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Touching
Stories
A PEOPLE SAFARI
By Jann Mitchell
Yearly, adventurers from around the world jet into Tanzania
to ogle its abundance of exotic animals.
Buz
and Christie Hazen of Oregon, U.S.A. made that trip last
October. But before they set out on the usual animal safari,
they spent time in Mbagala south of Dar. There, they played
with and photographed children at the school run by the
Bibi Jann Children's Care Trust. They visited "bibis"
sponsored by generous people around the world through the
trust's GRANDMA-2-GRANDMA project for grandmothers who are
raising their
AIDS-orphaned grandchildren.
"After
we met the bibis and the kids we went on a safari, but we
ended it two days early because we would rather be with
the kids," says Christie, a professional photographer.
She took many photos to help the trust find additional sponsors.
"It was the greatest experience of my life. Being with
the kids WAS the trip to us."
The
Hazens are former neighbors of Bibi Jann and husband Eric,
who works with AIDS in his native Sweden and in Dar. So
it seemed natural to visit Tanzania while their friends
were also there - and to sponsor a bibi.
"You
hear and read about the need that exists all over,"
says Buz, a designer. "In talking to Jann and Eric,
it took the need out of a hypothetical world and made it
reality. Which also created the opportunity to do something
easily without a lot of research. You know what you give
isn't burdened with a lot of overhead and goes directly
to those who need it."
Meeting
"their" Bibi Salma and her nine grandchildren
proved a highlight for both families.
"I
felt like a part of their family," Christie smiles.
"We could see our donations were put to real use, not
administration costs. Our family was building a store -
they were going to survive and thrive. I didn't realize
what seemed like a small amount to us, would be such a huge
impact to a family there."
As
neighbors gathered outside Salma's home and children grinned
at the wazungo (white people), Buz was touched by the acceptance
of both the family and community, and wished they'd had
time to know the family as individuals. He was struck by
the fact that "the basic human emotions and everyday
problems are so universal."
Both
were awed by the spirit of the Tanzanians they met, and
the warmth, happiness and friendliness of the children.
They perceived no racial differences, and were welcomed
as friends.
And
the world shrank for them both.
"What
once existed only in (the magazine) National Geographic
now is a reality," says Buz, who wants to explore further.
"Africa
is now next door to me," concedes Christie. "It's
no longer a news story. I have connections there. I think
of the bibis, the children and our experience every day."
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