The People at the End of the Road

MOSHI Land of Love Land of Beauty Land of Poverty

I have been struggling for a way to present a plea for support, and I still am at a loss. Part of the reason for my difficulty is that I have been so focused on the Moshi school children supported by KIWAKKUKI, that I never thought about the college aged children. What happens when the secondary school finishes and these young orphans manage to pass their exams and enter college. College is simply unattainable for most Tanzanians, and particularly so for an orphan who receives no support from any family member. Yet, is this not the aim of our school programs? What happens when we have a bright young person who supports other siblings, but who cannot continue in school because of fees. There is no such thing as a student loan like we have in the United States. Only if a boy scores in Division I at the end of the year will he be eligible for some amount of scholarship assistance, a girl Level I or II. What happens when you barely miss these levels, but your desire to pursue your degree is great? I just finished Greg Mortenson's second book "Stones for Schools" and have been moved once again by the power of his words. They particularly strike a chord with me because his father was one of the key builders of KCMC hospital, and his family were great friends of our dear friends, The Emmanuel's of Machame and Moshi.

So, I feel that "six degrees of seperation, and have read his books and taken heart in his words.

He quotes from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; What is essential is invisible to the eye.” And he talks about listening. Listen to your community and listen to their needs. Whose agenda is this anyway? I have often said of KIWAKKUKI and other NGO’s that they have to follow the funding sources regardless of whether they are exactly what the membership of the organization had requested. An example to the contrary, that of providing the service that the membership had requested is our mobile voluntary counseling and testing. This request goes as far back as 2006, and finally it is actively occurring, at least in some of the districts.

So, when I was presented with a new young man on the last trip, my heart broke again. As Verynice said to me, “we supported him all the way through secondary school and he has done well. He walked 5 kilometers to see you when he heard that you were in town. He has no bus fare, and no food. We often let him help here to earn bus fare and a bag of corn meal for his siblings. Is there anything you can do?”

Because I have no answer for this young man, with his permission, I have typed his story for you and share his picture (with me and my short Alpesh hair cut)


My name is Peter Ancelim Amani. I am the second born in the family of four children with 1 sister and two brothers. I was born on 21st February 1989. It happened that I was born in a very poor family. My father is a tailor who lives in Moshi Rural in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. His income/day is less than 1 US dollar.

My mother did involve herself in subsistence farming and from this we got food and clothes. We have suffered many problems. When my sister was young, she suffered from measles. Due to the poverty of the family, she failed to attend the hospital for treatment and the measles caused blindness in one eye.

I started my primary school education in 1996 and finished in 2002. At this time, I had government support for education and we had to contribute very little. to make up the difference in school fees. However, at the time, my mother worked in a Shamba and it was her subsistence farming that allowed her to pay for my school fees.

Despite the fact that she was working in the Shamba, she also was suffering from frequent illnesses, though at the time I was young and didn’t wonder what the reasons were for these illnesses. She was advised by some neighbors to be checked out by the hospital because her health was deteriorating and it was then that she discovered that she was HIV-infected. When she disclosed her condition to my father, he was tested but found out to be negative.

Hardships in our lives increased after her discovery of being HIV-infected. I was the eldest in the family and therefore responsible for the care of my mother, and then my father separated from my mother because of the humiliation that she was HIV-infected. She was the one forced out of the house, and she decided to rent a room near us in order to see us when she could and when we could see her. And, it was during this time that I was first unable to get school fees. I thank God that I was smart in the class, and the head teacher offered me a scholarship to study for free after he learned what was happening in our home.

My mother was allowed back in the house when she became very weak. At this time I was in primary grade 5. On Wednesday, May 9th 2001 she passed away. Though it was very hard, I found the courage to go on with school until I finished my primary education in 2002.

I did very well with my primary school examination and I was selected to join the St. James Seminary for ordinary level secondary education (2003-2006). School fees for secondary are high, ten times higher than primary level. Because I knew that I didn’t have this kind of money, I started to lose hope of going on with school and tried to think of what I could do to raise income for my smaller brothers and sister. Fortunately, one of the neighbors came to me and took me to KIWAKKUKI to speak to the orphan’s department. The officers there took the time to listen to me and to verify my story, and they then agreed to pay for my school fees.

The help from KIWAKKUKI assisted me to finish my ordinary secondary school, where I did my national exam and did very well. Thus, I was selected to attend Galanos Secondary High School for Advanced Level Education. The school fees were approximately the same, and therefore KIWAKKUKI continued to support me. I finished my advanced degree in February 2009, passed my exams well and was selected to attend University.

I am now at the Moshi University College of Co-operative and Business Studies (MUCCoBS) taking a Bachelor of Arts and Microfinance and Enterprises Development. (BA-MFED) My registration number is BA-MFED/06/09.

Throughout the time I have been in school, I have wanted to become a business entrepreneur, and had thought about the different activities in which I could be come involved. This has been ever since I was a young child. But life has become much more difficult now. University fees, accommodation and meals are all very expensive. I joined the university in October 2009 and have finished the first year. However, I was only able to pay 15% of the first year as that is the maximum that KIWAKKUKI can donate. The university fees and expenses are above KIWAKKUKI’s budget for one person.

In order for me to go on with my studies in October this year I am supposed to pay for the remainder of last year and at least 40% of next year.

I am writing this story with a lot of tears, asking anyone who might listen or think that they can help me. I beg your assistance your advice, your courage and anything that you might find to assist me. Education is the only think that I have now, and my only hope to save my family. My father is gone, we don’t know where, and I am the final one who is expected to help out.

Yours

Peter Ancelim Amani
Amani_p@yahoo.com


These are the direct words of a young man who came to KIWAKKUKI to discuss ways of budgeting his college years. He lives in the Rau Ward of Moshi Urban, and walked about 5 miles to KIWAKKUKI because he didn’t have bus fare home. I am told that when he comes to KIWAKKUKI, he always offers to help clean or move heavy furniture or do odd jobs without even knowing whether or not he will receive any donation.

I am always impressed with the sincerity and work ethic that these young people have regarding school. This is something that we take for granted here. Primary and High School are free and there are loans and scholarships available for those persons with very low incomes. That is not the case here in Tanzania. In order to qualify for any assistance outside of non-governmental organizations, a young man has to score a grade level 1 on final exams at the college level, a young woman 1 or
2. (More young men are in school at this time than women). But here, is a young man who not only attends school but has to take care of his 3 younger siblings, one of whom has a disability due to the blindness in one eye. It almost seems impossible that he can succeed. Very few programs assist with University, especially when the father is alive, even if he is unwilling or unable to be located.

So I am writing this to ask for help for this young man. There are ways to donate to his school. One would be to donate directly to KIWAKKUKI using his name for college fees. (this way is fine except that it is not tax deductible because KIWAKKUKI is not a tax exempt organization recognized by the US Government. However, there are two other funds that are recognized and can take donations that can be sent directly for his assistance.

Global Connections For Change is a tax exempt organization in North Carolina that is connected with Duke University. All proceeds go to KIWAKKUKI. As well, the Duke CAB/Moshi Fund is another tax exempt code within Duke University that wires any designated money to Moshi for who ever we know is being sponsored.

The address for Global Connections is:
Global Connections for Change
PO Box 51162
Durham, NC 27717
globalconnections4change@gmail.com

For the Duke Fund is:
Duke/Moshi CAB Fund
Partners-In-Caring
Box 3112 DUMC
Durham, NC 27710
Attn: Artie Hendricks

You may also contact me at my gmail account-patricia.bartlett@gmail.com
As you can see, this is a dedicated man, and one who will do anything to help himself and his family. I hope you will offer help.

Thanks

Judith

Many times our KIWAKKUKI blogs contain sad stories. Children who die too young, parents who die and leave their children orphans, overloaded poor persons standing in line for 10 KG of what we call "corn pellets", in order to make a month of food, trying desperately to get your work done with no power, with the deadlines due and no internet, with no transport to get to the training site....etc, etc, But today my story is a happy one. If only short term. Our Judith... featured in one of the previous blogs, saw a wonderful pediatrician this week. She and Dr. Annie connected. They were able to talk, to be honest about adherence and the problem of stigma at school. Of course, no problems are solved, but at least Judith found a young doctor who understands and with whom she can talk. She is happy to see her again, and I feel confident that her own confidence has been boosted by Dr. Annie. It won't be any easier to face her cruel fellow students, but at the least, she will be determined to work and to prove that she can make it in this very difficult world of being HIV-infected and a girl in Africa. We're cheering for you Judith!

The New KIWAKKUKI

Here we are at KIWAKKUKI at its new location in Moshi. The building is shiny, and the staff are enthusiastic. But, the needs are grave. With the economic crisis globally, there is little money to go around. Although, KIWAKKUKI proudly believes that it has helped the national HIV+ prevalence rates to decrease by at least 1% through their counseling, testing and education programs, they are still burdened by the orphans left behind in the first wave of the epidemic, and by the positive persons who are striving to maintain a quality of life.

Let me highlight a survivor of this epidemic:
Melkizedik is an 18 year old young man who has no parents. He has some distant relatives who for years shuttled him back and forth. Melki never knew that he was HIV-infected until he got quite ill and was admitted to KCMC Hospital. A fabulous Assistant Medical Officer, Rehema Kiwera, cared for him there, and helped him adjust to his new diagnosis. She helped him to find a place to live with a "small" sister. (This means the daughter of a different wife of Melki's father-both of whom are dead). This living situation was hardly acceptable but for over a year Melki remained in this home. His "small" sister sold used clothes for a living, and had her two small children to care for in addition to Melki. There was no electricity in the house, and the family barely survived on her income.
Melkizediki was so popular at KIWAKKUKI that he earned a place on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for the Duke researches. During this time, he participated in the Memory Project, which allowed him to make a Memory Book and trace his family roots. These books have served young people in many ways and have allowed them to find some family members, to locate their tribe, and to help them find closure on the deaths of their parents. One advantage of belonging to the Memory Project is that young people are also registered as orphans, and this helps them to be eligible for discounts for school fees and for other services. But, one thing for Melki was that he wanted to attend school more than anything else, and he had not been in school for some years as he had been sent back and forth from Moshi to Dar Es Salaam.
Melkizediki was lucky. During the time that he was attending the CAB meetings and attending Memory Project work, some wonderful volunteers were spending time at KIWAKKUKI. Just some of them, Jennifer L., Tone A., Jennifer A., Caitlin H., Kimberly W., were so touched by his desire to return to school, to make a better life, and to try very hard to improve; and, at the same time to take every one of his pills every day, to attend the clinic at KCMC on a regular basis, and to be able to speak publically about his HIV, that they agreed to help to support him. Jennifer L. paid his school fees while the others began support. They and their parents, as well as the Weiss family has made Melkizediks dream begin to be a reality.
Melkizediki has a long way to go. He had to leave the "small" sister's house and has moved into a place of his own. The cost is overwhelming, and in this room, though he has electricity and quiet, he has no mentoring for school, and his chances of making his grades all the way through secondary are questionnable. Supporting him for this period of time will be difficult, especially in these tough economic times. His only hope is his support from KIWAKKUKI and from these wonderful friends who have sacrificed much to help him remain in school.
Melkizediki tells me-Say a big "Asenteni Sana" for all who have helped. (Thank you very much). I know who you are, remember you all, and want to see you again!

Stay tuned for a picture of Melkizediki and for more stories from KIWAKKUKI