A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE IN AFRICA

We left Arusha heading towards the Simajiro game area when we spotted a small damed lake where several Masai women were collecting water. We drove down to the lake and our guide introduced our group to the women and delivered to them 4 of the 6 water filters that our group had donated enough funds to purchase. Our guide in conversation learned how they know the water gives them many different illnesses, some requiring a doctors care and costs but this murky lake is there only source of water for which they walk 3 kilometers each direction with jerry cans to collect. She then explained how the water filters work along with pictorial directions and give 4 of the women a complete water filter. This will drastically impact the lives of at least 40 members of their tribe as each woman had families of over 10 people. The organization behind these filters will follow up in the village in 3 months and again in 6 months to document health improvements. The women were so grateful and appreciative. The Masai tribes in Tanzania are clinging desperately to all their traditional ways of village life , in dress, education and family life style. They are polygamous, and have very large families. I will have more to say on that subject after we visit a Masai village and learn more. It was a beautiful but humbling experience.

Signing off KO