Editor’s Note: Readers may recall a column written by Amber Kapiloff, who traveled to Tanzania in 2010. She’ll be going back to M’Sangani primary school for a couple of weeks. Past columns can be seen here.
|
|
Happy 2011! Last year at this time I was feverishly trying to fit one more book into my duffel bag to bring along to Tanzania and it’s my absolute thrill to let you know that I’ll be doing that again in just a few weeks. Thanks to a couple of random people, my parents, I’ll be heading back to the village of M’Sangani and especially to the kids of the M’Sangani primary school. This time I only have two weeks to squeeze everything into but I stumbled across a killer deal and couldn’t say no; and two weeks and is better than no weeks.
Since I came back to Maine last April I have been keeping in touch with my Couch Surfing host, Simon, and apparently the class has grown from 20 to 50. They have divided the students into different levels depending on their capabilities in the classroom and I’m looking forward to getting back there and working with all of them. This time I have a detailed list of items that I know will be useful to them, and a concrete set of goals I hope to accomplish. It will be a whirlwind of a trip for sure but I know we will accomplish a lot.
|
|
One of my goals outside of the classroom is to fill my bags with local village art and artifacts to bring back for a fundraiser in the spring. The people there are incredibly gifted when it comes to making jewelry, baskets, clothes and artwork; things that I think people here would really appreciate. Plus all the proceeds go directly, 100 percent to the school in M’Sangani. If anyone is interested in making a donation towards the collecting of these items please send checks to Amber Kapiloff at 751 Holly Road Farmington, Maine 04938. Be sure to attend the springtime fundraiser and I will deduct the amount you donated off your final price!
In addition to the springtime fundraiser I will be having a smaller, informational fundraiser in Portland on January 28th (the last Friday in January) before I leave. It will be hosted by Local Sprouts café with live entertainment by The Tricky Britches. Feel free to stop in and have a drink or eat some delicious food and see some pictures of my last trip. I will also be doing the drawing for a quilt raffle that night. My grandmother has made a bright, beautiful quilt for me to raffle off to help raise money. Tickets will be $2 each or five for $7. Please contact me at 578-0035 for more information on getting tickets.
In the meantime I hope 2011 kicks off to a good start for you. Keep your ears open for more information as my departure draws closer.
|
|
