Media gives us rather one-sided image of Africa; wars, famine and poverty. All of that is true but surely there is much more to it. That is something I have discovered during my several trips on the continent.
Through our western eyes we often notice poverty first and our eyes as though stop there which leads us to closing them from everything else around. But what is poverty?
To me, poverty has many faces. Local people are materially living meagrer life than us in West. However, internally they are much richer. They set humanity above material. They spend a leisurely and strongly communal life. My sister is your sister and what is mine, is yours as well. I have lived to witness such mindset numerous times there. Their attitude towards life can be an example for us all.
We can help with lack of material but rather teach how to fish instead of giving one. That kind of support brings them long lasting comfort. Machining is somewhat a keyword here.
Among people, many are still completely uneducated and many have received very poor education. Education opens entirely new possibilities when people learn to acknowledge their strengths and rights.
We westerners can be for help by creating an opportunity for schooling and by bringing in craftsmanship from different industries.
My interest towards Africa raised its head already during my teenage years through nature studies, which expanded to correspondence; and through safari traveling into private godchild projects in Kenya; and then further into voluntary work in Tanzania.
I have visited the continent already eleven times since the year 2002. My early retirement has granted me the chance to stay in the destination for longer periods. At the moment I have altogether four one-month workcamps behind in Tanzania’s Morogoro Region in the Uluguru Mountains.These camps are development cooperation projects financed by Finnish Foreign Ministry and led by Setlementtinuorten liitto ry. I found out about work camps through Vesaiset Organization where I am working at local level.
What are these work camps then all about? We voluntary Finns work together with local craftsmen in order to renovate elementary school buildings. The school buildings are badly damaged, partially even in the edge of collapsing, and our mission is to deconstruct the old and rebuild the new for lasting and safe seat learning for school children of the mountain villages.
During the work camp we sleep in tents and live primitively depending on carried water for instance. Our tools consist of hammers, saws, paintbrushes, hoes and shovels. We also have an opportunity to give lessons in school. As a former kindergarten teacher, giving lessons and playing games with children in my free time is what I enjoy perhaps most.
I returned recently from a workcamp where I was working as the leader. The job description differed from my former. Purchasing materials, planning and making arrangements with both workcamp members and representatives of local partnership organization were emphasized in my role. I was also responsible for management of financing. I had whole new challenges in front of me.
My Swahili skills are elementary based only on phrases and vocabulary. English language skills of mountain people are limited. Attendance of an interpreter who was able to speak Swahili, some English and also Finnish was of great help while communicating with locals. Yet surprises always arise when people from two different cultures meet. Nevertheless, anything we could not overcome has not occurred.
I enjoy work camps enormously because modest living conditions suit me. I can even say returning back to West makes me somewhat discontent. But surely it feels good to come home to close ones and I can affect my choices here too. I believe my African friends have opened my eyes and heart and I am very grateful for that. I also thank my family for encouraging me in my projects.
During this year I have also participated in FELM’s (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission) expedition in Senegal. I am one of the Tasaus Ambassadors and my mission is raising awareness both personally and through media about Tasaus projects; about the achievements we have reached through Tasaus fundraising; and also informing about our future plans. This year donations are invested in building wells and developing cultivation in Senegal and Mauritania.
African continent has partially stolen my heart. When I will be finished with my informing mission this fall, I will go on a trip – a true holiday trip – and the destination is where else but towards my beloved continent: Africa. My wish is to see chimpanzees and gorillas in Uganda. My message to You: Go for aid work. Help is needed in the world and I can tell you, by giving you get.
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