All About Arusha... and Tengeru

Tanzania is located in East Africa and shares a border with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zaire, Zambia and Mozambique. Arusha - where my volunteer placement will take place is located in the northeastern corner of Tanzania. Tengeru - where we will be living is 25 minutes east of Arusha.

The country of Tanzania has a population of 29 million. There are 120 ethnic groups and has a 45% Muslim population, a 45% Christian population and 10% of the population hold strong to their indiginous beliefs. The official language is Kiswahili and the second language is English. The capital of Tanzania is Der Es Salaam.

Interstingly, in Northern Tanzania, explorers have located rich evidence of the area's prehistory, including fossil remains of some of humanity's earliest ancestors. Discoveries that suggest East Africa may have been the site of human origin.

A Little History

The costal area of Tanzania felt the first impact of foreign influence in the 8th century when Arab traders arrived. By the 12th century, traders and immigrants came from as far away as Persia and India. Eurpean explorers and missionaries penetrated the interior in teh first half of the 19th century. Germany clonized Tanzania when it was know as Tanganyika at the end of the Second World War. The British defeated the Germans, forcing them out of the country. Tanzania gained independance from Britain in 1961 and until the mid 1980s, Tanzania was a one-party state with a socialist model of economic development. In Jan. 1992 - only 14 years ago... the government decided to adopt mutiparty democracy.


Arusha is a fairly rural area that is covered with banana and coffee plantations - for anyone who knows me... the coffee will definitely be a perk:) Arusha is dominated by the extince volcanic Mt. Meru.


Arusha has an English written newspaper that can be found at

http://www.arushatimes.co.tz/

Fundraising

Marcel (the owner) and me outside Tiffany's Restaurant

Since Cross Culutural Solutions' programs run soley on volunteer contributions, it is necessary for volunteers to raise over $6500 to participate. This price will include accommodations, meals, transportation, flight, immunizations, visas and most of the resources needed to be brought along for the project. Volunteers are responsible for supplying their own resources in terms of teaching aids, lesson plans, models etc.
With the cost being significant, fundraising is encouraged.

I began my fundraising by sending out over 50 letters to family, friends, local businesses, and local organizations in the community (Rotary Clubs and Knights of Columbus branches). I was very lucky to have the support of a dear family friend Marianne Angus, who herself has been on numerous volunteer trips to El Salvador and has done more fundraising for local organizations than can be mentioned in one blog. Marianne is an amazing woman and I appreciated all of her wisdom in fine tuning my letter.


Leo's Komedy Korner

The next event was a Comedy Night held at Leo's Komedy Korner. I was able to sell over 150 tickets - and the show was a trememdous success. We laughted until our stomaches couldn't take it anymore, and most of all, the support and kind words of so many friends and family members reminded me that I have an unbelievable support system behind me on this journey. Special thanks to my helpers: Jen Sykes, Rochelle Langois, Brent and Sharon Webster and my brother Stephen Bondy. I also have to mention all those who helped with ticket sales: Jason Brownell, Natalie Middleton, Don Tieverge, Melissa Kretch, Jen Sykes and Stephen Bondy. It was definitely a night to remember.

Breakfast At Tiffany's

My mom was fundamental in the planning of the next fundraiser entitled "Breakfast at Tiffany's - Evening Edition". We had 80 family members and friends gather at Tiffany's Diner, where Marcel - the owner and chef cooked up a choice of 8 omlettes. The event was a true success. We began by showing clips from the Cross Cultural Solutions Website to give everyone a glimpse of what I will be doing in Tanzania. We mingled, ate and drank together. Special thanks to my friends - the servers - Kara Parent, Jay Brownell, Kelly Tompson, and my brother Stephen Bondy. Thanks to the bakers - Marianne Angus, Nina Staddon and my mom Gayle Bondy and to Avril Morgan for the beautiful menus. Dick Wood ensured that I had a grand entrance, driving me in his beautiful Rolls Royce. The event was a success because of all of the time and planning by my mom. All of the details were perfet especially the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's that she special-ordered and that my dad set up to play during the night on the powerpoint projector. I would also like to thank Rosie- server extraordinaire. Annette from the A Channel even showed up to do an interview with me that was aired at 11pm that night and then again the next morning.
Again - I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.