Walking the Walk on Kilimanjaro: Tupo Pamoja

Kili climb footage - just a taste

2008-09-26T02:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.theworks.cc/ftp/Kili.wmv

The final product is coming soon! For more information, please contact William Scott at The Works Media Company at: william@theworks.cc

We appreciate you Warren! Sina maneno. Basi.

Photos From Trip

2008-09-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Please click on the following link to view our snapfish album from Kilimanjaro: http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=27221220395276395/l=416602793/g=13602658/cobrandOid=1000001/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Kumbukumbu (Memories) on Kili

2008-09-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

"We shared what life was meant for and thus the depth of meaning for each of us: Consolation in the midst of hardship, Leadership by way of service to one another, Strength through group unity, Relationship in telling and building stories, Encouragement through humor, Discovery of gifts through the admittance of need. I could go on, but suffice to say a group of strangers became family." -Steve Haas

TUPO PAMOJA: Paul, Logan, Shaban, Elizabeth, Jeannette, Stefanie (Supporter, but didn't climb with us), Erin, Anna and me (Not pictured but who climbed with us: Vayan)

Home visits to Neema and Anna's homes, with everyone sporting their new sunglasses. Thanks Williams family!

Destination: Rongai Route. 6 days on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Are you reeeaaaaaady?! Please note Simon, our guide, towering above. Enthusiasm is clearly NOT his weakness.

Life skills discussion around the dinner table. Many a story were shared here. Daily topics of discussion in order: Goal-setting, Confidence, Role Models, Peer Pressure, and Achievement. Everyone was a student. Who were the teachers? Depends on who you ask!

I know you Americans out there want to know - who made it to the top? :) We're so goal-oriented, aren't we? Erin, Warren (videographer), Elizabeth, Logan, Emmanuel, Vayan and I summitted Uhuru Peak at 19,340 ft (5895 m); Neema, Shaban and Anna made it to Gilman's Point, at the lip of the crater, a major feat and very close to full summit at 18,638 ft (5681 m). However, this experience was not about who made it and who didn't. It was about being together, sharing our stories, our ups and downs together over 6 days. As Simon says, making the peak is a plus, but that's not what it's all about. We all pushed ourselves individually, as far as we could go. And that's something to be proud of!

My head's still spinning from this adventure. To symbolize the movement and growth we've all experienced through this time together - Tanzanian and American alike - I'm keeping this photo sideways. So, let us look sideways. Let us challenge ourselves. Let us think outside the box. Let us step outside ourselves. Let us push ourselves to be better. Let us venture outside of our comfort zones, our comforts. There's more to this LIFE than ME. LIVE!

Again, sincere thanks to everyone that made this climb possible! We couldn't have done it without you all's support - in all forms,
Tait
http://taittanzania.blogspot.com

*More pictures to be posted soon

The climb: August 17th-23rd

2008-08-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Wow. I have few words to describe the climb. It was momentous for my students, for my friends and for me. I am so proud of my kids, for how far they pushed themselves physically, emotionally, and culturally. They embraced new food (first time eating peanut butter, cheese and tuna salad for most of them), they opened up about their personal lives, and climbed longer and higher than ever before in their lives. They were vomiting, wobbling and worn to the bone. We all experienced great discomfort, but no pain no gain eh?

Kilimanjaro was more than a mountain. It was a place for growth...for all of us, American and Tanzanian alike.

We climbed much more than Kilimanjaro. We experienced more than simply reaching Gilman's peak at 5300 meters. We grew as human beings, under the majesty of a nearly full moon, under a full sky of stars and under the rooftop of Africa.

And I am left speechless.

I will be processing this past week for many days, weeks and months. I promise I'll get back to ya'll soon with pictures. We'll be posting them as soon as possible.

Tupo pamoja. Nguvu ni umoja.

Oyay for the big climb!

2008-08-11T08:33:00.001-07:00

Leaving the big city of A'town for Mt. Meru. We departed the town's center, from the clocktower, at 8:30 am to begin our all-day 'practice hike.' Destination: Waterfalls in a Maasai village. Emmanuel charges ahead with a smile.

Ready to summit (from left to right): Anna, Neema, Vayan, Paulo, and Emmanuel (Shaban unfortunately couldn't make it). I told the girls no skirts on the mountain! That'll take some getting used to.

"We think we can...We think we can..."

Ushirikiano(Teamwork). Vayan places a rock in the river for Neema and me to pass.

Fun in the waterfalls.

The boys standing under the main falls. Victory.

Discussing our upcoming climb while studying a map of Kilimanjaro, highlighting our route. The excitement builds...

Tupo pamoja. Arusha town sits below us kuleeeeee.

August 17th, we'll be embarking on our adventure up Mt. Kilimanjaro's 19,340 feet, returning to solid ground on the 23rd. We invite you to support us via prayers and positive thoughts. I have faith we'll all return changed, having overcome a major feat together as 6 Westerners, 6 Tanzanians (6 females, 6 males).

Who and where from are those 6 Westerners might you ask? They will be flying in this week and they are (in order of their arrival): Erin Popek (friend from the School for International Training; Alaska resident, yogi and globetrotter), Jeannette Howell (a new friend hailing from Atlanta, GA), Elizabeth Williams (friend from UNC-Chapel Hill; born in North Carolina but now residing in Sydney, Australia), Logan Williams (Elizabeth's husband; originally an Oregonian, now surfing the waters of Australia) and last but not least, Warren Steyn of "The Works" media company in Dar (originally from South Africa) who'll be serving as videographer on our climb. We look forward to sharing stories over pictures and our short piece on DVD once produced. Who knows - this climb may not be the last, mungu akipenda...

Asante sana (thanks again) to all the donors who are making this climb a reality!

"When we wake up in the morning, we have two simple choices: go back to sleep and dream, or wake up and chase those dreams. The choice is yours."
-Naden Naicken

Tanzanian climbers selected from Global Alliance Vijana Center!

2008-07-08T02:25:00.001-07:00

These students were selected by our school's staff based on their academic performance, strong character and giving attitude to join our Kili empowerment climb. Our 6 Tanzanian young stars are:
At top (from left to right): Neema, Shaban (reserve), Annastazia, Emmanuel
At bottom kneeling: Vayan, Paul
Not pictured: Veronica

Neema, Annastazia and Veronica are studying Secretarial duties, Vayan and Shaban are studying English, and Emmanuel and Paul are studying Welding.

I'll be sure to report as we commence training (long walks and jogging) over the next few weeks in preparation for the climb beginning on August 17th. My students are beyond excited. Emmanuel was asked by a teacher how he felt after the announcement. His response: "Nasikia kama Yesu amerudi" - I feel like Jesus has come back to earth. It's like a dream, they said.

*A beautiful print my talented friend Alston Wise created in honor of our climb. If you'd like to order one (profits'll go directly to support our climb), or some of her other brilliant prints/cards, go to: www.bwisepapers.com or directly to Kili print: http://www.bwisepapers.com/node/61

Why?

2008-04-03T01:48:00.000-07:00

Hey - it's me, Tait, the crazy Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania, organizing this fundraising climb up Mt.Kilimanjaro, a dream I've had since 2004. Perhaps you're wondering WHY we're doing this? Here goes...

Currently a third-year Peace Corps HIV/AIDS outreach volunteer in Tanzania, I am working at an orphan center called Tumaini (meaning "Hope" in Swahili). This center specializes in vocational training for over 60 orphaned and vulnerable children in order to make them self-reliant. Even though this school is in sight of the majestic Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro, most of my students have never climbed them. Charged as a teacher of life skills, I hope to implement an extracurricular activity for these students: a climb up neighboring Mt. Kilimanjaro this August 2008.

My desire is to lead a handful of these orphaned youth, my students, along with six friends from home, up Kilimanjaro as an exercise in empowerment and leadership. My dream is for these kids to experience their own mountain, their own environment, first-hand. Experiencing - and hopefully ascending - Kilimanjaro's 19,340 feet and five diverse climactic zones, ranging from equatorial to arctic, should be an opportunity not only available to tourists; Tanzanian students also deserve the chance to experience the splendor of their country that tourists access everyday. Furthermore, my friends and I will be able to learn about the wonders of Tanzania from Tumaini's students and from local guides. We will also share with them American culture, providing cultural exchange.

Therefore, we are all raising funds in order to support seven of my current students, orphans, who have lost one or both parents due to the AIDS virus, to climb with us. The hope is to support my students to join us up the mountain, as well as to provide them with the proper gear to do so, especially hiking boots. In order to achieve this goal, we aspire to each raise $2,000 USD as well to collect gear donations. All of the money we raise will go to support my students and friends to climb together, with any remaining money going directly to the Tumaini Center of Global Alliance for Africa, an American-based NGO (to learn more about this centers' work, go to: www.globalallianceafrica.org and click on "Programs", then "Orphan and Youth Initiatives" and then "Tumaini Vocational Training Center").

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing mountain in the world, and summiting this 19,480 feet mountain with local guides is the opportunity of a lifetime. After this climb, my friends will also have the opportunity to visit and maybe teach a lesson or two at my school. Please assist us in this endeavor to help empower the children of Tumaini. For your convenience, we have established a Paypal account. Please make payments directly there (link on top right of this page).

Your support, as well as that of any of your friends who might be interested in endorsing our endeavor, would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to sharing this extraordinary experience with you upon our return.

Thank you in advance. Tupo pamoja ("We are together")!
Tait

I was blessed to have the opportunity to climb the great mountain called Kili back in November 2006 with my Aunt, Uncle and friends. Here's a shot from my first summit of the magnificent mountain with new friends, our guides Seky and gang, holding the Tanzanian flag.
What a surreal, indescribable feeling it was to reach the top, called Uhuru Peak, at 19,340 feet! Even more lasting is the relationships built and memories - singing, for instance, the "Hokey Pokey" and other local songs with our guides and porters around the camp sites and our talks over meals shared.
*For more on my life and work as a Peace Corps volunteer, karibu my blog: http://taittanzania.blogspot.com
*For more information on Tumaini's services and students, see the blog post below...

Tumaini - "Hope"

2008-01-16T19:48:00.000-08:00

About the Tumaini Center:

Tumaini is a vocational training center and school for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Its parent NGO is called Global Alliance for Africa (GAA), with its main fundraising office based in Chicago. Established in 1996, GAA has 16 African partners and over 1,500 orphans and vulnerable children involved in its programming efforts to date.

Their mission is to foster self-reliance among youth and community development on a grassroots level. Thus, all of their staff is Tanzanian (aside from me) with major decisions made in consultation with the American staff in Chicago (for more details, see: www.globalallianceafrica.org). Tumaini provides not only vocational training, but also English, Spanish, French and Math classes so as to prepare Tanzanian youth for tourism and secretarial industries. Furthermore, they cooperate with several partner agencies and small community-based organizations (CBOs) in Arusha, such as Women in Action (WIA), Msamaria, Huruma Children’s Trust, Sisters of Canossa, and Edmund Rice Secondary School. These partners serve as feeders to Tumaini center, identifying and assisting orphaned youth. I’m really looking forward to meeting them in the next month in order to assess the potential for joint projects, seminars, etc.

During this next year, my primary responsibility is to serve as a Life Skills teacher for Tumaini’s 20 or so orphans or vulnerable children, along with assisting with their bike program. Core to the center’s vocational programs, Tumaini’s bicycle maintenance and repair program is the essence of sustainability, providing the majority of the 12 current staff salaries (including teachers, cooks and a grounds man). What occurs is second hand bikes are shipped in a large container to Tumaini, whose children (along with staff guidance) fix up these bikes and sell them to the public with rather large price tags, particularly for Tanzania (bike prices range from $50-100+). Spare (au “spea” kwa Kiswahili:) parts are also sold for additional profit. We’re expecting such a shipment in October; all are anxiously awaiting its arrival.

*The current staff at Tumaini, holding gifts, bidding Patrick (previous Peace Corps volunteer) goodbye*

The center’s aim is that this specific vocational training coupled with life skills (better decision making, communication and relationship skills) will provide these children (ranging from 13-20 years old) with a safe, structured environment, allowing them to more effectively integrate socially, communicate with others and build self-esteem. Our hope is that these youth will realize their potential, contribute to their personal, social and economic advancement, as well as engage in the local community. With half of new HIV/AIDS infections occurring among 15-24 year olds worldwide, enhanced education and vocational skills can be life saving and mitigate the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on a larger scale. Moreover, providing these kids with greater access to education and income generation is a primary means to alleviating poverty.

The Students

2008-01-16T19:45:00.000-08:00

From Tait Davidson, Teacher at the Tumaini Center and leader of our trip:

Pictured here are my new students at Tumaini Center - all orphans - displaying their collages, our Lesson #1 - meant to serve as an identity and empowerment exercise. I asked them to select and paste pictures to exhibit who they are now and/or to reveal who they want to be (goal-setting is one of the most paramount life skills!)

*Godfrey - wants to be a Mechanic*

*Leyeyo - wants to be a Welder*

*Alex - wants to be a Welder*

*Neema (my only girl - a rockstar, this one) - wants to be a Secretary or Businesswoman*

*Ally - wants to be a Mechanic*

*Iddy - wants to be a Mechanic or own a Garage for Auto Mechanics*

*Ibra - wants to be a Welder*

*Azizi - wants to be a Mechanic*

What and where is Mount Kilimanjaro?

2008-01-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

Mount Kilimanjaro, or 'The Roof of Africa,' towers over the African landscape at 19,340 feet/5896 meters. Mount Kilimanjaro is situated in Tanzania, very close to the Kenyan border. This mountain offers the trekker the prestige of climbing the highest freestanding mountain in the world, while not requiring that the trekker have any prior climbing experience. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest 'walk-able' mountain in the world, meaning any physically fit person with adequate preparation has a good chance of reaching the summit. This climb is not to be taken lightly, it is a tough hike to the top and requires physical and mental preparedness, but reaching 'The Roof of Africa' is well worth the effort!

Kili Trip Prep - What does it take?

2008-01-16T19:17:00.000-08:00

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest ‘walkable’ mountain and does not require previous climbing experience. For that reason many people approach the climb with the attitude that Kilimanjaro will be an easy walk. Mount Kilimanjaro is not an ‘easy’ walk but instead probably one of the toughest physical and mental challenges you will ever face. The days preceding the final ascent are not extremely physically demanding, indeed a person with a reasonable degree of fitness should have no problems. Yet the final ascent to the peak is the toughest part due to the extreme change in altitude. The failure of the body to adapt quickly enough to the reduced level of oxygen in the air as one reaches higher altitude is the reason a person experiences altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness seems to affect people indiscriminately, regardless of age or fitness level, yet becoming physically fit before your hike will increase your chances of having an overall enjoyable trip. One should be able to walk for several hours without too much of a problem. Aerobic activity, such as cycling or running, is a fantastic way to get and stay in shape. Hiking before this hike is probably the best means of preparing yourself for this adventure. Not only does hiking prepare you for the particular difficulties one faces on a hike but it will also further assist you in your efforts to become physically fit.