Unafanya Kazi? (What is your work?) Wapi? (Where?)

have to travel 2 hours including traffic to my work

My life in Tanzania (I am referring to Dar es Salaam) is spends mostly commuting in the city from my house to work through the ubiquitous dala-dala.  Fellow passengers who cannot contain by themselves of their curiosity on me always ask  - Unafanya Kazi? (What is your work?) Wapi? (Where? ) With my struggling Kiswahili, I try to explain that I am working as a volunteer and assigned to a local NGO somewhere in one of the suburb areas of Dar es Salaam.   

after 2 hours of travel, have to take this short cut to get another dala-dala ride (below)

have to walk few meters before reaching the office

the office where I work

*these children always give me a company at the office while waiting for the others 

With the frequency that I encounter these questions, I have started reflecting on the significance of my life as a volunteer in Tanzania.  I did not come to seek adventure but to find a deeper meaning of my life and to make something that will touch other people’s lives  It’s almost 6 months now that I am here.

A peddler who works hard for his family

I think I have done so little that may change or give impact to the lives of the poor people.  What is happening now is the opposite.  I am the one that is on the process of being transformed because of what I am learning from them.  

Despite of my complaints of discomforts, these are compensated of many lessons about life that will be forever planted in my heart.  Everyday, I try to put efforts to be a better person, be humane, more wiser and be more appreciative of what I have.

* their parents want them to have good education

community work  under my umbrella.  not raining. can't stand the heat of the sun

By the time that I leave this country, I might not have delivered the technical skill that is expected of me but for the poor people, being with them for a while just listening about their stories on their hardships is enough for them to feel that there are people in the world who care for them.

her backyard garden is the major source of their family income

with the community

* consent was given by the guardians and parents of these children to be on these  pictures