Smiles are Broader, Whiter, and Healthier at Tawawami

Thanks to the donation of 150 tubes of toothpaste from Dr. Hermann Shultze Jr. DDS of the Island Center Dental Excellence, of Marco Island, Florida, the Tawawami Project was able to initiate a dental hygiene program for the youth and their parents of the Project.  Providing assistance across the borders is not new to Dr. Schultze for he has traveled to Guatemala with the Rotary to help establish a dental clinic for orphans.                                                                                                                          

In addition, the Hope Dental Centre located in downtown Mwanza at the New Mwanza Hotel Business Centre enhanced the program by donating toothbrushes to accompany the toothpaste. Hope Dental Centre is a project of Bridge2Aid, an NGO with dental and community development programs in the Mwanza Region. 100% of Hope Dental Centre Profits are used by Bridge2Aid to fund its operations in the area.

The Centre also provided a dental nurse Mariam for the morning seminar held last Saturday. The seminar provided instruction in the proper care for the children’s teeth and the distribution of brushes and the toothpaste.

The dental seminar was quite festive as it began with a performance by the newly formed Tawawami Maasai Dance Troupe.  With spears in hands, chants and choral singing, and the vibration of the their shoulders to their rhythmic dance, I suspect the youth of Tawawami will not miss a day of brushing their teeth!  When the troupe emerged upon the audience the children’s faces were motionless and priceless.

On behalf of the Tawawami Project, I would like to once again thank Dr. Hermann Schultze Jr. DDS, Jo and Grace from the Hope Dental Centre, and Mariam, the Hope dental nurse who shared her knowledge and time freely with the children and their families.  Your generosity, care, and kindness made the day most memorable and successful.

Hope Dental nurse Mariam and I await the start of the morning seminar.

Let the festivities begin! ...please

Honestly, can't seem to get enough pictures of the children.

The Tawawami Troupe presents for the children and their families.  Proceeds from their performances go to funding the project to better serve the needs of the children.

Children are motionless as they watch the troupe perform.

Parents appeared to be captured by the Dance troupe's performance.

Hope Centre Dental nurse Mariam demonstrates the proper technique of brushing one's teeth.

Cooperative youth helps in the demonstration.

The best!

Children line up to receive their new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste.

Tawawami Maasai Dance Troupe

In an effort to become self-sustainable, the Tawawami Project pooled together a troupe of talented Maasai singers and dancers.  The troupe meets regularly for meetings and practices with hopes of performing for schools, hotels, and interested audiences.  Proceeds generated from performances will go to the funding of the Project that services orphans and vulnerable youth of the Ilemela district.

The troupe recently had their first “gig” at Morning Star Secondary School.  They were well received by my students whose English lessons this past week have been laced with studies regarding the Maasai culture and traditions.

It is quite an honor to work with the troupe.  They are a group of compassionate men who are willing to share their talents and rich culture with others.  They are taking time from their own work schedules in order to generate funds for the children of the Tawawami Project.

Meeting with the Maasai troupe members.

One of the first practices at Tawawami.

Director of the Tawawami Project, Richard Sulumet, instructs and practices with the troupe.

Practicing with traditional wear of red.

Morning Star Students eagerly await the troupe's performance

Upperclassmen enjoy a balcony view of the performance.

Troupe performs in the school yard.

Touring the Second Largest Freshwater Lake in the World - Freshwater?

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of going on a fishing boat ride that departed from the lakefront of Bwiru, a district of Mwanza. Friends and I trekked through the Bwiru fishing village to get to the shoreline. Approximately 100 fishermen who were busy preparing their boats and mending their nets greeted us with a hearty “Karibu!”

Our guide Dula, commandeered a boat and a captain and several crew members for our 5 hour tour.  Well the weather wasn’t getting rough and the tiny “ship” wasn’t tossed, but as I was getting onto the boat to begin our excursion, I lost my balance and fell directly into the murky water.  Suddenly, I was the day's source of entertainment for the fishermen on shore. Fully clothed, I was embarrassingly wet and totally grossed out. They honored me with a standing ovation.

Visitors to Mwanza are warned not to go in the water because of varied parasites that bore into your skin; and here I am wet from head to toe.  Fortunately, for some miraculous reason, I had brought a second change of clothes that I quickly changed into behind a plastic sheet as we rocked back and forth enroute to the island.

It appears that I have gone unscathed of boring worms or parasites.  Naturally, the only thing harmed once again is my bruised ego. 

Hopefully, my gracefulness has brought a chuckle or two to you.  I believe the fishermen are still laughing!

Bwiru homes enroute to the shore.

Friendly, happy, and most welcoming.

Bwiru fishing village; a tiny tropic port.

Mending one's net.

Movie Star behind the Foster Grants?

Skipper and the fearless crew.

Juma, a tropic island nest.

Eatery on the island

Friends and crew enjoying lunch together.

Guides: Joseph and Dula

Children of the island of Juma

Children race to the shore to say good-bye!

For unique guided adventures contact "Dula" +255769 046631 or  +255685 365683
email: Matongo2009@yahoo.co.uk

"Dula" guide extraordinaire!

I couldn't resist - enjoy the theme song to Gilligan's Isle now that you've gotten the Slinky jingle out of your head.  Am I dating myself?  Truly.

Just sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port,
Aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin' man,
The Skipper brave and sure,
Five passengers set sail that day,
For a three hour tour,
A three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.

The ship set ground on the shore
Of this uncharted desert isle
With Gilligan,
The Skipper too.
The millionaire
And his wife,
The movie star,
The professor and Mary Ann,
Here on Gilligan's Isle.

So this is the tale of our castaways,
They're here for a long long time.
They'll have to make the best of things,
It's an uphill climb.

The first mate and his Skipper too
Will do their very best,
To make the others comf'terble
In their tropic island nest.

No phone, no lights, no motor car,
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Crusoe
It's primitive as can be.

So join us here each week my friends,
You're sure to get a smile,
From seven stranded castaways
Here on Gilligan's Isle!

Water quality was alarming as we traveled closer to the mainland.

 

 Lake Victoria: A Sick Giant

The ecological health of Lake Victoria has been affected profoundly as a result of a rapidly growing population, clearance of natural vegetation along the shores, a booming fish-export industry, the disappearance of several fish species native to the lake, prolific growth of algae, and dumping of untreated effluent by several industries. Much of the damage is vast and irreversible. Traditional lifestyles of lakeshore communities have been disrupted and are crumbling. There is a consensus among scientists that if an accelerated push to save the lake is not made soon, that this much-needed body of water would no longer sustain life.

Although the lake has been wantonly damaged over the years, it should not be allowed to die. Lake Victoria is invaluable to the many millions who depend on it for food, for employment and for recreation, and concerted efforts by the governments and local communities are needed if matters are to be put right.

by Nancy Chege
Copyright © 1995 People & the Planet