Ken's Journey to Tanzania: Journal Entry #11

Note: For pictures associated with this blog entry, see the Atlantic Bay Sotheby's International Realty "Real Estate News Blog."

Hi Everyone!

This is something a little different than the journal I’ve been posting. Yesterday, Terri and I met at the Uwamaba office, the local AIDS support group. We had set up a meeting with the 10 people picked by the group for small business funding of $75 per person. There was a great deal of excitement amongst the 9 women and 1 man selected. Each person had a modest business plan and budget. If these people are successful they will set aside a portion of their profits to launch others in the group into their own businesses.

Since my last email referring to this enterprise, $250 has come to Baobab Home earmarked for this endeavor. These donations were unsolicited. Only $500 more is needed to start these good people on their way to greater self sufficiency. I am hoping with all the people that have been reading my emails that we can raise that amount and more. If we raise more it will go to the HIV mobile testing in the more remote villages that we start on the 30th. These are two very important pieces in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the stigma surrounding it here. Donations can be made on line through Pay Pal on the Baobab web site www.tzkids.org or by snail mail. The address in NJ is also on the web site. Please make sure you earmark whatever you send with a note referring to the Uwamaba group. Thank you The following are the names of the people chosen and a brief description of what their business plans look like. I will attach photos in a separate email so you can place a name with a face. Thanks again!

Ken

1.Mwayadna Muhela

She is a single mother with 3 children. Her husband left her when she tested positive even though it’s most likely he infected her. This is a common story amongst the 9 women. She wants to be able to sell cooked fish to the workers near her home as there is no local vendor.

2. Teresia Valande

She already sells soda and juices from her home and wants to increase her inventory and realize savings by buying in bulk. She is a single mother with 2 children.

3. Mary Mzamu

She makes uji from scratch, buying the 5 grains and grinding and combining them herself. She would like to expand her client base. Baobab would be interested in buying directly from Mary for the breakfast program at the clinic.

4. Subira Faranga

She had 4 children but 3 have died. She cooks in a handmade food stand which she would like to repair and expand. She would also like to be able to buy supplies of wood and charcoal in bulk to maximize profits.

5.Halima Magenge

She now buys batik cloth that she sells door to door. She wants to buy more cloth to make enough money to invest in a small shop as she finds the many miles she walks every day selling door to door a struggle.

6. Katarina Bundara

She now travels 5 hrs one way 3 days a week to sell her cooked fish in a remote village. She said there is a market for her fish locally if she had the money to build a small vending stand and be able to pay the small licensing fee.

7. Mwinyimbegu Mnyamisi

He sells raw fish in Dar once a week but even though the profit is good he wants to be able to make the trip 3 times a week to make enough money to keep his 2 children in secondary school.

8. Mariamu Hashimu

She needs money to finish her half built stand in which she already has a decent business selling doughnuts. She would like to expand her business and buy cloth to sell for women’s kangas, the colorful wrap-arounds that all the women wear.

9. Rehema Digale

She lives in one room with her 2 small children. Her husband left her. She already sells cooked cassava and other cooked vegetables and would like to expand her business and also buy wood and charcoal in bulk.

10. Ashura Rajabu

She would like to buy chicken and cook it at home and sell it to local workers in her bustling neighborhood. She supports 2 daughters. Her 2 young sons died of AIDS.