I know that's what the scholarship is for, but what if I made it a personal mission?  I want to help East Africa in any way possible, but if people were actually able to get past those negative stereotypes and try to empower the people in East Africa, then would the Rotarians and organizations from Europe and North America be more willing to help?  That's when Dr. Suess' quote encouraged me to actually be an advocate for equality in East Africa. If I don't, then who will? I'm sure there are many people in the region who are doing the same as me, but it wouldn't hurt for me to utilize my connections and bond with Rotary in order to help and empower people in East Africa. Especially because I look like an East African, my vantage point is surely a unique one.

I just keep thinking 'Africans are people too. Don't they deserve the same rights as people in the U.S. and Europe? Don't they deserve clean drinking water? Healthcare? A good education? A safe and clean environment?' So, my trip to Europe has taught me that even though I have my hard times in East Africa, I really do love the region and want to help it as much as I possibly can...because unless someone like me cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly.

Safari yangu ya Tanzania

Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance. A bit cloudy but still amazing.

That's right! This post is dedicated to my safari to Tanzania. This is not going to be about Rotary, but instead my realizations of how Tanzania is such a beautiful country with a very interesting past!  I am now determined to go to the museum in Dar es Salaam when I return in a few weeks. Though Tanzania (TZ) may not have nearly as many resources as Uganda, it does have almost every climate possible. From the beaches of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, the dry deserts of Serengity, to the cold climate of the mountains and of course, Mt. Kilimanjaro. I was amazed at how big Tanzania is as well, so I decided to write a post dedicated to the beauty of Tanzania and also some questions that I have about the country as well.

First, I should tell all of you that the national language is Kiswahili. We usually call it Swahili in the west, but it's proper name is Kiswahili. It's quite an easy language to learn. I've actually picked up on quite a few words (as some of you have noticed if I emailed you or responded to your questions with some random kiswahili thrown in the sentence). I'm actually going to take it upon myself to learn kiswahili for a couple of reasons. One: my research - when some Rotarians referred me to a website that relates to my research, I was thrilled that it was so easy to get information! But then, once on the website, I realized that it was entirely in Kiswahili. This is a hiccup in my research plans but not so much that I'm going to have to alter my research methods. I'm just going to have to learn how to read and speak it. Hakuna Matata! Two: Tanzanians are great at speaking kiswahili, but not so much at speaking english. It's hard for me to be understood and for me to undestand them. Even though english is the official second language, it's clearly not widely used among Tanzanians. So, it would be in my best interest to learn kiswahili for the sake of getting around the country.  The best part about learning kiswahili is that I don't have to change my voice in order to speak it! If you have ever learned a language like French or Spanish, you know that there are some words or phrases that require you to alter the tone of your voice in order to mean  one thing or the other. In kiswahili, the way it's spelled is the way it sounds.

I was also so shocked at how polite the Tanzanians are. After every verbal exhange, a person will say "Asante Sana" which means "Thank you very much". Often times, I felt so weird saying it after every little thing, but that's the way it is in TZ. People are generally more laid back a polite. This made me question the culture of TZ, why was everyone so laid back? And I recalled some of the readings I had come across for my research and even some conversations with some Tanzanian Rotarians about the history of Tanzania. I know not many people like history and all that boring stuff so I'll keep it simple.

Tanganyika ( it was not called Tanzania until Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in 1964) was colonized by the Germans, then practically sold to the British. In 1961, Tanganyika got it's independence from the British much like how Uganda and Kenya did a few years later, by the British setting up their constitution and putting a system in place that would allow the people to continue to function as a country. The first independent government functioned as a socialist government in order to ensure equality to all of it's people. That didn't really work out as great as they had hoped, so the president stepped down and handed over the power to a more democratic government.  Those socialist ways are still in place, so to speak. An example of this is that the TZ government owns all the land and a person just rents the land from the government for about 99 years.  Interesting isn't it? It is to me, mainly because I attributed the laid back mentality of the people to the government's power.  Why should a person stress out about things when the government is going to take care of it all? That question sounds very similar to some debates over government assistance in the U.S. doesn't it?

Statue of a Maasai warrior.

Another interesting thing about TZ is the culture...which has been lumped into one big pot.  I know this seems confusing, so I'm going to compare TZ to Uganda. Uganda has kingdoms and tribes and clans. One can belong to the Buganda kingdom, or be an Acholi or Bokica (pronounced Bo-chi-ka in central Uganda). But, in Tanzania...you're first and foremost a Tanzanian. THEN you're a part of a tribe, but even then, the tribes don't have such a strong hold on a person as it does in Uganda. I was fascinated by this, not just because it directly related to my research, but mainly because for the first 2 months of the scholarship year, I had been in an country where I constantly was asked which tribe I belonged to or asked if I was Bokica or Buganda. The only question  I was asked in TZ about my origins was if I was Kenyan and Rastafarian. I did see plenty of Maasai warriors in the traditional Maasai wardrobes as security guards, but that's about as much historical culture I witnessed in TZ.

All in all, Tanzania is a beautiful country. I realize that I have so much more to write about the country and it's relations to Zanzibar in particular, so I'll save that for another post.  If you're planning on visiting TZ to go to the beach, go on a safari to Serengity or do what almost every mzungu does and climb Kilimanjaro, make sure to learn a little Kiswahili. Even if you mess up with the words, they're so kind that they'll help you learn. With the kindness of the people, the beautiful landscape, and great food, you too will be singing hakuna matata like Timon and Pumba in the Lion King.

My Rotary Moment

There has been so much that has happened in the past couple of weeks that I’m going to have to write multiple post this week in order to cover it all. I first want to discuss my recent travels to Tanzania with the District Governor (DG), Geeta Manek. I truly believe this is the first time that an Ambassadorial Scholar has travelled with the District Governor to make club visits. Although the DG was the main guest speaker, I was able to speak for a few minutes as well.  I was the living & breathing example of what the Rotary Foundation can do for a community and young people. It was quite interesting for me to sit among the Rotarians and guest, barely saying a word, until the DG would ask me to stand up and say a little about myself and why I was there. Quite a shock and awe factor if I say so myself. Most of the time, the Rotarians were shocked because I didn’t look like a typical Mzungu (foreigner) but look East African. So in the course of two weeks, I was able to complete all of my club visits while in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, Moshi, and the Kilimanjaro region.

I am actually quite happy to be travelling with the DG throughout my scholarship year because then I get to see how diverse Rotary is in east Africa as well as discuss my research with people all over the region. I also get to meet some interesting people and learn about the different projects that each club is doing (or not doing). As a Rotaractor, this is quite different for me. I get to sit in on the board meetings and see what goes on behind the doors so to speak. Every club has a different culture and that makes my experience here in East Africa all the more different.

I am shocked at how the clubs that were older seemed to be comfortable where they were. That’s to say that they didn’t feel the need to visit other clubs, recruit as much for new members, and their service projects were mediocre to say the least. I find that to be a human reaction to things. When one is in a position for too long, they feel comfortable where they are and ultimately hurt themselves.  While the small and oftentimes rural clubs were trying really hard and serving the community.

The most touching club that we visited was the Rotary Club of Lushoto. It was quite a hassle to get to the club, so I was a bit uneasy about what to expect. I was fully expecting the members to be exclusive given that their location was so remote. But then, in the cold mountains of Lushoto, I had a Rotary moment. If you’re not familiar with a Rotary moment, it is basically a point and time when an individual realizes the magnitude of Rotary.  It can push someone to join Rotary or Rotaract/Interact, or it can be the catalyst for someone to do more in the Rotary family. But nonetheless, it’s a positive experience that shows the good things that Rotary has done, is doing, and will do. The Lushoto Rotarians weren’t as flashy as the Rotarians in Dar es Salaam, social as the ones in Zanzibar, or even as hyper as the ones in Kampala. But they cared for their community, and that was evident. It was one of the few times where I really wanted to be a Rotarian. I didn’t feel odd or left out. I felt like I was a part of a family, a growing family that would accept me no matter what my faults or disabilities may be.

Most rotary moments, you hear about someone realizing the power of rotary via a service project or speaking with someone that has had a Rotarian help them in life. But mine was quite personal in that I’m realizing that no matter where in the world I may go, Rotary and Rotarians stand for the same thing. I had the honor of pinning a young man who was about 2 years older than me and tell the Rotary Club of Tanga what Rotary meant to me. At first, I was completely nervous and didn’t know what to say. I kept asking myself “what does Rotary mean to me?” As I listened to the country chair of Tanzania Jayesh speak to one of the new members as he pinned him, I realized that Rotary is like a religion, its personal to everyone - we all get something different from our experience with the organization. But we are all family and friends around the world under the Rotary umbrella. That’s what the Rotary wheel means to me. Each spoke is a different walk of life, but they all come together for one purpose. You can be sure that if you were to visit another part of the world and meet a Rotarian, they will be kind and generous, there to help you if need be, and there for you to talk to if that’s what you need as well. In the Rotary family, you’re never alone.  I’ve only been a rotaractor for two years, but I have gotten so much out of Rotary already and I am so happy to give back to not just Rotary, but the global community.