Same-Tanzania

Solon has a unique opportunity to continue a personal relationship with the people of the Same region of Tanzania. The following information is provided by Fr. Mansuetus Setonga who is Chancellor of the Diocese of Same and is serving as our contact in Africa, and by Sarah Mahoney, who recently visited the region and met the people.

Location

The Diocese of Same is located in the northeastern part of Tanzania, near Kilimanjaro Region. Same is approximately sixty-five miles from Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

The Economy of Tanzania

Tanzania is an agricultural country with a population of 30 million people. The population is growing at a rate of more than 3.5% per year, with 48% of the population being under the age of 15. Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an annual per capita income of $110 (World Development Report, 1995). About 80% of the population resides in the rural areas, where a subsistence economy is practiced. An overwhelming majority of the population lives in absolute poverty.

Same Diocese

Same Diocese consists of 400,000 people, 30% of whom are Christian, 30% are Muslims, and 40% are traditionalists practicing religions indigenous to the region. The Catholic Diocese of Same has been in existence since 1977. During the last 23 years the people of Same have continually sought out our church leaders for help and assistance. This is because the government of Tanzania is poor and unable to provide sufficient assistance to those in need. In response to these unmet basic needs of the people, the local church feels responsible for acting as an instrument of peace and hope by establishing a Pastoral Services and Development Team. This team is committed to working together with the people to discover ways to bring about holistic development and advance the physical, social, economic and spiritual well-being of the struggling communities in Same. The main problems facing the people of the Diocese of Same are poor education, poor health, lack of clean water and poor agriculture (with unreliable rains). Although the problems are many, each village has its own basic need.

Ruvu I Marwa Villages

The Ruvu and Marwa area has a population of about 80,000 people. Half of the population are Maasai, who depend entirely on cows for survival. In the past few years their cows have been attacked by natural animal diseases carried by ticks. The majority of the Maasai lost their cattle, which deepened their poverty. The villagers have not had enough food for the past few years, as they could not grow food or keep their cows. Their ability to buy food depended on family income and market prices. Polygamy is practiced, and a man may have 40 to 50 children. Because men don't marry until they are older, many die while their children are young. The women do the work such as farming, providing food and water, and even building schools. Christianity was introduced in 1909 and currently about 50% of the village has converted. A church was built, but was blown down. Villagers must walk 7 km to fetch water from the river, and children cannot go because of crocodiles. Many people suffer from skin disease because of bacteria in the water. It is common to see burn circles under their eyes. This comes from an old belief that this technique will keep flies away.

Ngulu Village

The village is about an hour's drive from the town of Same. It is an agricultural village at the base of a mountain. The majority of the people here are from the Pare tribe. The average number of children per family is eight to ten, and the average income per year is 40,000 Tanzania Shillings (or $50). Lack of education is a major problem, as the cost for the public school is too much for most families. The primary and secondary schools are about 4 miles from the village and serve several villages. The diocese has built a kindergarten or nursery school, and this allows mothers time to collect firewood and water and work in the fields. Their supply of firewood is being depleted as they clear land for farming. Although farm land is plentiful, they lack rain and education in farming pratices such as crop rotation. The seeds currently being used require three months before harvest and the rains only last one to two months, so the crops are dieing before harvest. There is also a lack of water. A machine to dig wells was sent from donations received in Iowa City.

Majevu Village

Majevu village is a section of Same town in the plains area, and is an agricultural community. Farmers bring their goods to the local market to sell as their main source of income. Often times their harvest does not bring in enough income for survival, so they are forced to find work to supplement their income. Many families go into the nearby foothills to get stone from the mountainside. A fire is built on the rock ledge to make the stone brittle enough to crush. The crushed stone is then sold to be used as foundations for homes. It has become common for single mothers to rely on this and other small projects, such as raising chickens, for extra income.

The large number of single mothers is a result of the marriage traditions. Before a man can marry he must have a place to live and a source of income to support a family. Therefore, men marry at a later age, and women get married as young as 15 years old.

There are several water sources throughout the village. The water is tapped from the mountain springs running near the village. During drought season the springs dry up and the women must walk ten to twelve kilometers to the next village to get water. The women cannot carry enough water for an entire family so water is taken from stagnant sources, which hold harmful bacteria. This is one of the leading causes of sickness and death.

Ngujini

There is a secondary school located here that also serves two other villages. Children travel 2 km. to primary school. It is a 45-minute to one hour walk to the nearest dispensary. Coffee was introduced about 10 years ago as a cash crop but the plants became diseased and died. The local people want to reintroduce this crop. The people travel down the mountain to raise maize and beans. Two years ago terrace farming was started. It has been going well, but it is hard work to prepare the land. The villagers have started raising several varieties of beans and also nuts. As the Heifer Project grows in this area, each family will soon have one cow. Access to fresh water is a major concern, and plans are being made to tap the natural springs in the mountain and funnel it to the village.

Ijinyu/Kisiwani

Kisiwani is located about 50 miles from Same. In the past, people immigrated here from neighboring countries for employment opportunities. This immigration also brought a strong Muslim influence. The people here have been dependent on the production of sisal fiber which is used to make rope. New methods for making rope have been developed and there is no longer a market, leaving them without jobs. The level of education is very low.

Arusha Orphanage

The orphanage in Arusha is a two-bedroom house. The caregivers at the orphanage currently have seven children from the ages of six months to three years. They are unsure of some of the ages due to a lack of accurate records. The women who work there are on two shifts, and is basically volunteer work, since they are given next to nothing for their time. The orphanage is funded by donation. There is an organization in America and one in Germany that contribute yearly, and there are local organizations and churches that also help support the orphanage. The sad thing is there is no guarantee of funds. They went for five months last year with very little money and not knowing when the next contribution would be given. They ended up going to the churches to ask for donations of food. There is a small classroom attached to the home where the children have daily lessons. They don't have a teacher now, but are hoping to find one soon.

For many of the children who are brought to the orphanage, both parents have died and there are no relatives to take them in. Others are abandoned, or their only parent is too sick to care for them. When a child is brought to the home they are tested for the most common diseases. One of these is AIDS. The orphanage cannot accept a child who tests HIV positive. Any medical attention a child otherwise needs is provided by the overall funds.

Almost always, the children are adopted before they reach school age. The orphanage staff tries to find a permanent home for the child as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the adoption process takes a long time, often up to three years. Once they find a family who wants to adopt a child, the family must be assessed. This process is very time consuming, because to really know if the family is suitable, several checks over a good amount of time must be done. Once children are placed, they are checked on periodically to be sure they are being cared for properly.

Family Life

Families are very close and rely on each other for survival. If one family doesn't have a cow and needs milk but they do have rice, they will make an exchange. There is no time or money for entertainment. Any socializing is within the family and with close neighbors. This gives the people the opportunity to develop close relationships.

Youth Programs

Churches in the cities have a different philosophy than most organizations in the United States. Youths start in the programs at age 14 following confirmation and continue until they are 45. The groups typically meet three to four times a week. They participate in activities such as drama, volleyball, and choir. Because God is a priority, they make time for Him. Usually 20-50% of the parishioners are involved in youth programs. Often, members will attend fellowship or Bible study classes on the days they aren't meeting in their group. Parents are involved and are setting an example for their children. Children attend classes from the time they can walk and religion is reinforced in the home through prayer, singing and study.

Kiloneni Secondary School

This school is where school supplies collected in Solon were distributed. There are 128 students ages 15 to 20, many of whom are boarders. Funding comes entirely from fees. There are seven teachers and ten subjects are taught including drama, English, choir, jwe (dance), sports (netball and soccer), debate, and several projects. The school is in need of more supplies and teachers.