New Blog....

Sorry for the switch, thought I'd give tumblr a go. You can find the new blog here

I'll post on a regular basis- random thoughts, updates, inspiration and anything else you can think of.

Miss you all!

B

xx

LONDON

Since skype is hard to do, I figured I may as well start up on this again for everyone at home.

So far London has been amazing. I love it. Dave and I moved into our flat two weeks ago, so I'm finally feeling settled. This is a pic of our main room.

School is really good. Hard, but really good. Its pretty intimidating- the majority of my classmates have a vocabulary like Scotts. I definitely feel like the "dumb american" at times. My dissertation is already stressing me out. I have so many ideas floating in my head, but no idea how to go about it. Eeekkk! Good thing I have awhile to figure it out.

Right now I'm taking two modules in my course, the first is Learners, Learning and Teaching in the Context of Education For All and the second is Learning, Education and Development: Concepts and Issues. Both are interesting, a lot of reading which I find extremely difficult to not just do it, but understand thoroughly what I'm reading...I get sidetracked too easily. I'll read a page and then realise I didn't actually absorb any of it. At the end of this term I have two 5,000 word essays due. I think I'm going to write one on post-conflict education in Rwanda, but I'm not sure about the other. Probably do something about EFA (education for all) in Tanzania.

Highlights of London so far:

• Spitalfields Market- its amazing!!! such cool shopping and antiques. Haven't actually bought anything yet, but its so fun to wander around
• Being fairly close to Camden Market (2 tube stops away from our flat) Dave and I have gone a couple times and browsed around looking for flat decorations--yet to buy anything there as well, but its been fun. We also found a great dim sum place thats half price Tue-Thurs, really good find!
• The food- its sooooo diverse! We went for Tunisian/Moroccan food last night, have had multiple currys, etc. They literally have everything, especially at Spitalfields market, its amazing all of the different smells.
• Dave and I spent a day walking around London- went to Southbank, Waterloo bridge, Oxford Street, etc. My favorite thing in London is just walking around. Especially on a nice day, which are rare thus far, but I don't mind. I'm still loving London.

View from walk across Waterloo bridge

• The pub across the road from our flat, Shaftesbury Tavern. They serve nice food, the staff is really friendly and we've enjoyed going there to watch the football matches. Surprisingly, I'm still not sick of watching football. We watched rugby last week, which reminded me too much of american football (though I can't say that without Dave explaining how its sooo much different) But in the end, rugby is boring, I'm sticking with footie for now.
• Going out with Dave's friends in Shoreditch. Trendy, hipster area, but I absolutely love it. There are so many amazing vintage and charity shops. Scooter would love it too.
• Bristol City- Dave and I went to a match last weekend. We lost, but it was still really fun. And there were lots of fights, which I thought was really exciting! BCFC!
• Love the location of my uni. Its right in central London with so many other universities around. Its so nice being there.
• DAVE GETTING INTO THE FIRE BRIGADE!!! Thats definitely been the biggest highlight! So happy for him!! Starts training March 14! wooooooooooo I'll be dating a fireman...I mean firefighter- apparently saying fireman is a no-no.

Thats about it for now. I'll write more later. Miss and Love You! Wish I was skiing the pow pow with you! xoxo

Journey Nyumbani Children's Profiles

Journey Nyumbani Street Children's CentreHere's some pictures and information on the children.

When I first arrived in Moshi, Tanzania this is where the kids were sleeping....

We got them into a home, started homeschooling them, and got their school assessments so that they may start school in January.This is one of the bedrooms at the center
This is the classroom and cooking area


I will post more pictures of the centre when I get them, we are currently in the process of moving to a different facility. Here are some pictures of the kids and some information about them for those who are curious. It is just $30 a month to sponsor one of these kids...that will cover their rent, food and education.

Danieli Daudi
Age 16 DOB: 18th December 1992
Mother: Maria Daudi died 2001from Mwika
Father: from Dar es Salaam not known
Family members: 2 sisters and two brothers. There is one grandmother (bibi) living in Mwika called Martem
Danieli comes from Mwika, Moshi.

He came to live on the streets of Moshi in 2007 because his bibi was unable to support him and feed him. He spent 2 years at Amani Street Children’s Centre until they tried to make him return to his family. Due to continuing problems Danieli returned to the streets until he was found by Journey Nyumbani 9 months later.

Danieli is a bright individual, who likes to read and he is a keen artist, always creating new designs. He enjoys playing and watching sport, listening to music and is extremely fashion conscious. Danieli is also a competent cook and very practically minded.

He hopes to become either an artist or a musician in the future and to get married and have children.

Rashidi Hamedi (Mwamedi)
Age 13, DOB: not known
Mother: Laiti is living in Pasua, Moshi alone and unmarried
Father: is not known
Grandparents: none living
Other family members: 1 brother and 2 sisters all living with their respective fathers

Rashidi comes from Moshi. He left home age 11 because his mother only had some casual work and when she came home there was no food, so he went hungry. He went to stay with an auntie who fed him, called Florida, in Marangu. He left his auntie’s house (after some unknown length of time) to go home to his mother but she wasn’t around and the door was closed so he decided to go to the streets and began a 2 year existence surviving on the streets of Moshi. He has spent short periods of time in other street children institutions such as Msamaria, Amani and Mkombozi but has never been able to settle in. He has been assessed to start school in January 2010 in standard 3-4.

Despite a hard exterior this boy has a very sensitive side which he keeps firmly guarded in group situations. He is however able to work in a 1 to 1 situation fairly successfully and is entertaining to be around if he feels secure and that people are respecting his feelings and actions. He likes ‘bling’, giggling, food and singing. He has indicated that he would like to be in a position of responsibility when he is older such as a teacher, soldier or driver. He would also like to help children!

Faraja Godifrey
Age 13, DOB: 1996
Mother: unknown
Father: unknown
Grandparents: unknown
Other family members:
We are still gathering information about Faraja.

Faraja likes learning English and reading and hopes one day to become a pilot or a soldier. He dislikes thugs and rapists which may reflect his experiences living on the street. He is an amiable young person, easy to get along with, who has a good sense of fairness.

Josephu Paul
Age 15, DOB: unknown
Mother:
Father:
Grandparents:
Other family members:

We are still gathering information about Josephu

Mwajabu Rashidi
Age 13, DOB: unknown
Mother: Upendo Hadji is a fisherman
Father: Rashidi Mduma is not known as he left the family
Grandparents: unknown
Other family members: twin brothers aged 17: Johnny a driver and Joshua a fisherman

Mwajabu comes from Mikocheni, 40km from Moshi. She left home because there was no money to send her to school. She has been living in Msamaria Street Children’s Centre for 1 year after leaving home and spending one night on the streets of Moshi. She left Msamaria because she was unhappy there and her possessions were being destroyed by other children.

Mwajabu would like to be a doctor or a nurse to help sick people. She has completed standard 2 at Moshi Primary School and is looking forward to resuming her education in January 2010. She speaks some English and is keen to improve.

She is a lively girl who is always ready to show off her talents at cleaning and cooking and spends hours looking at English language reading cards to improve her pronunciation.

Augustino Blass (Leloo)
Age 13, DOB: 1996
Mother: dead
Father: alive and he has made recent contact after 1 year. He lives in Kibosho.
Grandparents: Bibi lives in Chemchem
Other family members: brothers aged 21, 19, 14 and two sisters aged 20 and 16
Leloo comes from Kibosho-Kirima, Moshi, Kilimanjaro region

After the death of his mother he tried to go and live with his father but his father denied that Leloo was his son and turned him away. Leloo has spent two years on the street. Leloo has completed 2 years of primary school and is keen to get back to studying. He would like to be a pilot or a teacher, learn to drive, and live in a nice house with a car one day. He likes soccer and athletics, and is one of the most willing workers on site; he is up early (7am) every day washing dishes ready for the morning porridge and never complains. He is a very quiet boy who is slowly learning to find his voice and use it!

He would like to receive trousers, shoes and a smart tee-shirt to wear to go to the river.

Nemensi Kagoma
Age 14, DOB: 17/3/1995
Mother: Anna Gabrielle died in 1998
Father: Kagoma Mbrima is alive but not known
Grandparents: bibi has died
Other family members: he has 1 brother called Agipiti (11 approx) living with the church

Nemensi comes from Newland, TCP 9, Moshi
His mother died when he and his brother were very young and the church took his brother in, he was just able to walk and talk, and the priest in charge promised to send Agipiti to school. Nemensi decided to find somewhere else to live and came to the town centre where he was able to find food as part of a big group of street children. He lived on the streets for three years and then decided to go to Kenya where he was assessed for school entry and was told that he was gifted and he entered his first year of formal education in standard 5. He studied for 2 months and learned to speak English and then moved back to Moshi. He has not studied at any Tanzanian schools yet.

Nemensi would like to be a technician or a scientist to create new technologies. He would like to go to an English speaking school and then on to complete primary and secondary level education before moving onto higher education. Nemensi is a highly intelligent individual who has flourished mentally despite his life experiences. He is able to express himself in a very articulate way when he is listened to and is learning to channel his energies in a positive way.

He has aspirations to travel the world and visit different countries including Asia. He treasures freedom, honesty and the ability to listen to others.

Emmanueli Antony
Age 14, DOB: 1/1/1995
Mother: Alive but unwaged
Father: Dead
Grandparents: ?
Other family members: 1 sister

Emmanueli comes from Arusha. He had been living on the streets of Moshi for six months because there was no money to pay for food and his education. After completing his primary education he wants to become a soldier to help his country. Ema loves drawing and especially likes to use the colour red. He likes to swim and to travel. Ema is one of the centre’s main cooks and is always willing to lend a hand in the kitchen area. He has a friendly nature and is easy to get along with. He has already completed standard 3 of his primary education. One day he hopes to marry, have children and live in a good home.

Kelvin Frank
Age 16, DOB: 23/05/1993
Mother: alive and called –
Father: no contact
Family members: 1 brother and 2 sisters
Kelvin originally comes from Moshi, Kilimanjaro region

He went to the streets when he was 6 years old because his mother was unable to pay school fees and provide sufficient food for her children. The father was also absent and providing no financial support for his children. Kelvin has lived on the streets in Dar es Salaam where it is extremely tough to be a street child and he eventually came to Moshi and lived at the Mkombozi Centre where he went to school and reached standard 6 in primary education. Kelvin has been away from home for many years but it has been over two years since he last saw his mother until he came to live with Journey Nyumbani. She was extremely happy to know that he is safe and well and living with us.

Kelvin has expressed an interest in becoming a welder and owning his own business or becoming a driver on safaris. Before that he would like to go to learn English at a special school and complete his primary education. He is a keen rapper and a bright and playful boy who wants to be called ‘father’ one day by his own children.

Martar Netaramu (Kimangano)

Age 14, DOB:
Mother: Joyce Kimangano, alive but living on the streets
Father: not known
Grandparents: both dead on her mother’s side
Other family members: her brothers died but she has 1 auntie living in Tanga.

Martar comes from Rombo and has been living on the streets of Moshi for 3½ years. After leaving Rombo she moved around to Marangu, Kahee, Shokoni, and visited her auntie in Tanga for a short period before finally arriving in Moshi and to live on the streets. She has several periods of short stay in street children’s centres, remand centres and once in a police cell but has never managed to settle in one place for more than a month.

Martar’s life has been especially difficult on the streets because she is a girl. She dresses to hide her femininity but has been induced into certain activities which have resulted in her contracting health problems. These are now being treated and we all hope for a full recovery.

Martar is a sweet and playful girl once she is able to drop her understandably, protective front. She has had very little support in her life but despite this she remains buoyant and is looking forward to a future where she is safe from attack and can express herself freely.

She believes a witch doctor put a curse on her and that she can only be safe living with white people. She wants to be good citizen, respect other people regardless of age and become a good person.

Kelvin Jordan

Age 15, DOB:
Mother:
Father:
Grandparents:
Other family members:
We are still gathering Kelvin's information

Hery Amini
Age 16, DOB: 1993
Mother: dead (she died 2 years ago)
Father: a miner in Mirerani-Simanjiro or dead?
Grandmother: Lydia is alive and living in Kilimanjaro region
Other family: 4 sisters and 5 brothers all older than Hery
Hery comes from TPC, Kilimanjaro

Hery has been living on the streets for 7 months because he had problems living at home. He was living with his bibi but she had no money to care for and feed him. Hery completed his primary education but there was no money to pay his secondary school fees. Hery is interested in becoming a mechanic or a safari driver and is keen to learn English.

Hery is a stylish individual who loves listening to music and having fun. He has a strong personality and knows what he likes and dislikes. He is one of the few people who does not smoke or drink alcohol.

Hery would like to receive a shirt, shoes, a belt, socks and underwear.

Baraka Bernard Habibu
Age 18 DOB: November 1991
Mother: Bear Vincent has died
Father: Habibu Omari is alive but there is no contact
He has one grand mother living in Uru-Kishu Mundu called Eliminata Temba
He has several other relatives including bothers, sisters and aunties, none of whom are able to help support him.

Baraka was born in Kilase Hospital in Kishu Mundo in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.

He came to live on the streets because his mother died when he was 10 years old and there was no-one able to care for him.

He has lived in Mkombozi where he was able to go to school, but they were unable to continue to care for him as he grew older. He moved back to the streets but continued to go to school where he attained standard 6 at primary school level.

Baraka wants to learn to drive so he can be a safari driver or work for the street children’s centre. He is always cleaning the cars and other vehicles on site. He is hard working and is the chief cook at journey Nyumbani. He recently celebrated his 18th birthday with a huge banana cake baked in a traditional fire.

Baraka is a handsome young man and he dreams of marrying a beautiful wife and living in a good home. He is a talented rapper and an aspiring performer of all things musical.

He would like a small radio, tee-shirt, cap and shoes, plus pilau and soda on xmas day.

What have I been doing??

Sorry for the lack of updates but all of my time has been out into setting up this.....
please read and let me know if you are interested in donating, sponsorship or even coming to Tanzania and volunteering. Anything will help and be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

People around the world have shown great interest in the issue of street children in Tanzania. It is possible to use this support to provide these children with shelter, food, education, vocational training and an overall change of lifestyle. By addressing the issue of street children in Tanzania now, we can help these children to work towards a brighter future. Journey Nyumbani Street Children’s Centre was created to bring these changes to the community of Moshi, Tanzania.We are currently housing 14 children between the ages of 12 and 18 in our centre located in Shantytown, Kilimanjaro. The children were found in Moshi and its surrounding villages and have been living on the streets for up to 7 years. Some of these children may have an abusive family history, but most often the cause for homelessness is lack of means for financial support. Our short-term goals include mainly keeping the children safe and providing them with their basic needs.The long-term goals of Journey Nyumbani are to provide the chidlren with a proper education. We are currently providing home-schooling in the form of preparatory courses for their desired schools in January 2010. In addition, Journey Nyumbani hopes to involve the children in the appropriate vocational training to encourage an eventual self-sustaining financial situation. Art and music lessons are also provided to allow for a creative outlet as well as a potential source of income. Journey Nyumbani is a newly developed organization in need of financial help from abroad. If you are interested in making a contribution, it would be greatly appreciated.

It costs $20/month to feed one child. It costs $10/month to provide housing for one child. Would anyone like to be a sponsor?? I have pictures and inofrmation on each of the children at JNSCC, which I will be posting as soon as I get home and can upload them. In the time being, there are some pictures posted on the Journey Nyumbani facebook group page. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=193362125352#/photo_search.php?oid=193362125352&view=all

The school term in Tanzania begins in January. We are trying to raise $100 for each child by the end of December 2009. Please let us know if you are interested in making a donation! My email is bglenn85@gmail.com

I love and miss you all. I will also be setting up a US NGO for Journey Nyumbani and organizing fundraisers in the next couple months, so if anyone has any ideas or input please let me know. The more involvement the better!

Thank you and see you soon- I'm home on Thanksgiving!!

Update!

I made it up Kili! It was absolutely amazing. Words cannot describe it. It was hard, but I think I found it the easiest out of our group. I went up with Jen, Marybeth, Bekah and Carly. Marybeth was vomiting at the top, I felt so bad for her. Our guides were great though they came over and sang to her and tried their best to cheer her up. We all made it to the summit! I was so impressed!! I thought it would be a lot harder than it was, the altitude didn't affect me at all. I actually found the descent the most difficult part because of my knees. When we were up there it rained and snowed the entire time. It was freezing, and when we got down and looked up at Kili from our house, you could see how much more snow was on it...we definitely didn't have the best weather! It was such an amazing experience, and I love the girls who I went with as well. We leave on Safari on Monday, I'm very excited. hope to see the Big 5! We added the Serengeti to our trip so now we will be camping. I feel like I am such a good camper now!

Things have also been going well with the street kids. We've gotten them into a house, which is really nice and I hope to have the NGO set up soon. The Art in Tanzania people aren't very happy with us because it isn't through them, but I feel like helping the street kids is a lot more important than teaching nursery school. It has been very rewarding, and difficult to see. The first time we went to the house I started crying because the kids were so happy. Their eyes weren't as empty. We have had problems with them still because they are so used to the ways of living on the street, but hopefully things will continue to get better. We took them to waterfalls a couple weeks ago, which was a lot of fun and down into a cave where the Chagga hid from the Massai....there were tons of bats in it and it was really small; at points we had to army crawl through it.

I leave for Safari on Monday...we added on the Serengeti to it, so now we will be going to Masai, N'gorongoro, Lake Manyara and Serengeti. I am very excited, but I also feel that I could have put the money I've spent on Safari to a better cause like the street kids rent. It is only $200 a month, and we have the next couple months sorted, but I am worried what will happen after that, I suppose I will come home and try to do a lot of fundraising once we have the charity set up properly.

In 2 weeks I am off to Zanzibar. I can't wait especially because on top of the 5 girls I've been doing this program with some of the other volunteers are going to come too, and its Jen's birthday while we are there. It is going to be a lot of fun...plus I will finally get hot showers! I've extended my trip until the end of November now. I wish I could stay even longer. I think my plan is to go home and pay off this trip and then start saving to come again for a longer amount of time. Tanzania is amazing. I have made so many amazing friends! I have invited them all to come to Utah, so hopefully everyone can meet some of them at some point: Emma is 22 from Scotland, Carly is 21 from England, Dave is 23 from England, Johnny 21 from England, Johnny is 18 from Scotland, Jen is 22 from California, Sally is 21 from Australia, Jodi and James are 21 from England-they are the cutest couple and are traveling around the world this year, Marybeth 28 from Boston/D.C., Bekah 27 from Ohio/D.C., Leah 21 from Canada, and there are a lot more volunteers that keep coming and going but that seems to be the core group. Everyone is a lot of fun. We also have become close with all of the locals, they call me "Spears" because everyone seems to have a hard time saying Brittany. I also keep getting mistaken for being "shamby shamby"- which is half black/half white. Dave, Emma and I went to Arusha (a nearby town) last week and it was really funny because when Dave and I would walk together we got more Ola's than Hello's because we both have dark hair and skin and everyone thought we were Spanish. Emma is trying to get flights to Utah for this Spring to come skiing, so hopefully everyone can meet her.

All in all it has been an incredible trip. Sorry I have not been able to update more. I haven't had the time. I miss everyone and love you all! I'll try to post pictures soon, it just takes SOOOO long to upload them here.

On Saturday I helped cook food for the street kids (orphans or runaways who live on the streets)
Me and some of the street kids

Hiking to the Waterfalls

The monkey!

Carly and I grinding the coffee beans

The Masai who live by us, they're very nice and we've been hanging out with them a lot because 2 of the girls are teaching them English. They danced for us Friday night, so I took a lot of pics-this is just one of them, they jump so high!!!

And some pics of Amsterdam.......

I ran out of computer time, but I will upload more as soon as I can!

I'm Here

I'm finally here and love it. I don't have very much time to write but here are some high points...

• 12 hour layover in Amsterdam- did a canal tour and went to the Anne Frank museum
• saw a monkey in the jungle at the base of Kilimanjaro
  
• jumped off a waterfall
  
• drank banana soup and banana beer- they were both gross
• volunteering at Kilimani Nursery School in the mornings and the Orphanage in the afternoons. I LOVE IT!!!!!!
• how friendly everyone is
• learning Swahili
• the hour walk to Kilimani nursery
• All of the other volunteers
  

And the low points...

• I was SO tired in Amsterdam I fell asleep on the canal tour
• rats live in the house...seriously...and they are big
• the bathroom is disgusting...I'll post a picture soon
  
• the toilet at the Nursery is a hole in the dirt outside
• being SO tired the first couple of days
• the hour walk to Kilimani Nursery in the heat