Greystoke, Mahale

I have recently come back from a trip to Greystoke in Mahale and I was lucky enough to do my first ever chimp trek.  It was magical!  I never tire of seeing the chimpanzees!  So I thought I would share some of my pictures.   It reminds one of the fragility of their future and the environment.

Ololosokwan Computer Training

It is so exciting to see the reception that the computer room at Ololosokwan is getting.  Teacher Gabriel is doing a fantastic job of training students and other teachers in the use of computers.  It is amazing how far Gabriel has come in the past two years, and it is so exciting to see.  This week Gabriel will start his third placement with AA computers in Arusha to learn more about computer maintenance.  Thank you to AA computers for generously donating their services to Nomad Trust.
A few images from the computer room and of Gabriel teaching classes.

Pack for a Purpose

PACK FOR A PURPOSE RECOGNIZED BY TRAVEL + LEISURE

2012 GLOBAL VISION AWARDS

Online Resource for Donating Goods While Traveling

RALEIGH, NC — Pack for a Purpose, a nonprofit organization that encourages travelers to pack needed supplies requested by community based projects at their destinations around the globe, has been named a T+L Editors’ Pick for its Digital Initiative in the Travel + Leisure 2012 Global Vision Awards http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/global-vision-awards .

“I’m honored and thrilled to have Pack for a Purpose recognized by Travel + Leisure in such a meaningful way,” said Rebecca Rothney, founder and chairperson of Pack for a Purpose.

The annual Travel + Leisure Global Vision Awards highlights travel organizations that are changing the world for the better. Award winners include projects or organizations that preserve cultural heritage, save environments, or give back to communities in destinations around the globe.

Pack or a Purpose asks travelers visiting participating lodgings and tour companies in over 44 countries such as South Africa or Costa Rica to use five pounds of space in their luggage to pack supplies for community projects at their destination. The online resource lists the specific needs requested by each project, such as pencils and books for schools, or bandages and cotton swabs in medical clinics. The website www.packforapurpose.org lists partner lodgings and tour companies that will distribute the supplies directly to the community projects.

“I hope this accolade from Travel + Leisure motivates many more travelers to check out our website when planning a trip and then bring supplies for the local community at their destination,” said Rothney, a former teacher and entrepreneur.  She was inspired to found the organization after a 2008 visit to Kenya where she brought needed supplies for a local school and clinic. Since www.packforapurpose.org went live on the web in December 2009, the all-volunteer organization has inspired travelers to deliver more than 9,100 pounds of needed supplies worldwide.

Usevya Youth Center, Katavi

The Nomad Trust is contributing 3.5 million Tsh ($2400) for completion of the roof for the meeting hall at the Usevya Youth Center.  An external audit was carried out, initiated by Monique, to ensure that the lack (or over spending) of funding was not from leakages as the walls of the meeting hall have been completed but the roof is not on.  It is urgent that the roof is completed before the rains begin. 
The center has started being used which is very exciting.

I will be traveling to Chada, Katavi next week to initiate this phase of the project. 
Have a look at this great website: http://mpimbweproject.com/ for all information on development and conservation initiatives in the Katavi area.

Rocket Stoves

It is brilliant to have Kristen and Mark back in Chada, Kristen has been out in the field with Michael building more rocket stoves.

Above is a picture of Augenia's old stove.  Below a picture of her new stove.

Augenia's husband is completely blind and they have 9 children!  Two of those children have at some point fallen in the cooking fire and burned themselves.  And Augenia has to take care of all of these children and the father, but is currently spending an hour each day collecting firewood.  As Kristen says "it was very easy to feel good about what we were doing and we had quite a few other people from the community come out to watch or help, including two ladies for whom we’ve already built stoves, so that was really fun."

Rocket stoves are a hugely sustainable project as they are so cheap and easy to build.  Each stove costs 2,000 shillings (just over $1 at today's exchange rate) for 20 bricks and the family supplies the cow dung and the soil (we bring ashes, water and sand from Chada) and that’s all that is needed to build something that positively impacts their every day lives, as well as reduces deforestation.

Kristen making Juma's stove. 

  

Throttle The Bottle Campaign

Throttle the Bottle is a great new initiative recently launched by some friends of mine to help reduce the environmental impact that thousands of throw away plastic drinking bottles have on Tanzania, where we work and live. Being part of the tourism industry, the services Nomad provide create a fair amount of this rubbish.  We would like your help and support to reduce the damage we are creating.  Nomad already provides clients with a re-usable plastic and/or aluminum bottle, but there is more that all of us can do to reduce environmental waste.  Safe, bulk drinking water is cheaper and dramatically reduces waste, as they can be re-used and exchanged for full ones. 

The "Throttle The Bottle" campaign is independent, unaffiliated and non-commercial, so one hopes we can appeal to as many people involved in the tourism industry as possible.

783,000 international visitors came to Tanzania in 2010.  If each visitor stayed a week and drank 2 litres of bottled water every day, then 11 million plastic bottles would be discarded.  Please help reduce plastic waste.

Well done to the Knockers, Sara and Squack for launching such a great initiative.