WHAT A SAFARI!

Wow!

How do you pack a orphans' house dedication, film premiere, East African cultural immersion, safari where you witness a male lion with his head inside a giraffe he's just killed, plus an exploration of exotic Zanzibar --- into just 10 days?

Well, 17 Americans, Swedes and a Brit just did it, on our first Bibi Jann Tour in February 2009.

Most of the travellers were good friends, and have helped build our school and now bibi house. What a great group of people!

Here's what some had to say about visiting our Bibi Jann project in the village of Mbagala, Tanzania:

LIZ: You have achieved so much, but there is clearly a need for more financing. The enthusiasm of the children shows how lazy and complacent we are in the west. We take our education for granted and don’t value the opportunities we have assuming that even if we don’t make an effort we will be taken care of. I have taught for 30 years in England and Sweden and never seen such joy in learning or so many white shirts!! How do they do it without water or electricity? Coming home I really see my home in a different light having seen how proud they are of so little.

GLENNIS: What I liked best? Meeting Bibis and the school children in the village, something one couldn’t expect during an “ordinary” tour.

JEAN: Awesome. I will carry images of the village, the school, the homes, the people in my heart forever. I want to return. Everywhere I met wonderful people.

ANDREE: This is what makes your trip so special; getting an in-depth view of life in the village, meeting the bibis and the kids; seeing how everything you’ve done has helped change their lives. I think it would be great to spend a couple of days helping teach the kids or doing crafts with the bibis – it would make the experience even more meaningful.

JUDY: "Educaton, Education is the Gateway!" Clearly the children enrolled at Bibi Jann's school are fervent believers in their school's motto. Watching the bright faces of the children as they entertained the "dignitaries" with songs sung proudly about their school brought smiles to our faces and pride to our hearts. Yes, the buildings are simple by our standards and there is more need than you can fathom whichever way you look, but the overriding impression that I and my family took away was not of despair, but of joy. The smiling faces. The small hand slipped into yours as you're walking down the street. The beaming faces of the Bibi's as they sang their welcome. Such warmth.

All of us were in the village for the dedication of soon-to-be finished Gerrit Brokx/FAWCO House, which will house five grandmas ("bibis") and their orphans families. The Dutch (Brokx)trust and American women's clubs world-wide build this complex - with a big hand from the Wicklow, Ireland Rotary club and generous individuals. Karel van Kesteren, Dutch ambassador to Tanzania, presided at the deication and ceremonial tree-planting. Plus prayers from a Muslim iman and two Christian pastors, dancing and singing by the orphans and a feast for everyone present!

The complex consists of individual bedrooms for bibis and kids, a dorm for the older boys, toilets, a big livingroom/meeting/work space for all 24 of our bibis, a detached kitchen, guest rooms, and four small stores along the street for bibis to conduct their businesses.

The same evening back in Dar, we held the world premiere of "GRANDMOTHER TO GRANDMOTHER: New York to Tanzania" by Old Dog Documentaries (go to their website to buy a copy!). What a delight to hear some 80 orphans shout and cheer as they spoted themselves and their friends in the movie! We hope the film will air on public television.

The premiere shared the spotlight with an exhibit of Tanzanian quilted wallhangings by Bibi Jann Designs (that's me). We sold about one-third of them, and the bibis sold their crafts and food, bringing in over $1,000.

The trip was so successful - and others wanted to come but couldn't then - that we'll be doing another. Think it would be especially interesting to do a specialized one for fabric fiends - creating batiks alongside the bibis and taking lessons in applique from a women's co-op on Zanzibar.

Check out photos at the bottom!