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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Journey in the World of Poverty

When do you say you are poor?  Economists defined it as –“an individual is considered as poor when income is below the official poverty line or poverty threshold”.  The poverty lines measures the income needed to obtain basic and non-basic needs for one year.  The most commonly used global definition of global poverty is the absolute poverty line set by the World Bank. Poverty is set at an income of 2 dollars a day, and extreme poverty is set at one dollar a day or less. This line was first created in 1990 when the World Bank published its World Development Report and found that most developing countries set their poverty lines at one dollar a day.

These Tanzanians earn at least more than USD 1 a day for selling their crafts

In the social context, during the UN's World Summit on Social Development, the ‘Copenhagen Declaration’ described poverty as “…a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.”

Through the definition of World Bank, based on the statistics of 2005, the most stricken countries from poverty are in the South Asia; with 509 million poor people and Sub-Saharan Africa; with 387 million poor people .  Maybe, the figure is in billion of total together with all the developing countries in the world.
Will they experience a world without poverty?

The different kinds of foreign supports, reliefs and aid to developing countries never stop yet poverty still persists.  I wonder if it ever ends.
It’s my second time to do a volunteer work and to witness the reality of being a poor.   My organization (an international charity organization) sends volunteers to the different developing countries in the world to help fight and eradicate poverty.  These volunteers (which, I am one of those) share their skills to help empower the disadvantaged people (or the people who suffer from the adverse effects of poverty) by working with partners (usually local Non-Government Organizations).  The working areas are in different sectors such as livelihood, health, education, governance, etc. (mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and Gender Development to these sectors).

The Tanzanian women who wants to be empowered to alleviate poverty
This is only one of the approaches to alleviate poverty.  The impact maybe be seen in long term or maybe it contributes a little change in the lives of the poor people but the experience taught me so much and changed my perspective in life.  Well.  I am having an allowance of more than 2 dollars a day.  Do I have the right to complain?

Friday, May 20, 2011

when reality strikes


A popular mall in Dar es Salaam -  many shops are inside
  • I was in the mall one time and went to a shop where nice clothes and shoes are there.  I want to buy one of the dresses displayed.  But when I checked the price, the cost is equivalent to at least 3 days of my monthly allowance.  I left the shop with a heavy heart and pitied myself.  Have realized that my economic status now is not capable to have that kind of luxury.  Although, the USD conversion is around $20 only.

IIII
  • I was in dala-dala going back to my place from the city.  It was busy hour where everybody was rushing to go home.  I was not able to get a sit.  I was on the isle together with other fellow passengers.  It was unfortunate that this dala-dala wants to pick-up all visible humans at all stops.  Everyone was squeezed together that my feet have no more space to stand on.  A fellow passenger accidentally pushed me so I lost my balance.  My right upper arm bumped at the edge of the seat beside me.  I almost shout and cried not because of the pain on my arm but because of self-pity.   So, this is how to live like a common Tanzanian.  A comfortable ride (like an air-conditioned taxi) is forbidden because their earnings will not allow them to – perhaps it is just enough to survive daily; a meal and dala-dala ride.
swollen arm from dala-dala ride


the ubiquitous dala-dala in the city
  IIII
  • It is expected that isolation is part of volunteer’s life.  But it’s terrible when all you can do is to watch the candle light at night while it slowly melting because the power is out for almost 8 hours and the batteries of your gadgets are all emptied. 
my candle light when power was out



IIII
  • Sometimes, it’s so lonely to wake-up in the morning that those familiar faces and things you used to have and see are not there and you realized that you are now in unfamiliar and strange environment.
IIII
  • When you are alone most of the time, you have to bear yourself even how grumpy you are. You have to accept who you are, even it hurts inside.  You have to be patient.  It’s only you and yourself that you can rely on.          
  IIII



  • There’s no place like home. No matter how you compensate yourself for temporary things that make you feel good in a while. Still, the longing in your heart will not be easen. All you want to be is in the place where your comforts are – Home.

  
“If we are incapable of finding peace in ourselves, it is pointless to search elsewhere”.
 Francois de la Rochefoucauld





Friday, May 6, 2011

Nusu Nusu (Not good, not bad)

The area of my placement was affected of accidental bomb explosions from a military camp which killed more than 20 local residents last February. I was thankful that this happened while attending the language training in the countryside but felt sad for the victims especially to those who lost their loved ones.  Because of this incident, I had to stay in the city center of Dar es Salaam until my security clearance is released while my fellow volunteers have gone to their placements.

Our Kiswahili Class together with our Mwalimu (teacher) Benjie (standing R)

The delay was an opportunity for me to explore the city center.  Although, there was no proper orientation and no map on hand, I took the chance.  The daily experience taught me many simple things that help me deal with my survival in this foreign country.  Was able to discover routes and streets that can easily take me to restaurants and different shops from and to the hotel where I was staying, have practiced to negotiate in Kiswahili with vendors when buying fruits, and became comfortable and accustomed to the environment - the bad traffic, not so courteous drivers, Tanzanian greetings, and the attention from some of the local people who calls me MChina (Chinese) or Bombay or Indian but never a Filipino (they are not aware that there’s a country Philippines exists on the map).

Have learned to take dala-dala; this is a common public transportation in Tanzania.  It is a van converted into a bus, mostly dirty, uncomfortable, non- air conditioned and always pack with many people beyond its normal capacity.  The dala-dalas go around the city.  They are   much cheaper than taxi but have to bear the discomforts. All passengers are squeeze together inside. Breathing normally is impossible. Sometimes, I am lucky to get a sit beside the window but if I happen to sit on the isle’s side, can’t avoid to be pushed by the passengers who are standing beside me.  But I observed that nobody complains.  Like they are just glad they have a ride going to their destination.  It was just me who is having hard times.

And when not outside, most of my time was spent in the hotel room surfing the internet (not free wi-fi, have subscribed a pre-paid broadband connection) and occasionally review documents from my employer.  My room has no extra amenities – no television and no aircondition (maybe, these are defined as luxury by our (we, volunteers) benefactor or just an organization’s culture).  Since I’ve been staying in the hotel for too long, my presence became proverbial to the owners, staff and some regular guests. Some of them have shared their interesting life stories and hardships which made me realized that I am so blessed of many things in life.


Neighbourhood

Finally, after waiting for more than 30 days, my security clearance arrived.  My placement is in the suburb area of the City of Dar es Salaam. It’s not that far from the city center; around 20-30 kms. away.  The travel time is usually 2 hours because of unpredictable traffic.   The place is one of the areas in the city where the urban poor reside.  Almost like a slum but better than those I have seen in Bangladesh and in my country.  

One of the windows in my house
My house is in the same compound where the owners live.    It’s a tiny house but it suits my size.  It has 2 floors.  The 1st floor is the kitchen and the bathroom and at the 2nd floor is a little veranda, living room without couch but with a desk and chairs where I can eat and work, and the bedroom which is enough to accommodate a bed.  There are many windows.  They are large and open, no shields but covered with grills and screen.   There are no spectacular views to see around except the rooftops of the houses of my neighbours.

When I go out for work, the same familiar local greetings and from the little children; they greet me shikamo (a greeting to elders which means “I hold your feet”, the reply is ‘Marahaba - “delightful”), the attention from some locals and the dala-dala ride but it’s much easier here. 

Now, is my 3rd month in this country.   Got some issues and difficulties but trying to surpass them all.  In the future, I anticipate that there are more to come.  But I believe that these are all part of my journey while searching the significance of my existence.

 
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Maria Robinson