{last week in bagamoyo}

june 25-29, 2012

my last week in bagamoyo i had the opportunity to work with a non-profit women's empowerment organization called bawodene. it was a very eye-opening experience, and one that left me feeling very appreciated and that I had actually made an impact.

bawodene is an organization whose purpose is to aid women in tanzania to become more financially independent. this central organization, which manages over 400 smaller groups across southeastern tanzania, collects dues from it's members, obtains grants and donations from various organizations, and uses the money to hold women's conferences, hire people to train the different groups (i.e., if one of the groups earns money by selling jewelery or baskets, they will find someone to train the women on how to make the product), and also help the groups obtain loans from the bank. it sounds like a great concept, and it has a lot of great potential, but unfortunately is lacking some serious organization.

bawodene wants to apply for additional grant money, but in order to do so, needs financial accounting records to submit with the applications. since our program director knew i was a cpa, he asked me if i could help.  in just a week, i sorted through a few years of their books, records, receipts (which in most cases didn't exist or were just shoved in a desk drawer), computerized all of their data, created a detailed instruction and to do list, created monthly reporting packages, created annual financial reports, and trained their "treasurer" on how to keep this up going forward. i really do hope that they will continue this process in the future, but realistically, i'm just not sure.

i have to admit that working with this organization and learning more about the tanzanian government and other non-profit organizations was a bit disheartening. the government is so corrupt that probably only 10% of money that is donated (in which 100% is intended to get to who needs it) probably makes it down to the people who need it. So so so many of the people in tanzania are poor (72% of the country is illiterate and 60% are women) that there really is so much need and so much room for improvement. in order to really make a difference though, i really think you have to be based in tanzania permanenty.  or at least longer than a month.

that being said, i am still so thankful for the opportunities i had in bagamoyo and really did enjoy my work and the community where i lived.  i guess i just wish id had more time. perhaps that is a good thing though, i'm sure that this won't be the last time i travel to africa to do something like this.

though working was my main focus this week, there was still time for a few other things:
-i picked up ALL of my items from pili's. pili is the seamstress in town who can make absolutely anything you want from the beautiful kanga and kitenga fabric they have here. as she only charges about $3 per dress, i had her make me quite a few things...my wardrobe will be a lot more colorful when I get back home!

(pili, the amazing seamstress!)
-we enjoyed one more entertaining performance by the zawose family
-we took the ccs staff out for a nice goodbye dinner

what I think I'll miss the most:
- 545 am runs with my friend Lauren down to the beach and back. we got to see the sunrise just about every morning and it was beautiful!
- walking to and from school each day with at least 10 kids holding on to my hands
- playing games with the kids in the dirt outside the school house
- swahili lessons
- free time at the beach
- unlimited supply of safe drinking water
- robert's delicious pumpkin and vegetable soups
- sharing stories about our different cultures with the people in the community

it's crazy how quickly my time in bagamoyo flew by. i'm so thankful for everything I experienced there and am so hopeful i can go back again in then future!

now - on to the travel part of my african adventure!