I don't have enough the time or energy to write more today but below is an assignment I wrote for the continuation of the Cornell part of our class...gives some picture of the org I'm volunteering with. Today Mama Mrema took us to a town called Nganjoni in what they call "Moshi-rural" to see a secondary school WEECE built and is continuing to expand as well as the site where they will be building a health centre.
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Adey Teshome
July 1, 2009
NS 4630
(Still) In Moshi-town, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
Reflection—Thick Description of WEECE Internship
When I began my internship on Monday, I did not really know what to expect. I knew the women heading the organization were in need of someone with computer skills, that I might be assisting in the grunt work of grant-writing and generally being as useful as possible in any assortment of tasks. As it turned out, my supervisor and main director of the Women’s Education and Economic Centre (WEECE) Mama Valeria (also known as Mama Mrema) was only expecting my professor on Monday, not me, the volunteer! When I showed up at her office, greeting her with a “Hodi” and “Shikamoo, Mama!”, she thought I was a representative of another local loan organization. After I explained myself, she welcomed me warmly. After sitting me down and asking me what skills I have to offer as well as what I would like to gain from WEECE, she set me to work helping her organize her office. Mama Mrema had just returned from Germany, visiting with donors from a religiously affiliated organization. I would soon find that WEECE survives on the financial support of many American and European donors. It’s really interesting to see this world order of money flow from “developed” to “developing” nations in action at this small but effective and locally influential NGO.
WEECE is housed in a very residential street, near KCMC where I took my class these past few weeks. It’s in fact a home turned organizational headquarters. When you pass it from the outside, a sign marked WOMEN’S EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC CENTRE in block letters is the only indication that it is truly an important community base of operations. Anyone on foot enters through the small main office where gentle and yet slightly stern Mama Esther, one of Mama Mrema’s deputy supervisors, does her work. As a full-time WEECE worker, Mama Esther is given very small pay and really can be considered a volunteer. Many of the crucial WEECE workers are paid a very small amount or absolutely nothing. What really seems to motivate them is a belief in the organization rather than any money. The rest of the WEECE space—Mama Mrema and the accountant’s offices, the area where the sewing machines are arranged for lessons—are centered around a modest courtyard. Just beyond the offices is what looks like a residential home. Mama Mrema and Mama Macha (a professor at a local business university and devoted WEECE volunteer) explained to me that the house is sometimes used as a hostel for WEECE volunteers and anyone else in the area. There are small, cozy porches in front of the offices and the hostel where people relax, eat lunch and so on. The entire feel of the organization is one of purpose but comfort because of this setting.
When Professor Rebecca came to discuss my work at WEECE, Mama Mrema and I were sorting through the mass of papers, folders and envelopes on the one wooden shelf framing the walls of her office. The three of us sat down to talk amidst the piles of paper scattered on the ground. It was a moment that emphasized Mama Mrema’s hard-working and get-it-done attitude. As we began to discuss the specifics of my responsibilities, Mama began to discuss more in depth the gender dynamics that fuel an organization like WEECE. The conversation veered away from my role as a volunteer to things much larger. This is indicatory of how Mama Mrema operates—it was important to her to impart certain lessons and information to Professor Rebecca and myself in that conversation. I enjoyed the mini-introduction to WEECE and Mama Mrema’s personality. She has a deep, throaty laugh that demands attention and makes everything seem funnier. This culture of prefacing the names of older women with “Mama” makes everyone seems more maternal and nurturing—but Mama Mrema really does have the air of a mother who has many years of life experience behind her and has everything under control for the young girls under her wing, which includes me now. I’m looking forward to these weeks of working with her.
Tuesday and today has given me a nice feel for WEECE. Mama Mrema, Esther and Macha are key players here…they’re all very strong people who have been devoted to WEECE for many years. Today the other American volunteers and I spent the majority of the day with Mama Esther. This morning before and after we waited to go into the neighborhood and visit loan recipients with her, she just gently led us through a conversation full of wisdom. She described how WEECE began with a small group of women and grew through information spreading through word of mouth. She went through the loan stipulations such as returning the amount of the loan at a certain due date and requiring women to attend educational seminars that teach personal budgeting, saving and even health issues. She reminded us that as we told her about our lives yesterday and why we came to Tanzania, she also has a story. She told us that she was the first-born child and although some people believed educating a girl was wasting money, her parents allowed her to enter primary school only because she was “clever”. With an unhurried and deliberate story-telling style slowed down even more as she processed her English, she described how she entered primary school at form three, skipping first and second. She was first in the class from third to fifth. Although she made it through middle school, it seems she didn’t finish secondary, ended up looking for employment to help her family and later getting married. After becoming a parent, her priorities switched to her children, one of whom is a teacher and the other studying to be a medical doctor. She tells us that her son, the doctor, asks her for money to for his studies and even though it’s difficult for her because she makes very little and only has money because she has saved diligently, she gives him money. She says she does this so that when she gets older than her current 68 years and the time comes for her to stop working and depend on her children, her son will be able to take care of her.
July 1, 2009
NS 4630
(Still) In Moshi-town, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
Reflection—Thick Description of WEECE Internship
When I began my internship on Monday, I did not really know what to expect. I knew the women heading the organization were in need of someone with computer skills, that I might be assisting in the grunt work of grant-writing and generally being as useful as possible in any assortment of tasks. As it turned out, my supervisor and main director of the Women’s Education and Economic Centre (WEECE) Mama Valeria (also known as Mama Mrema) was only expecting my professor on Monday, not me, the volunteer! When I showed up at her office, greeting her with a “Hodi” and “Shikamoo, Mama!”, she thought I was a representative of another local loan organization. After I explained myself, she welcomed me warmly. After sitting me down and asking me what skills I have to offer as well as what I would like to gain from WEECE, she set me to work helping her organize her office. Mama Mrema had just returned from Germany, visiting with donors from a religiously affiliated organization. I would soon find that WEECE survives on the financial support of many American and European donors. It’s really interesting to see this world order of money flow from “developed” to “developing” nations in action at this small but effective and locally influential NGO.
WEECE is housed in a very residential street, near KCMC where I took my class these past few weeks. It’s in fact a home turned organizational headquarters. When you pass it from the outside, a sign marked WOMEN’S EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC CENTRE in block letters is the only indication that it is truly an important community base of operations. Anyone on foot enters through the small main office where gentle and yet slightly stern Mama Esther, one of Mama Mrema’s deputy supervisors, does her work. As a full-time WEECE worker, Mama Esther is given very small pay and really can be considered a volunteer. Many of the crucial WEECE workers are paid a very small amount or absolutely nothing. What really seems to motivate them is a belief in the organization rather than any money. The rest of the WEECE space—Mama Mrema and the accountant’s offices, the area where the sewing machines are arranged for lessons—are centered around a modest courtyard. Just beyond the offices is what looks like a residential home. Mama Mrema and Mama Macha (a professor at a local business university and devoted WEECE volunteer) explained to me that the house is sometimes used as a hostel for WEECE volunteers and anyone else in the area. There are small, cozy porches in front of the offices and the hostel where people relax, eat lunch and so on. The entire feel of the organization is one of purpose but comfort because of this setting.
When Professor Rebecca came to discuss my work at WEECE, Mama Mrema and I were sorting through the mass of papers, folders and envelopes on the one wooden shelf framing the walls of her office. The three of us sat down to talk amidst the piles of paper scattered on the ground. It was a moment that emphasized Mama Mrema’s hard-working and get-it-done attitude. As we began to discuss the specifics of my responsibilities, Mama began to discuss more in depth the gender dynamics that fuel an organization like WEECE. The conversation veered away from my role as a volunteer to things much larger. This is indicatory of how Mama Mrema operates—it was important to her to impart certain lessons and information to Professor Rebecca and myself in that conversation. I enjoyed the mini-introduction to WEECE and Mama Mrema’s personality. She has a deep, throaty laugh that demands attention and makes everything seem funnier. This culture of prefacing the names of older women with “Mama” makes everyone seems more maternal and nurturing—but Mama Mrema really does have the air of a mother who has many years of life experience behind her and has everything under control for the young girls under her wing, which includes me now. I’m looking forward to these weeks of working with her.
Tuesday and today has given me a nice feel for WEECE. Mama Mrema, Esther and Macha are key players here…they’re all very strong people who have been devoted to WEECE for many years. Today the other American volunteers and I spent the majority of the day with Mama Esther. This morning before and after we waited to go into the neighborhood and visit loan recipients with her, she just gently led us through a conversation full of wisdom. She described how WEECE began with a small group of women and grew through information spreading through word of mouth. She went through the loan stipulations such as returning the amount of the loan at a certain due date and requiring women to attend educational seminars that teach personal budgeting, saving and even health issues. She reminded us that as we told her about our lives yesterday and why we came to Tanzania, she also has a story. She told us that she was the first-born child and although some people believed educating a girl was wasting money, her parents allowed her to enter primary school only because she was “clever”. With an unhurried and deliberate story-telling style slowed down even more as she processed her English, she described how she entered primary school at form three, skipping first and second. She was first in the class from third to fifth. Although she made it through middle school, it seems she didn’t finish secondary, ended up looking for employment to help her family and later getting married. After becoming a parent, her priorities switched to her children, one of whom is a teacher and the other studying to be a medical doctor. She tells us that her son, the doctor, asks her for money to for his studies and even though it’s difficult for her because she makes very little and only has money because she has saved diligently, she gives him money. She says she does this so that when she gets older than her current 68 years and the time comes for her to stop working and depend on her children, her son will be able to take care of her.
Love it!! Not only what your telling but how. These seem to be very special people. Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteBy the way--it says "Latina" because of a crazy thing I had to do for work. This is Paula...
ReplyDelete