Jambo from Africa

We spent two days doing community service at the Mwereni School. It is a government-run school with 74 kids that live there and an additional 520 who attend the school and go home to their families each night. While in the orphanage, we replaced all 74 mattresses and all the kids received new sheets, pillows, pillow cases and mosquito netting. The orphans at the school are blind, albinos, or suffer from Xeroderma pigmentosum. These children are viewed as disposable by some Tanzanians. When a child is born with albinism, many times they are thrown out to die or kidnapped from their families and sold to witch doctors.  The school/orphanage has a guard, but I know that many of the albino kids still live in fear because I found pieces of rebar under their mattresses for self defense.  As a teacher, I loved visiting the classrooms. The students were very respectful and quick to show off their English.  I even tried to learn some Swahili!  Spending time at Mwereni is an experience I will never forget.

The climb was a-ma-zing. The mountain is very beautiful with many different vegetation changes as we gained elevation. As we ascended on summit day, we had a full moon to one side and the sun rising on the other side. We were above the clouds for most of the days, and I have never been so close to the moon. This was my first time camping and I really enjoyed it. We set a record – a member of our team was the first Tanzanian albino (partially blind) to summit Mount Kilimanjaro.  Deo is a 17 year old that lives at the Mwereni school. I am so proud of our whole team!  I hope to return!!!