Kimwi Group:

Lucy
Keely
Sinead
Trevor
Jovan
Mark
Julie
Morag

Previous Remaining Volunteers:

Julie
Morag


We have been in Kimbwi Village for a week today and it has been amazing. As we drove into the village, the children ran after our jeep singing and shouting 'mzungu!'. All of the villagers stood outside to greet us. It was a very warm welcome indeed. When we arrived in our camp we introduced ourselves to the local village people, such as the Principle of the school and the guardsmen. I felt extremely welcome and as soon as we unloaded our bags and cooked our first meal of pasta, I felt like I had been here forever. I very quickly familiarised myself with the new surroundings, I think we all did.

The view we have around the camp is breathtaking. To the North we have a lake, to the East is our worksite, South is the water-well and West is farmland. It is absolutely beautiful to watch the sun rise and fall, as you can see it the minute it comes up... and the last minute it falls.

We began our work on the teacher houses last Monday. Keely, Sinead, Mark and I helped to make bricks. Jovan helped to build the pit-latrine and Trevor helped with some carpentery. The sun was shining and the local workers were bright and happy. As I started work, I truly understood why it was I wanted to come to Tanzania to help. The work may appear easy, but the fact that everything is done by hand and in such detail means that a lot of effort is required. To make bricks we mixed 60 buckets of sand, three sacks of cement and around 10 buckets of water on the ground with shovels. It was great!

My swahili isn't bad but I am devoting a lot of my time to learning more! As soon as I get the verbs and the prefixes in my mind I'll be great! I strongly advise that you get a head start on learning swahili before you arrive in Dar. It will help you - and the locals - so much, as you will be able to communicate and express yourself in greater depth than facial expressions and gestures! The local workers speak very little english too.

I will return to the forum to write more, but my time is running out and Keely and I are going to look for chocolate... (On the way to Singida last week, 7 of us shared a mars bar as though it was our last meal. Savour the flavour of all your favourite treats guys!)

Until next time..

Lucy x x

Hi,

I am travelling out to Tan on 15 August and I think I'll be in Kimbwi village. I was just wondering if you can get away without having steel toed boots!?!

Thanks

Katharine

Hi Katherine. Steel-toe capped boots are recommended for safety, in case you or someone else, drops something heavy like a brick on your foot. Try and get a cheap or second-hand pair from a charity shop or an army surplus shop. If you decide not to take a pair then do be extra careful around any site activities that could put your feet at risk. Moya