Moshi
We had a day in Moshi with Greg John from Canada-Africa Community health Alliance today (CACHA). He has been here since last April and is working to get CACHA's various projects off the ground and keep those existing ones running. He lives in a house that he had built for him...well not quite but his housing experience is a great example of how things can be made to work here. While Greg was here last year (and in knowing that he would be returning for a year) he arranged his lodgings for the following year with a local man. The situation was that he had a half built house and no money to finish it. He determined that he needed about 800 US dollars to get it done. Greg made a deal that he woul dgive the money up front and that the house would have to be ready when he returned in 6 months. He also negotiated the first 8 months rent for free..it is about 100US per month to rent a place here (if you are a Mzungu-white person who need sa white persons basic comforts).
Greg tookus to an interesting NGO today called Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance project. They have been here a few years and work (along with a few inspired Tanzanians) to raise awareness about the porters who work on the mountain. These young men (who carry all the tourists bags) make a very small wage and have poor training and protection from the elements. Unlike the 'sherpas'you hear about at Everest, these guys are not acclimatized and can get altitude sickness/frostbite etc just like everyone else. Only thingis, they are usually sent down the mountain (carrying a bag or two) without pay. The tourists usually are unaware of how badly the porters are treated and this group believes that if people knew they would choose tour companies with good porter treatment reputations more willingly. They also educate the porters as well with classes in English, guman rigand first aid. This group is of course not welcomed by all the tour companies, but at least now after three years they are doing more negotiating and have recognized a minimum wage etc for the porters. One died last week, probably of pneumonia and pulmonary edema (altitude sickness in the lungs).
On a lighter note, we thought we should tell you about the 'sellers'. but this will be the subject of our next blog....
Greg tookus to an interesting NGO today called Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance project. They have been here a few years and work (along with a few inspired Tanzanians) to raise awareness about the porters who work on the mountain. These young men (who carry all the tourists bags) make a very small wage and have poor training and protection from the elements. Unlike the 'sherpas'you hear about at Everest, these guys are not acclimatized and can get altitude sickness/frostbite etc just like everyone else. Only thingis, they are usually sent down the mountain (carrying a bag or two) without pay. The tourists usually are unaware of how badly the porters are treated and this group believes that if people knew they would choose tour companies with good porter treatment reputations more willingly. They also educate the porters as well with classes in English, guman rigand first aid. This group is of course not welcomed by all the tour companies, but at least now after three years they are doing more negotiating and have recognized a minimum wage etc for the porters. One died last week, probably of pneumonia and pulmonary edema (altitude sickness in the lungs).
On a lighter note, we thought we should tell you about the 'sellers'. but this will be the subject of our next blog....
posted by karenandroman at 4:21 AM
1 Comments:
Hello guys!
I am trying to get hold of you! Your blog is wonderful... a pleasure to read and I must say, it makes me miss Tanzania and all of you quite a bit.
May God bless and protect you all.
Barbara
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