Water-The Power of a Drop

W—Water, think about a drop of water. One drop of water is mobile. A drop of water is prevailing. A drop of water can be crucial and every drop of clean water can be life saving. Water is something that so many of us take for granted. We waste it, we recreate in it, we even pay too much to drink it from little plastic bottles, yet so many in the world desperately need it.

A—Accessibility to fresh water limits billions people worldwide.  Billions drink contaminated unsafe water. Every day of every year, over 1,000 children die from illnesses like diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera caused by dirty water and unhygienic living conditions. 
T—Time lost gathering water and suffering from water-borne diseases is limiting people's true potential. Women and girls especially bear the burden of walking many miles at a time to gather water from streams and ponds - full of water-borne disease that is making them and their families sick. Time lost fetching it robs entire communities of their futures
E—Education is lost to water related sickness. Economic development is lost while people merely try to survive without water.  . Every day in Africa hope is put on hold as primary schools have no access to water and sanitation. . Water is the foundation of life, yet still today, all around the world, far too many people spend their entire day searching for it.
R—Ripple effect has great power in many ways.  Reliable water has a positive effect on all generations from the very young to the elderly.  Tabibu Africa has provided a ripple effect through education of purifying water and ways and means of fetching larger quantities of clean well water.  Water is truly the foundation of life and you too can relish in knowing you have made a difference in the life of another by helping. 

We Believe

 

We believe that a culture is built on the values of the people that comprise the organization. In other words, organizations that have clearly defined values and use those values to guide every interaction will build and sustain a positive culture and, ultimately, organizational success.  We feel Tabibu Africa, has ascribe to some very powerful values:

 We recognize and affirm the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual.

We treat all those we serve with compassion and kindness.

 We act with absolute honesty, integrity and fairness in the way we conduct our organization, the way we treat those we serve and the way we live our own lives.

We trust our colleagues as valuable members of our organization and pledge to treat each person with loyalty, respect and dignity.

These are the values that we believe should not just guide all, but ALL actions. These are the values that, when truly lived, have launched us forward in great humanitarian service.  These are the values that, when truly lived, have made a difference in the lives of all those we served and continue to serve—and that’s why we all embraced humanitarianism to begin with, because we chose to make a difference in the lives of others.

 

 L-R: Aj Jolley, Treasurer; George Mattena, VP; Jody Tabibu Mattena, President; Corrie Wima Goodier, Secretary; Lauri Wall, Medical Director. Missing from the photo George Njenga, In-Country Director, Emily Meidell Education Coordinator.

http://www.tabibuafrica.org/
 

Maureens Corner: Legacy of a six year old Kenyan Girl

During Tabibu Africa's maiden humanitarian expedition in July 2013 we offered a medical screening at the Little Giants Primary School in Ruiru Kenya. During this time we met a beautiful 5-year old little girl named Maureen. She came in with her step-mother who explained that Maureen was born with HIV. Her biological mother had contracted the virus prior to Maureen's birth and has since passed on. Maureen was raised since she was a baby by her father and step-mother who was the quintessential loving mother.

 Since birth Maureen had been receiving treatment which is offered by the Kenyan government for free but was having horrible reactions from it. The treatment that was given to Maureen had saved her life. Her life would have ended within the first year had it not been for these treatments offered by the government. Our medical team spoke with Maureen's Kenyan Doctors and came up with a great treatment plan. Together we hoped to keep her with us awhile longer. Maureen looked forward to her little sisters turning old enough to join her in school and loved learning to read.

Our Board of Directors then traveled to Kenya November 2013 to check on our projects, school, upcoming ventures, and to check on Maureen. Maureen came right in to greet us and we quickly noticed that she wasn't feeling well. Her health had continued to decline and though she had a fever, pneumonia, thrush, and couldn't eat she still tried to go to school everyday. She said that when she couldn't come to school she missed her friends and teachers terribly. After speaking with Maureen's step-mother and going over her most recent lab work we knew that the end was imminent. Maureen sat on my lap and I gently rocked her while one of our amazing hospice nurses spoke with the school director and Maureen's step-mother, preparing them for the inevitable.

I asked Maureen if she had dreams or if she knew what was happening to her. She told me that she knew she was going and she worried about her mum and sisters. I asked her what she loved most about life and she told me she loved school and her friends. I held in the tears and just held her.

April 9, 2014 I received a call from our in-country Director and the director of the Little Giants School telling me that Maureen had passed on....There are no words to describe the loss. An entire generation is lost because of this horrible virus and more generations are lost every year. This isn't just a disease that effects adults. This disease affects all ages, all genders, all communities, and every living community on this planet.

Tabibu Africa, Inc lead another humanitarian expedition May 2014 and while there we purchased and placed a marker for Maureen. She was placed in such a peaceful place; right by the home she was raised in and played around, underneath an avocado tree. Placing a marker for her was the least we could do because she touched our lives in such a way that keeps us working, keeps up plowing forward, and keeps us active.

Now we are so overjoyed that we've been able to make "Maureen's Reading Corner" at the Little Giants School in Ruiru Kenya. It's a small corner with a reading desk and growing inventory of books where children can go to read, study, and learn. Maureen's friends and little sisters can go to Maureen's Corner anytime and think of her while reading a donated book for free. All because of Maureen's dreams; learning and friends. 

Maureen may have been only six years old when she died but she left a forever legacy for her friends and the future students who will learn at the Little Giants School. Maureen left a forever imprint on all of us; another huge reason for us to keep doing what we do.

Asante and Mungu Akubariki Maureen (Thank you and God bless you Maureen)

For more information on how you can help please click here

 Donate now to help bring education materials and school supplies to Kenya for Maureen's Reading Corner

Sukuma Wiki (Stretch the Week) Recipe from East Africa.

It’s recipe time! Sukuma wiki (stretch the week) full of rich vitamins, minerals, and all of those "good-for-you" nutrients from kale and other leafy greens.

 

First I’m going to introduce you to Manja. Manja is a wonderful Maasai who has ventured out of his cultural norm a bit and is a professional cook! He normally works at a high end tourist camp as a chef and he makes superb food. When we are there we are so lucky to have him join our team and cook for us. This recipe comes straight from Manja and a few other recipes in the future will be coming from his as well. Here he is pictured with the normal breakfast he would have ready for us in the morning. delish!

The recipe I’m going to share with you this week is the second most common dish in East Africa. It’s called “Sukuma Wiki” which means “stretch the week” in Swahili. Basically it’s whatever vegetables you have left at the end of the week all thrown in a pot to make healthy goodness. 

 First go to the Maasai market which is on Tuesdays and Saturdays and buy your produce…or you can go to your local market, farmers market, or your own garden of course. 

You'll need: 

2 Tbsp cooking oil

Salt & Pepper

Ground or flake red pepper

6 or so garlic cloves minced

1-2 yellow onions

Approx 1 1/2 cups Chicken or beef stock, broth, or water 

 You’ll need one or all of the following (whatever you can get or have):

-clean and rinse all greens thoroughly several times to remove grit-

Kale- stemmed and cut into strips

Spinach

Collard Greens

Mustard Greens

Turnip Greens

Tomatoes-cubed

Sweet Peppers-cubed

1. Heat the oil over med-high heat in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Saute the onions and garlic.
2. Add the tomatoes & peppers and cook for a few minutes.
3. Add 1 cup of stock, broth, or water. Slowly add the greens until wilted.
4. Add remaining stock, broth or water. Add salt, pepper, and red pepper to taste. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer gently until tender, about 20-30 minutes.
5. You can add a chopped chili pepper or two with the onions. You can also add meat for extra flavor if you have it. 
   

Excellent nutrition and a hearty meal from 

Africa for your family!  Kufurahia! (Enjoy!)

Building a Room to Read

It is hard to grasp how big a million really is.  The number has become a part of our everyday speech; we give a million thanks, we have a million things to do, some make a million dollars, or make a million excuses.  But how big is a million.  A million seconds make up eleven and half days, a million hours ago we were in 1896 and a there are a million children in Kenya who do not attend school, nor can they read.

Tabibu Africa believes that education is the great equalizer in the world, and books are at the foundation of a strong educational system. For many children in Kenya, the gift of books truly is a gift of hope.  Sadly most Kenyan children who attend school have never owned a book of their own or had the luxury of these educational necessities.

Currently, Tabibu Africa, is working with Little Giants School to build a “room to read” for the education and enjoyment of all children in the community.  It is our goal to help create a culture of literacy and provide the tools of empowerment for the next generation of parents, teachers, and children. Access to an education as well as a library is one of the opportunities young people have to end the cycle of poverty and attain a better quality of life than previous generations.

It is our hope that the library will be place that will not only create a love of reading, but will offer and inspire an interest in great things.  We are excited to see children line up outside, who are excited to look through and read, yet again, the same book they read yesterday.   Tabibu finds great value in a quote by Dr. Seuss— “The more that you read, the more thing you will know, the more that you learn,the more place you will go.”

Lessons Learned, Meaningful Values

Since the inception of Tabibu Africa in 2012, we have grown immensely and learned incredible lessons all  for the betterment of those we serve and our non-profit organization.  We are grateful for the countless blessings bestowed upon us  by others, just like ourselves.  As our work continues here are some of the lessons and values we have gained insight in.

We've learned everyone needs a encouragement, a hug and a friend that makes them feel valued.

We’ve learned that fellowship can exist anywhere, when you have amazingly talented people with a sense of humor, great leadership, and a passion that gets you up in the morning.

We’ve learned the virtue of slowing down, how to breathe and the value of Hakuna matata ~ no worries.

We’ve learned that extreme poverty isn’t a strictly financial issue, but rather a much more complex problem attributed to a variety of complex factors, including a lack of meaningful choices.

We’ve learned the human heart is our strongest muscle and that courage, faith and hard work are contagious.

We’ve learned that we find true enjoyment in problem solving with a small group of highly talented people in uncertain environments.

We’ve learned sometimes our greatest strengths are our greatest weakness and grit is the most decisive trait of all.

We’ve learned to live in the moment a little bit more. Even when living in that moment is a very hard thing to do.

We’ve learned it’s good to do one thing every day that makes you uncomfortable.

We’ve learned to appreciate how precious a life really is, and to make a habit of giving thanks for one small thing each day.

We’ve learned real change comes in small, incremental doses. Behavioral change is tough, but if done right, everything changes.

We’ve learned you don’t need a uniform to serve, to feel that we’ve done something special. We are reminded on each mission that courage is not what’s on your chest; it’s what’s in your heart.

We’ve learned the greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own

 

Who are the Maasai?

"It takes one day to destroy a house; to build  a new house will take months and perhaps years. If we abandon our way of life to construct a new one, it will take thousands of years".

~Maasai belief.

 

The Maasai people of East Africa live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania along the Great Rift Valley on semi-arid and arid lands. The Maasai occupy a total land area of 160,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately one half million people. Their lifestyle and culture greatly reflect the harsh environment in which they live, with unpredictable rainfall and difficult agricultural conditions as well as dangerous wild animals. Maasai are known also as the famous colorful people who have managed to hold on to their traditional way of life until present time.

Maasai men have a reputation of being fierce warriors in order to live in the harsh conditions of the Rift Valley. One of their well known traditions is their amazing jumping contests. Being the best jumper makes you a strong man and also something the women look for in a suitable husband. Anyone who has had the honor of witnessing the men's deep lion-like chant and dance understands the immense awe of this rich tradition.

 

 Maasai women are in charge of taking care of the entire home which includes milking cows, fetching water and firewood, preparing food for the entire family, repairing their homes, milking the cows and tending to the children. The women are truly at the heart of the family as well as the community. One of our greatest joys is working side by side with the women of the villages we serve, which is usually done with beautiful Maasai women's song.

 

Grandparents and elders are highly respected and honored as they are the teachers that pass on rich knowledge of traditional medicines, beliefs, rituals and traditions that touch every aspect of Maasai life. 

The dress of the Maasai is wonderfully colorful. Women commonly adorn themselves with great circular plate like beaded collars and head bands of many colors. Arms and ankles may be wound with thick strands of copper coils and beaded jewelry. Men are usually adorned in bright red blankets and cloth. Both men and women often elongate their ear lobes by fashioning them with heavy earrings and beaded ornaments. Ocher, a red mineral ground to a fine powder, is frequently mixed with cow fat and artfully applied to the face and body. While driving from the city to the Rift Valley we often know we are almost home in the Maasai Mara when we can see the figures of red in the distance. It is an amazing sight.

We have been the guests of several Maasai villages and hospitality is definitely their forte. Guests are always given the best food, drink, entertainment with stories and song, and the best beds. Manyattas (a Maasai home) is built by the women with sticks, mud and cow dung, with a hearth in the center. Beds are a hammock like out of rawhide, finished with fine blankets. One of our favorite nights while in Africa was the one we spent in a manyatta surrounded by African sounds. 

The Maasai culture is so rich and beautiful, there's too much to describe in one post or one story so we will continue to post more and more information. We hope to bring more information of this ancient people to light so that the culture can be preserved, honored, and respected.

 

"A man does not know when he is well off; it is only when he is poor that he remembers the days of plenty."  
~Maasai Proverb 

 Please donate to help continue our work

www.TabibuAfrica.org 

Donate to help continue our work