Talent Show

Mambo vipi? (how's it going, what's up?)

This week Shaloom put on a talent show for the youth registered in our program. The goal was to let the children have a good time and also to raise a little money. It was pretty hectic getting it all organized this week, but it all came together in time for the show on Friday afternoon. The kids did a great job with the acts. Two of them acted as MCs and some of the actual acts included: singing groups, a theater group, and discussion panel, and traditional dancing with drums. The theater group and discussion panel both talked about HIV/AIDS education, and I was particularly happy with the discussion panel. That group took one of the brochures that I made and integrated the information into the act. They also promoted the brochure and we distributed them to guests on their way out.

I also got to play a little role in the show, as they appointed me "prop/stage manager" at the last second before the show started. It was pretty fun, I just took the props on and off the stage whenever they needed me to. Also, I was able to recruit a young boy to be my assistant, but he was special because he was one of the children that Carol and I taught English to the last time we were in Mwanza in 2007. It was great to see him again, and he turned out to be a big help during the show!

The fundraising part went reasonably well too. Our coordinator did a power point presentation that served as an overview of our organization and many guests responded positively and dontated generously. We were also blessed with a very pretigious guest of honor, The Regional Commissionor of Mwanza. I didn't know who he was before the event, but apparently his duties are similar to a mayor's. Regardless, people were very excited to have him there, and he was nice enough to make a speech asking the audience to donate money or make a pledge.

So all in all it was a success. Even though it was stressful to run and a little unorganized, we still raised some money. And even more importantly, the youth had a ton of fun!


However, as on most days here there are happy stories and sad stories to tell. As I was walking to work on Wednesday morning I saw a horrible accident. A young boy no more than 8 or 9 was hit and run over by a mini-bus only about 30 yards away from me. A crowd of people surrounded the accident as the boy was stuck underneath the bus. Eventually they were able to pull him out, but I didn't see him moving. They just picked him up and put him in the bus that hit him, then they were off to the hospital.

I couldn't help but think about how they may have been doing more harm than good by picking him up the way they did. Spine/neck injuries can be worsened very quickly if you handle someone like that in the wrong way. The problem is that there is no 911 to call...no emergency vehicles to come to the scene of accients...only a volunteer crowd of onlookers who do their best to get the victim to the hospital as quickly as possible.

I know one thing for sure...I will be extra careful crossing the street here from now on. Pedestrians don't have the right of way here, and the traffic drives on the opposite side of the road, so it's sometimes difficult to gauge the traffic when you're used to the way the traffic flows back home.

Don't worry mom, I'll make sure to look both ways before I cross the road :)

Take care everyone! Enjoy the new iphone that i heard was just released in the states yesterday!


-Ben