Truth, lies and musique...

As some of you know, I have seen a much darker side of Tanzania and dealings in third world countries these past few weeks.  Without going into too many details (as this is a public forum), I'll just let it be known (and have already stated) that this 'business' of volunteering and flooding Africa with volunteers, donations and aid is certainly a murky world.  I can see why those in the West become cynical and fed up when dealing with third world nations -- it is certainly easy to have this happen.  Indeed I found myself questioning all of the time and energy I am putting into my projects over there, feeling a sense of futility for all my emotional and physical efforts... However, I tread on that path for only a short while, and have shaken off the dust and am more determined then ever to continue my efforts to help the impoverished people of the world.

Far from feeling fed up (although I must admit to a touch of cynicism), I am mostly thirsty for knowledge.  With the full understanding that I am a 'newbie' at this, I've dedicated myself to learning as much as possible about Africa and the developing world before I go back there again.  In my new found zeal, I've managed to knock off four books in a week =)

"The End of Poverty" --  Jeffrey Sachs
"Unbowed" -- Wangari Maathai
"The Challenge for Africa" -- Wangari Maathi
"Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity Worldwide" -- Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

At least the naivete has worn off.  Now the real work can begin. 
 
"Perseverance... keeps honor bright:  to have done, is to hang quite out of fashion, like a rusty nail in monumental mockery."  ~William Shakespeare


A quote from "Half the Sky" [I STRONGLY recommend this book be read. It is poignant and at times horrifying, but alongside the telling of the horrific oppression and violence that women in the developing world face on a daily basis, there are remarkable tales of courage and heroism that will (hopefully) inspire the Western world to sit up, take NOTICE, and take ACTION!]

"To tackle an issue effectively, you need to understand it –- and it's impossible to understand an issue simply by reading about it. You need to see it first hand, even live in its midst. One of the great failings of the American education system... is that young people can graduate from university without any understanding of poverty at home or abroad. Study-abroad programs tend to consist of herds of students visiting Oxford or Florence or Paris. We believe that universities should make it a requirement that all graduates spend at least some time in the developing world, either by taking a "gap year" or by studying abroad. If more Americans worked for a summer teaching English at a school... in Pakistan, or working in a hospital like HEAL Africa in the Congo, our entire society would have a richer understanding of the world around us. And the rest of the world might also hold a more positive view of Americans."

http://www.amazon.com/Half-Sky-Oppression-Opportunity-Worldwide/dp/0307267148


And to give voice to my latest concern... How can I balance teaching, singing, research, writing, volunteer work AND delve into my long-held dream of producing and writing music?  I wish I stuck with music tech when I first started it 16 years ago at NYU (instead I got swept into classical music and haven't had a moment to breathe from that lifestyle until my self-imposed one right now)...

"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it.  The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use."  ~Earl Nightingale

Time to kick the funk!

I've been back in the States for less then two weeks, and it's been pretty rough, I'll tell you.  First I was completely overwhelmed by the material excess of American society, then I got sucked into worrying about my career/future (damn those October application deadlines!).  After stressing hard for the past week I've decided to forgo these applications for yet another year, and instead concentrate my efforts on Tanzania projects and making music.  These are the only two things that really speak to me anyways...  sometimes it is hard to discern the difference between things we think we should do and things our heart truly wants to do.

The response to this blog has been amazing, thank you so much for reading it!  I've tried my best to be candid, and the process of explaining my experiences has been extremely cathartic.

I am now actively searching for a web designer for Wheels of Action and The Orphan Games.  If you or anyone you know is interested, please don't hesitate to contact me:  julieanneklein@gmail.com

Nakupenda marafiki!

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[email I just sent out to friends and acquaintances]

Hello friends!

As some of you know, I spent this past summer in Tanzania, Africa volunteering.  I worked on several projects, including teaching in an informal school (a community school for kids that cannot afford the fees for government school), working in a center for street-kids (orphans and homeless youth), and giving lectures in the community on HIV awareness.  There are many wonderful humanitarian efforts in Tanzania, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to spend my time helping such wonderful people.

One of the organizations I was fortunate to come across is Wheels of Action, a Danish NGO run by Javier Colon, an incredible person and now a wonderful friend of mine.  Wheels of Action is sponsoring an event called The Orphan Games  -- these are Olympic-styled sporting events specifically for orphans held in Arusha (November 28, 2009) and Dar es Salaam (December 12, 2009).  Javier has created a fantastic network of support.  The Games are financially supported by Vodacom (the leading mobile company in Tanzania) and the American Embassy.   He has partnered with The Orphans Foundation Fund and has even enlisted the help of several Cuban Olympic coaches who have agreed to help coach the kids in preparation for the events.

What we need is a web-designer who would be interested in revamping the Wheels of Action website and creating a website specifically for the Orphan Games events.  Wheels of Action already owns the domain names and I will take care of writing the content (text), but it would be great to have a really snazzy website to accompany such an awesome project.

If you (or anyone you know) is interested, please contact me.  I know how busy everyone is, that we are all concerned with our personal careers, relationships, lives, etc... I could design the website myself (albeit very simply), but the kids of this country are amazing, and they deserve the best I can offer =)

Please spread the word!! 

Asante sana!  Nakupenda marafiki!

Julieanne =)


http://www.wheelsofaction.org/projects/the-orphan-games.html

http://www.orphansfoundationfund.org/stories/259

The Orphan Games

I am proudly the official editor/writer for a great project in Tanzania, The Orphan Games.  I met Javier (the founder of Wheels of Action, an NGO based out of Denmark) in Moshi, and am enthusiastically supporting the awesome work he is doing in Tanzania.  Read more about The Orphan Games here:

http://www.wheelsofaction.org/projects/the-orphan-games.html

Facebook (search 'The Orphan Games')

I have been commissioned to write an article defending the use of the word "orphan" in the title of this project (certain sponsors prefer the term 'vulnerable children').  The following is what I have created thus far. Feel free to comment and add suggestions!

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Empowering Orphans: The Need for Candor

A beautiful trend is emerging in the West. More and more citizens of first-world nations are reaching out with hearts, minds and hands to Africa, assisting underprivileged communities with initiatives such as microfinancing, mosquito net donations, HIV awareness and free ARV (antiretroviral) provisions.  Tragedy and suffering in Africa has long been recognized, but at last it seems the world is finally willing to work together to help this struggling continent achieve the humanitarian assistance it rightly deserves.  Each NGO has its own mission: education, women’s empowerment, health care, environmental protection, care for orphans…  A powerful web of support is being weaved – the combined energy of individual volunteerism and government assistance is creating a collective awareness of the issues at hand, while providing the means for ordinary individuals to proactively address these issues.

The Orphan Games project was established as a means of gathering, inspiring and empowering orphans and underprivileged youth through athletic activities. Using competitive sports as a platform, the Orphan Games events in Arusha and Dar es Salaam hope to provide a sense of belonging within the orphan community, promote healthy lifestyle habits, encourage self-respect and respect of others, and facilitate the development of lasting friendships. According to the 2007 statistics compiled by UNICEF (The United Nations Children’s Fund), Tanzania has 2.6 million orphans – 970,000 of these children have been left parentless from the AIDS epidemic.[1]  Among the many issues facing impoverished nations, the suffering of parentless children ranks among the most heartrending.  Wheels of Action is committed to helping alleviate that suffering by giving orphans the opportunity to experience joy, sportsmanship and a sense of personal achievement.  These elements are invaluable in giving underprivileged kids something that is essential to their survival: a sense of hope.

At first glance, the title “Orphan Games” might be seen as stigmatizing, but it is our opinion that the word orphan presents the most accurate and sensitive description of these youth. In a world filled with social inequality, marginalized groups are often viewed and referred to in a derogatory and/or unfavorable manner.  This is the basis of stereotypes – an oversimplification of characteristics of a group or class of people, often carrying negative undertones and painting inaccuracies with an unflattering brush. “The effects of stereotyping can fluctuate, but for the most part they are negative, and not always apparent until long periods of time have passed. Over time, some victims of negative stereotypes display self-fulfilling prophecy behavior, in which they assume that the stereotype represents norms to emulate. Negative effects may include forming inaccurate opinions of people, scapegoating, erroneously judgmentalism, preventing emotional identification, distress, and impaired performance. Stereotyping painfully reminds those being judged of how society views them.”

The opposite extreme is the lingo of ‘politically correct’ expressions, words that tread so carefully in communicating meaning that the truth is often blurred and obscured.  Used with the intention of minimizing offense to a particular social group, the appropriate nature of the selected terminology is ambiguous, because the selection of such terms is in and of itself subjective.

When referring to marginalized, disadvantaged groups such as orphans, what is needed is an objective, factual reference to these children.  If we call them ‘vulnerable children’, defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “capable of being physically or emotionally wounded; open to attack or damage,” we risk presenting a generalized and quite negative opinion of a large group of children, portraying them as weak, frail and debilitated.  Certainly some orphans are vulnerable, but to declare the entire subset of children ‘open to attack or damage’ supports an unfavorable and pessimistic stereotype that is difficult for these children to overcome.  Instead, by addressing these children as orphans, defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a child deprived by death of one or usually both parents; one deprived of some protection or advantage,” we categorize this group accurately, factually and objectively.

Orphaned children are greatly disadvantaged; the difficulties orphaned youth will face in their lives are inarguable.  Rather than further contribute to the misunderstanding, isolation and social discrimination they will undoubtedly face, volunteer organizations and individuals committed to bettering their lives must begin by accurately and impartially identifying the circumstances of those lives – this begins with the terminology we use in reference to them.  The name “orphan” is not derogatory; it is a legitimate, veritable description of their social status. In a life filled with loss, uncertainty and misfortune, these kids deserve respect and validity – this can only begin by identifying and embracing the position that they have unwittingly and tragically found themselves in.


Mtoto umleavyo ndivyo akuavyo.

[the way you raise a child is what he/she will grow to be].
–Swahilli proverb

My kids (more to come soon...)!

Pics at last!

What does it mean to volunteer...?

Now that I am back in the states, I have had some time to think and process (albeit not too much)... I was talking with someone last night about some situations I found myself in while I was in Tanzania, situations way out of my realm of experience and understanding. He was commenting/criticizing the way that I acted... rash, impulsive (seemingly), hot-headed, 'American', naive, etc... And I must admit these words ring true, and I have chastised myself for some of my behaviors as well. BUT, I was in a serious situation with little-to-no support or trusted guidance, so I acted from my heart (perhaps not always the best thing since I tend to be quite emotion driven).

Was I naive? AM I naive? Yes, certainly. All people who volunteer with such vacation-volunteer programs as CCS are INCREDIBLY naive. They travel halfway across the world thinking they will make a difference, yet with little to no understanding of the culture (and sub-culture), society and structure, what lasting impact are they really having? Tanzania is an incredibly complex place, as are all third-world nations I am sure. There are levels of corruption and dealings that are such an intricate part of the society that perhaps it would fall apart without such things. So the volunteer from the nice, middle-class family spends a lot of money to travel halfway around the world, puts in a few hours a morning making kids lives fun, goes on safari, plays cards with friends, and calls it a grand humanitarian effort in their life (and on their CV). Is this volunteering? Is this bettering the lives of disadvantaged peoples? It seems the 'volunteers' get more out of the experience then the Africans.

I had read about such cynicism online before I left for my trip, but already committed to CCS (with its non-refundable policies), I decided to just go with it. And I still am happy I did. It got me to Tanzania by myself, something I'm not sure would have happened otherwise. And my experience in TZ was quite unique -- I can say with full honesty that I worked my ass off there, going to morning placement, afternoon placement, and a lot of extra work on top of that. Yes I partied at night, but I gave the people placed in my path every ounce of energy I could possibly muster (as did Sophia, Andrew, Julia, and a few other volunteers who really were committed to making a difference)...

And now...? It is time to really begin volunteering my time, energy, efforts, heart, and money. Now I have a grasp of the culture, the workings of the country, the language (and am committed to mastering Swahilli by the time I return in June)... What does it mean to volunteer? It means to care for your project as you would care for your child, giving it all the energy and devotion you can possibly muster. Someone I work with lived in an orphanage in TZ for 1 1/2 YEARS... now that is making a difference. I will be working on various projects (The Orphan Games) throughout this year, and then will return in June for 3 months. In the meantime I plan to read every book on Africa that I can get my hands on. It's a start, its a committment from my heart. I genuinely WANT to make a difference, and that will take a lot more effort then the 6 weeks I have put in this past summer.

I guess I am annoyed by the perceived 'goodness' of people who choose to do these programs. "Oh, you braved the dangers of Africa to go help poverty-stricken kids, you MUST be a good person..." It's a farce really-- anyone with enough money can make themselves look noble and valient.

Sorry for the negativity. I'm going to figure out how to put pictures up today so you can finally see my life for the past few months =)

Moshi vs. Tokyo

So I've been in Tokyo for the last few days. My friend Kim (who works for the Department of Defense) had an unexpected trip here during my stay with her in Seoul so I decided to tag along (free hotel in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I'll take it!). Tokyo is cool -- exciting, full of style and funkiness, great architecture, amazing culture... but I'll take Moshi over this any day. We are staying in a military hotel so there is a lot of American restaurants, etc. here. This morning I went to the American buffet for breakfast and had an omlette made for me. It was a bit undercooked so I went back up to the omlette bar and asked the guy to cook it a little more for me. Instead he threw it away and started making me a new one. I almost punched him in the face! I was quite upset but by that time the omlette was already in the garbage and after protesting vehemently to him and lecturing him about wasting food I just gave up. I went back to my table with my new omlette quite depressed - my kids in Moshi eat maybe 1-2 meals a day of ugali (flour and water) and people in first world countries throw food away because it isn't cooked to their liking.

Its all starting to hit me. I left Africa but was still traveling, and to be quite frank I haven't had much time to think about things. It's all been a bit of sensory overload, especially since this is my first time in Asia, my first time meeting my new 'niece' Rachel (who is absolutely precious and adorable by the way), my first time really getting to know Emily (Kim's 3 1/2 year old daughter), seeing Kim for the first time in several years, etc... All that I have seen, all that I have experienced in the past 2 1/2 months is still very much in the frontal lobe, and I have not had the opportunity to process / reflect upon it. I am going to need some serious alone time when I get back to the states, but of course I am starting to teach the day after I return! My mom thinks I am crazy but my students have been wonderfully patient and supportive of my travels throughout the year (not just this trip but the many trips I have taken to perform around the US and Canada) and I don't want to deprive them of music lessons any more then I have to. I also desperately need the money - this trip cost waaaay more then I anticipated, mostly because I tacked on an extra two weeks in Africa (and the cost of all those changed plane tickets - *sigh*), and then an extra two weeks in Seoul and Tokyo. I have zero regrets, but I do need to hustle and work hard this year, especially since I am for sure going back to Africa next summer.

So how do I feel? I miss Moshi, I miss the friends I made there, I miss the simplicity of life, I miss walking 20 minutes to the internet cafe, I miss the peacefulness, I miss the rhythmic bird call, I miss talking to Maya, Sophie and Ange, I miss the million texts I got a day there (Africans LOOOOVE to text), I miss the beautiful sunshine, I miss Konyagi, I miss Mzungu Bar, I miss Glacier (another bar with awesome live music on Fridays), I miss Dismus, I miss my boy, I miss feeling and knowing that I was making a huge difference in kids lives. Heck, I even miss the roosters, even though they drove me nuts for the first couple of weeks.

It's hard to go back to 'the real world', to these lives that we carve out for ourselves with all the superficial worrys and trappings of first-world Westernized society: do my jeans look good? what am I going to do on Friday night? are my thighs fat? what do I want for myself? I I I, me me me ... I talk to friends back home, and its always me me me, I I I .... I hate those two fucking pronouns.

Well, everyone told me this would be a life-changing experience, and it certainly has. I'll tell you one thing: being in Africa 6 weeks has pretty much cured 20 years of distored body image / eating issues... What really matters in life, what is important? My view on those questions is forever changed.

So yes, I am nervous to go back, but not terribly so. Take each day as it comes, enjoy the bountiful (and I mean BOUNTIFUL) gifts anyone reading this blog has been blessed with, appreciate and love that which is in front of us, lead a quieter, more simple life, take the I out of life and think first of others less fortunate, and get back to Africa as soon as possible!

Thanks for reading this blog. I'll continue to write here when I get back to the states -- I plan to do a lot of research on African history/politics/culture and will post my thoughts and findings here for anyone interested. If I don't call you right away, its only because I am overloaded with thoughts / feelings coupled with intense culture shock and jet-lag probably (especially since I start working 24 hours after I land at Newark airport).

I love you all. Live in peace and appreciation for all you have. The next time you take a hot shower, use a microwave, buy cheap food at the grocery store, buy cheap clothes at the mall, go drinking with your friends, watch TV, take antibiotics, just remember... there are a billion people who live on less than $1 a day. Think of that and give thanks to the universe that you were born at the longitude/latitude you were, because in the end, whether we live an easy life or an incredibly hard life is really a random happenstance of what GPS location we were born in.