My Placement!

At last! I've found out my placement. Every since I started talking about going to volunteer in Africa one of the first questions that I've gotten from people is "what will you being doing over there?" I am thrilled to finally have an answer to that question. 

I will be working with the Kilimahewa Amani Women's Group based out of the Kilimahewa Women and Orphan Education Center. Kilimahewa is a community about 10 miles outside of the town of Moshi where I will be living. There is no secondary school in the town or in the surrounding communities so there is a big problem with lack of education there. As a result the community struggles with disease, alcoholism and domestic abuse. There is just no education on how to prevent disease or the effects of drinking and abuse on the community. The word "amani" means "peace" or "security" in Swahili and with that thought a group of local women came together to establish this center as a sort of community co-op. 

There is now a nursery and a school at the center. They are working to grow the school up through high school so that they can educate the community. They are also working to educate the village's women and to give them a future. This group has banded together to share resources and help one another start small business. That is where I come in. Though I will spend some time helping out in the school and nursery, my primary job will be helping these women start small businesses. Most of these businesses revolve around selling their handmade clothing and jewelry. I can't wait!