Leaving Tanzania

I am flying on Sunday, August 18th through Nairobi Airport International Terminal. It was the scene of a horrific fire last week which destroyed the Arrivals Hall and other areas. I am assured by CNFA Travel that I will be able to transit through on my way to Lilongwe Malawi. Will let you know!! My second week in Katesh went very well – especially the weather. Instead of bitter cold and wind and gray skies, it was sunny and wind and blue skies. The temperature was much higher; I did not have to sleep in my clothes and fleece jacket! I walked around the small town/large village and revisited Mama Duncan several times. The class went well with both the AMCOS and SACCOS members. As the AMCOS is negotiating with CRDB (Cooperative Rural Development Bank) for a line of credit and the SACCOS is negotiating to be an “agent” for the bank in Katesh, we spent significant time on banking, loans specifications, and strategies. CRDB is Tanzania’s largest bank and will be expanding via the “agent” model into unbanked and under-banked communities. On Thursday, Dr. Alson Lyimo (CNFA Country Director), Anthony Kissinga (CNFA Program Manager), Sebastian Assenga (my favorite interpreter), and Edward, a Ugandan photographer hired by CNFA arrived in Katesh. The team is documenting the impact that CNFA has achieved during the last 5 years with small scale farmers and business owners. I hope that the new NGO, CRS, chosen by USAID accomplishes as much. The gentlemen attended my last class as well as participating in the Certificates. The class gave me a beautiful Kanga cloth; as usual, I was “wrapped” like a cocoon! I hope that a picture will come from Edward. I am back in gray (but not cold) Moshi at the Bristol Cottages. An excellent place to stay if you are coming to Tanzania for safari or to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Fingers crossed please that Nairobi Airport transit is successful!