Building a Caring Community

We celebrated Valentines day as a team and some other friends from the Lutheran Church. We went to eat kitimoto choma (bbq pork) at a beautiful garden. It was also the goodbye party for the previous MOSAIC Fellow, Daniel, so we had a good way to transition from him to me. 

I have to say I love kitimoto in Puerto Rico, but the way they prepare it in Tanzania is also super yummy and leaves me craving more every single time! 

Also, this day I got to experience my colleagues outside of the workplace. They are super fun to be around, love to dance and chat. It was such a fun time! 

Uno de los objetivos de BCC es proveer servicios a niños en todos los distritos de la Región del Kilimanjaro. Este año inauguraron el primer centro en el Distrito Hai. En el centro asisten 12 niños que reciben los mismos servicios que en el resto de los centros de BCC. Los niños y las madres que aparecen en las fotos estaban participando de la semana de terapia. Los padres de los niños vienen al centro con ellos para aprender el plan de terapias de sus hijos. Así, ellos pueden comprender cuáles son los ejercicios que deben hacer para que sus niños puedan continuar progresando.

Antes de venir al centro, estos niños estaban en sus casas sin mucho que hacer. En Tanzania, no hay muchos programas que cuenten con las herramientas para poder educar a niños con diversidad intelectual. Por esta razón, los niños y las madres se ven contentos ya que ahora tienen un lugar que, al dedicarse a ellos, les permite vivir vidas dignas y con oportunidades de progreso.

Rahma is a young girl from Pasua Center. She is one of the happiest children I have ever met. Every time I come to the center she just wants to give me a big hug. She loves to play with blocks and with the other children in the center and at the kindergarden up front. 

Rahma lives with her bibi (grandmother). Bibi is her sole caretaker and makes sure that Rahma is being well looked after. 

Rahma is autistic and has a heart condition. She is currently waiting to gather funds to have surgery. At BCC we want her to be tended too in the best possible way, so we are looking for options to achieve this goal. 

We are working hard to take care of her, but if you find it in your heart that you want to make a contribution to aid her please do and reach out to me!

In February, some of BCC's children and young adults participated in the Kili Marathon. They could choose to run or walk with a partner. It was a super fun day. They got the opportunity be part of this big day and interact with the Moshi community. After the marathon we enjoyed some time together and have some delicious snacks. It was an awesome day! 

Abduli is a young boy who attends BCC's Pasua Center. He came to BCC two years ago and has been receiving services ever since. He is only 4 years old, but because of his Cerebral Palsy diagnosis and being severely malnourished, he looks much younger. His mama walks about 45 minutes every day to come to the center. She carries Abduli and his younger brother on her back (yes, both at the same time).

Abduli's family lives in a small compound on the outskirts of the neighborhood where the center is located. The grandfather is a farmer, the grandma stays at home, and the dad works as a carpenter. Since Abduli's family is Muslim, his father has another wife, so he spends half of his time with Abduli, his mom, and siblings, and the other half with his second wife and children.

Mama Abduli is very young and currently unemployed. She spends most of her days at BCC, helping the center staff with cooking and taking care of Abduli. At the center, Abduli receives various services which include meals five times a day, therapeutic exercises, monthly medication, and opportunities to spend time and interact with other children.

Abduli has been slowly but surely improving. He is now able to turn on his side by himself and has gained a bit of weight.

We want to keep seeing Abduli improve so he may be able to live his best life.

Mama told me that she hopes Abduli will be able to walk and even work in the future!

Como parte de las actividades de inclusión e integración en la comunidad, BCC planificó una tarde de juegos con algunos voluntarios internacionales. Esa tarde se encontraron ellos con nuestros jóvenes adultos para disfrutar de una tarde de mucha diversión. 

Los chicos quisieron jugar soccer y las chicas prefirieron jugar al monito. A la actividad se unieron chicos de la comunidad también. 

Luego de los juegos compartimos unas meriendas y muchas risas. Todos pasamos una tarde super linda compartiendo.