She's always dreamed about coming to America.
But then, dreams are nothing new to former school teacher Fatuma Gwao. When we met in 2000, she had a foundation of bricks in the dusty front yard of her home in the village of Mbagala, south of Dar es Salaam. Her dream was to build a real school, and with the help of people like you, Bibi Jann Day Care Center became BJ School up to 5th grade with nearly 200 students. Now, plans are underway (see http://www.salamatanzania.org/) to build another campus for expansion to upper grades.
Fatuma couldn't have dreamed that a documentary would be made about the gramma project which ensued. But the Old Dog Documentaries film, "Grandmother to Grandmother:New York to Tanzania", resulted in us both being invited to present on a panel at The International Forum for Child Welfare's WorldForum 2010 in New York.
It would be impossible to drop out of the sky into the Big Apple - especially when you've never flown. So I'm bringing her first to Portland, Oregon, where the first Bibi Jann donors live. She'll acclimate to our culture here among family and friends, before headingNov. 2 for the East Coast and numerous engagements.
To follow Fatuma's schedule and track her impressions, we'll include a calendar of events as a regular feature on this page, and add posts regularly with photos.
Meanwhile, join us for the Oregon premiere of the film Sat., Oct. 23 at Multnomah Arts Center in Multnomah Village in SW Portland 3-5 p.m. And it's free, with wonderful door prizes from generous village merchants, Tanzanian crafts for sale, information on joining us for a safari, professional Tanzanian photo exhibit, a raffle, refreshments and much inspiration!
Fatuma may be a bit overwhelmed, but we promise to inspire you with how much two determined women and people like you can make a big difference in this world!
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GETTING THE GOATS HOME
Leading the goats to the pickup truck wasn't easy!
The goats are now at home on the bibi farm, with wide open spaces to graze on.
This where the bibis will raise animals and crow cassava to feed their grandchildren and to sell. Fatuma, Dickson and Jann are in front, with pen to left, unfinished farmhouse in middle and neighbor's nyd watle house in rear right.
SMART GIRLS FIELD TRIP
Smart Girls Club on a field trip to art center to explore career opportunities.
We picnicked...
...And then we went for ice cream.
Emil of Unique Batiks told the girls about his designs.
The girls learned how the primitive Tinga Tinga painting style began.
Can you believe we got 23 people into this van?
ISGR 4th Graders Donate
These students in Goteborg, Sweden raised over $500 for the new Bibi Jann Farm!
DISCOVERING NEW YORK...
St. Patrick's Cathedral
An NYC cop in Times Square
Hors d' voueres at the mayor's Gracie Mansion
Rooftop garden - imagine! with social workers Lysa and Katharine at the4 Grandparent Apts. in the Bronx.
HALLOWEEN
Jann applies makeup
A well-decorated yard
Fatuma and son-in-law Tom in air-filled clown suit
Candy break
Sorting the loot
Fatuma, Jann's son Keith Hess at Eugene Waldorf School
Snow Fun
Tom captures the first sled ride
Ready to go...
Oops!
Warming up inside the lodge
Cuddled up to a carved critter
A cup of cocoa helps
Renee gifts Fatuma with a souvenir snow globe so she can have snow in Tanzania
Fatuma's first visit to American grocery, shopping for Tanzanian fare
...But we can't find the Tanzanian aisle!
Kitchen is more elaborate than what Fatuma is used to
Girls watch Fatuma make chipati
Son-in-law Tom has his hands washed
Chloe, Eva like eating with their fingers
...And so do Japanese visitors Miho, Ruli
Fatuma finds the Oregon Coast more rugged than Tanzania's
A new way to dry hands!
Fatuma, Jeanne, Suzanne enjoy Horn of Africa restaurant
Meeting a sturgeon
Watching barge navigate the dam through the lock
Salmon migrating upstream will die after spawining
Multnomah Falls from afar
FANCY FOOTWASH
Fatuma, Jann and Renee soak their tootsies in warm water while rollers kneads their backs.
...While catching it on camera
...Sparkle on the toes
...Plus a manicure
...Resulting in fancy footwork
...After a day in school
...Including cafeteria lunch
GETTING A GRIP ON AMERICA
Nine-year-old Chloe, Jann's granddaughter, teaches the teaches about local currency.
...And it inhabitants
Pirate-themed kids' concert
..Some of whom dress better
Fatuma with the Heathman Hotel doorman and Miho, the Japanese girl visiting my daughter's home.
And its gadgets
Testing the $3,500 Brookstone massage chair
Even moving stairs!
Mall escalator
But kids are the same everywhere
Chloe, Eva, Alexa and Miho have fun at Gramma's tumbling dominoes
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