Inspired at lunch

I’m house-sitting the next two weeks for a couple I know here in Arusha. They’ve gone off to South Africa on holiday and I luckily get to take care of their place which they’ve just begun renting. This is not an ultra exclusive home or anything but just a quaint little cottage, tucked away off the main road that leads into town. I guess the reason I’m feeling lucky is that I get to have some alone time for a little while. No noisy roosters, dogs, tv, stereo, babies, and adults for a short while. Last night was the most peaceful and restful sleep I’ve had since I’ve been here.

Today I ventured out for a short walk and stopped into this little outdoor roadside restaurant for lunch. As I’m sitting there waiting for my ‘roast & chips’ (which I always question myself for ordering as I know the slab of raw meat hanging just inside the kitchen has been there all day with no refrigeration) a little kid probably no more then 6 years old brings over a huge stack of the newspapers for me to buy. I see a lot of these kids around town and I’m always amazed at the jobs they do at such a young age. The place they get their papers is close to where I work and their always there early getting their days supply. They then move out with a 10 pound stack under their arms and sell door to door, shop to shop, and restaurant to restaurant until the evening hours. Can you imagine a six year old in the states doing the same thing.

After buying a couple papers, I’m approached by another youngster, this time probably no more then 14, carrying everything from radios, calculators, belts, handkerchief’s to underwear, and all on his two arms. When I say carrying, I don’t mean in a box or a cart, I mean literally on his arms which are in the shape of a cross and from it hang all his wears. I politely said 'no thanks' and watched him move on to an older gentleman who seemed interested in the radio. As they both start to haggle with each other on a fair price which always seems to take well over 20 minutes I can’t help but notice the sales skills of this young man. He unwrapped and wrapped the radio no less then five times and doing it each time with the swiftness and care of a cosmetic salesperson at Nordstrom. The radio couldn’t have been worth more then $10 bucks and all the while I couldn’t help thinking to myself what the potential for this kid would be if only he lived somewhere he could make a lot of money. The sale eventually fell through but I’m certain this young man has had his fair share of sales.

Shortly after the walking salesman moves on, I’m then approached by another fellow, this time about 18 years of age. This boy unfortunately was not trying to make money but begging for it. The kid obviously had a health issue which I don’t know by name and can only describe. Do you recall those funny glasses you can buy in trinket shops that have the huge blood shot eyeballs that are connected to springs that dangle from the frames. The one’s where you put them on and everyone has a good laugh. Well this was what this kids eyeball’s looked like unfortunately and it wasn’t so funny this time. I ended up giving him some change and felt sad that no one else seemed to follow suit.

As I sat there and watched these three young men but in particular the two young businessmen, I couldn’t help but feel inspired about being here in Africa. This place is filled with young people that are barely making it yet here they are, with happy faces, selling their goods, and doing a good job at it. There are lots of young folks like this – poor but motivated and eager to succeed. Educating these kids is the answer but unfortunately a lot of them don’t get the chance to go to school as they are in the streets hawking their wears for a few shillings everyday. Unfortunately, these are the facts that these kids face but it’s not hopeless.

The Tanzanian government does pay for all kids to receive a primary school education and then pays for about half of those who finish primary school to receive a secondary school education. For those lucky enough to make it all the way through secondary, the government goes on to pay tuition for university. As you can probably imagine, most of the kids who do make it to university tend to be wealthier ones who have not had to worry about where their next meal was coming from. I’m not sure if educating from the top down is the best method for alleviating poverty but at least it’s a start. Hopefully the government will learn that the benefits of educating all kids at least thru secondary school will have more benefit on the masses then making sure all the wealthy kids get free university. Then one day young kids like the paperboy and salesman will have the opportunity to go to school and not have to scrounge up a few shillings for a meal everyday.

Here are some random pic's from around town which have nothing to do with my post but I know are always fun to look at :)


Arusha Market


Huskies in the House


Young child at the market

Micro Entrepreneurs

Work has been going well the past couple weeks. The staff are finding the Word and Excel lessons extremely helpful which makes me happy. Since I'm having to create my own lessons I too am learning more about these apps then I ever expected to know. I've also begun the process of drafting a 2007 strategy report and budget which I hope will put TCBA in a better position to acquire more funding. TCBA is desperately low on capital and if we don't find funding soon business may start to decline which as in any business ain't so good. We've had a new volunteer from the UK join us as well and I've spent the past couple days bringing her up to speed. She has a PhD in chemistry and has spent the last couple years in retail marketing which should come in handy.

Yesterday we went out into the field and visited some of the TCBA clients. Its great to see how these microentrepeneurs choose to spend thieir loans and the proogress they are making. These are a few of the folks we visited.

Beatrice Mhango is a seamstress and has just received her fourth loan from TCBA. The newest loan is for 500,000Tsh (1000Tsh = US$1.00.) With the loans she's received from TCBA she's been able to purchase two new sewing machines, increase her raw materials, and employ two more people. Beatrice and her staff now produce 4-5 dresses a day when a year ago Beatrice was making just one on her own. With each dress that is made Beatrice now profits 5000Tsh which is five times more then she used to make. Beatrice and her husband have 3 children in primary and secondary school. She would like to continue to grow her business as she had done the past couple years and hopes all her children will complete secondary (high) school.

Juma Hamis is a bicycle repairman. In March he too received his fourth loan from TCBA of 500,000Tsh. With the loans he's received Juma has purchased 10 used mountain bikes which he rents either on an hourly basis for 200Tsh or nightly for 500Tsh. Juma has also bought new tools for his repair business and charges 5000Tsh when he services bikes. Juma hopes his new inventory of bicycles will be enough to put his eldest boy thru secondary school. School fee's can be as high as 400,000Tsh per year if the child has not be sponsored by the government. Only 1/2 of all students qualify for government funding. Juma has 3 more children who will soon be old enough for secondary school.

Rasmus Raphael owns a retail kiosk and has qualified for his third loan from TCBA of 500,000Tsh. He used to be a door to door salesman but now has enough funds to increase his inventory and rent a kiosk. Rasmus sales now total 25,000 - 30,000Tsh per day when as a door to door salesman they only totaled 10,000Tsh. Rasmus hopes to open a larger retail store someday.

Madiia Ally is a hair stylist and with her latest loan from TCBA now owns her own salon. With the loans she has received from TCBA, Madiia has also been able to add one employee and purchase 3 new hair dryer's which now service between 15-20 clients a day. Business is good and Madiia hopes to move to a bigger location soon.



TCBA staff along with the MondoChallenge founder and country managers.