Caravan escapes continue...

It has been a wonderful and exhausting week. The volunteers had a wonderful safari on the weekend and re-energized themselves for a busy week to come. The Ngorogoro Crater was in full bloom and awe inspiring. They saw the BIG FIVE (which is what every safari goer wishes to see...Rhino, Leopard, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Hippo). They even saw a black Rhino Mama and Baby!! They enjoyed the Masai Village and spent money on many types of jewelery and other souvenirs. They were in three safari trucks and one group had a terrifying experience on the way home to the hotel in Moshi after leaving Arusha. They were stopped after dark by a Masai with a spear and a stick standing in the center of the highway. There was a group of men in the ditch area and everyone thought it was a carjacking. In turns out that they were stopped to help transport an injured man to hospital. A Masai riding a bike had been hit in a hit and run and left injured in the ditch. Our group (most health professionals!) took him and a friend to the local police station so a report could be made. The police were then to transport the man to the local hospital. Despite all my time spent in Africa, I have to admit, that woul dhave started my heart pounding as well...

We had a stellar day at the women's center on Monday. Immigration came by twice apparently looking for me but both times I was off running an errand! They did not harass us further and we saw about 300 Mamas and babes that day. We acquired another women's center resident, a 19 year old woman who is pregnant. She was employed as a maid in someone's home and was made pregnant by one of her employers. When they discovered she was pregnant they expelled her from the house. She returned home to her grandmother and was told she was not welcome and she should return to those who got her pregnant. She somehow found her way to us and will stay in the shelter until we can find her a more permanent and secure solution.

We spent Tuesday at Kilema Hospital in rural Kilimanjaro region and saw approximately 250 Mamas and babes. The population in th eregion is much poorer than in Moshi, mostly subsistence farmers. KWIECO came and provided legal counseling as well, which they have done at each site. Mama Minde's comment at the end of the day was that most of the women who asked to see her largely have issues of poverty, not necessarily legal. The Kilema experience was very satisfying for everyone. We had some interesting and sad stories presenting to us. It was good to be able to provide them with a free health assessment, education and HIV testing. We had a number of positive tests and much time was spent to counsel them about what the diagnosis means and what they need to do to continue living.

We went to Himo on Wednesday and arrived to a large and quietly assembled crowd of over 300 women and kids. We gave out 200 numbers as we were only 2/3 of our group (with the others doing a second day in Kilema). We told those who did not receive a number that they could come to the women's center for the final day on Thursday. We only have a half day on Thursday and hope to see about 175. We have referred a number of women back to the center in a week to meet with Mama Agnes so that we can learn more about them and sort out what the center will be able to do for them with its various programs that we are developing.

The women are incredible and inspiring (see pictures and you will fall in love). We have posted a number of pictures of them. The kids are beautiful and the mud is disgusting! The rains have hit us hard this week in Himo.