It is interesting the way life allows things to happen for a reason.  I received an e-mail a number of months ago from Laurie Loughridge-Wargo, a nonprofit fund raiser from the Detroit area.  She had been having lunch with one of my former colleagues and they told her to look up my blog. Laurie had done a similar journey a year or two ago. We traded e-mails for awhile and shared notes about our experiences.  I really wanted to know how she handled the integration back into the US and reengaging in the workforce.  Actually, that is my biggest concern; what it will be like to be back home.  I am looking forward to it but at the same time I know that the experiences that I have had over the past fifteen months have changed me.  Will I be content? Will I be overwhelmed by the pace of life?  How will it be to be in a suit and working again?  I know I will have plenty of blogging material for when I return to the States so stay tuned.

I was looking to do a volunteer assignment in early March and unfortunately the group I was looking at did not pan out.  I remembered that Laurie had worked to help start-up a charity in Tanzania.  Since I was going to be in Tanzania to hike Kilimanjaro, I sent her an e-mail to see if they needed volunteers.  Coincidentally, Laurie informed me that the charity was based in the city of Moshi which is the staging ground for hike to Mount Kilimanjaro.  I filled out the application process and was approved to volunteer.  From a volunteer management perspective, I was impressed that they did background checks on their volunteers.  I know we spent a lot of time in the US helping nonprofits that work with vulnerable populations develop strong policies to provide safeguards for their clients.   As I found out during my time in Moshi, not all the other charities working with children have that type of policy in place.

                 Pictured: Me, Parsley and Andrea working on the Alphabet.  G is for Grizzly Bear (Please insert your own growling and bear like claws for effect.)

I spent two weeks at Kili Kids.  Initially, I was planning on working with the kids in the afternoon developing a new program that provided more structure after their school time.  When I arrived to town, I was told that there was a greater need in the morning working with teacher and other volunteers. There are 24 children that have been orphaned at Kili Kids. Fourteen of them are old enough to go to the public school during the day.  The remaining ten are taught by a teacher on-site.   I spent most of my time working with two of the youngest kids at the orphanage, Andrea and Parsley. Each morning, we worked on our alphabet, numbers, coloring and if they were good there was plenty of play time.  I don't know what to say but those two always brought a smile to my face.  They were mischievous and at times would play off of each other.  My weapon of attack was always the threat to send them to their rooms.  After I would say "Chumbani?(Room in Swahili)," they would straighten up and start their lessons again.  The combination of the teacher and volunteers allowed for real individual attention for the children.  Because of some of their circumstances, it was a good way to help the kids learn at their own pace.