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Feed Our Minds starts Early

3/6/2024

Many of you know Elieashi and Leah have a connection to Safi and each now manage a preschool. They are amazing. Managing a school for 3-4 year old kids takes tons of energy. We heard them count and saw 3 year olds doing addition. They sing learning songs and shout for joy "Education, Education, Relax and Enjoy."
Some of these kids lack food security at home and come to school hungry. Some fall asleep in class. Elieashi and Leah know they can not teach an empty stomach. They feed them at school. Many of you became aware that money for meals becomes scarce from time to time so you reached out with your hearts and pockets. You brought tears to our eyes and joy to the kids.

With your help, both schools have a funding source to feed all the kids to the end of the year. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Vinland Lutheran, Paulsbo WA and St Mark Lutheran, Lacey WA. Below you can see the first purchase.

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Ceramic Water Filters, Made in Arusha

2/26/2024

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Thanks to the Grant from St Mark Lutheran Church, Lacey WA, The Purposeful Travel Group purchased an distributed filters to Safi related schools and students. None of the recipients had access to clean water and this is new technology to them. SYEW will check back to see how the filters are working out. Recipients include SYEW office, Feed Our Mind families, two preschools, one grade school.
Kristina

Clean safe water is an issue throughout Tanzania.
In Arusha, the water that finally makes it to the taps has 109 pathogenic bacteria in it, which will cause stomach upsets including typhoid and cholera. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to have running water. Most collect water from mud holes.
The filters are made locally in Arusha at The Safe Water Ceramics East Africa factory. The filter is made from a mix of sawdust, clay and colloidal silver, which is used for purifying the water.
–It is tested at 99.99% microbial effectiveness.
–Purifies water, no need to boil water
–Fresh taste as charcoal produced from burned sawdust restores natural water taste.
–Simple and easy to use
–Low maintenance. With dirty brown water , clean the filter monthly. With clean water, clean the filter 3 monthly. With proper care, the filter can last 5-6 years
–Saves money as no need to use fuel to boil water
–Environmentally friendly as NO MORE PLASTIC BOTTLES

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Feed Our Minds Family Visit

2/25/2024

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Some of the students that Safi/SYEW assists come from families that work very low paying jobs or have no steady income at all. Food security is very low. Safi/SYEW noticed that students from these families are often very tired or are skipping school. Research relieved that they were out trying to earn money to help feed their families and go to school at the same time. The FOM program stepped up and delivers food the these families monthly. The Safi/SYEW student can attend school and their siblings can also benefit. These family stories are tough to hear and see but they emphasize the hope that education will result in a changed life for everyone.
Kristina

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Exotic Zanzibar

2/25/2024

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The big take away from Zanzibar was that it is unique and worth the effort of getting there and tolerating the heat (high 90s+ with high humidity.) Luckily Zanzibar is an island in the Indian Ocean and the sandy beach welcomes everyone.

The area is a tourist delight with a living history. We stayed in the Stonetown area, home of Freddie Mercury and composed of winding alleys and shops. The government owns all the buildings, which are old and in constant repair. The doorsteps are a foot above the ally-way to handle floods. Rent is $5/month since the Government is trying to keep Stonetown populated. Young families won't live there as there is no place for the kids to play. The cheap rent helps the shop owners and attracts businesses. All water and electric lines are above the first floor attached as a bundle with zip ties. The area is called Stonetown because the walls are made of plaster and dead coral stones.

There is a huge spice market within the local produce, meat, fish, and anything else you need market. Walking the alleyways is an adventure and getting lost is also an adventure. 2,000 Tsh (less than $1 USD) will get you a motorcycle taxi back to the hotel. :-) The ride was FUN!
Kristina

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Pictures

2/10/2024

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Greetings from Emayani Beach Resort

2/10/2024

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The Jan-Feb 2024 trip has been on the move and we are currently at a break time at the beach. It is wonderful. We have not, however been anywhere that has offered us connectivity so this is the first blog of our trip. David, Mary, Kat, Deb, Kristina, Amelia, John, Carrie, Lyle, and Vicky all say hi to everyone.

We have delivered all the gifts that we took over this trip plus visited Elieshi and Leah's Pre schools with our gifts and funding for food. We have purchased and delivered water filters to the pre schools and some to a neighborhood primary school. By what we have done we are planting seeds to using a different method of having clean water and health. We've been to Echo Sustainable Farm and had a meeting with SYEW Board to be continued when we are back in Arusha after a quick visit to Zanzibar.

I am going to quickly post this while I still have WiFi and electricity.
We miss you all. Thank you for your support. We'll be back home soon.

Kristina

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BLOG

4/30/2020

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Part 8 - Hope is a safari driver AND she manages a restaurant? - Purposeful Travel Trip Jan 30-Feb 19, 2020

So while we were on safari, Hope spoke about her extremely tough childhood and how she fought to become a safari driver. But that's not all. In addition to driving, she has taken in two girls who are now teenagers. Hope assured them a home and education. In addition (you may see a pattern here) she is helping other women to train to become safari drivers. In addition. . .she manages a restaurant in Arusha. Hope is amazing. While on safari she invited the Safi 17 to not only eat at the MACafe Restaurant but to cook the meal!

Pumpkin/squash soup - Sous chef Connie
Banana stew - Sous chef Carol
Rice & vegetable salad
Cooked Pumpkin leaves
Air baked chicken and chutney
Beef Tips
Choux Swan Pastry swimming in chocolate sauce with pomegranate - Sous chef Marion

Hope brought five of her woman safari driver trainees to introduce them and to help serve the meal.

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Part 7 - Back to Arusha - Purposeful Travel Trip Jan 30-Feb 19, 2020

4/30/2020

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It's always hard to leave a safari. Yes, this one was packed with true adventure and awe. We take with us mountains of memories that will last a lifetime. But, back to Arusha. We have people to see and things to do.

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Part 6 - HOW BUMPY WAS IT? Ask Fitbit! Purposeful Travel Trip Jan 30-Feb 19, 2020

3/28/2020

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Those of us who try to get in their 10,000 steps each day, take note that we were sitting inside a safari vehicle and able to log an average of 68,000 steps each day of Safari! When Alex's vehicle's bottom anchor plate of the right rear shock absorber broke while crossing a deep and rocky water feature......well it got a bit bumpier. Before we left the Crater, his vehicle also lost the return pipe for the radiator, plus container and several fan blades. Yes, Fitbit, the roads were bumpy.

The Part 5 pictures covered the Ngorongoro Conserve and the Serengeti. These photos continue the Safari from Olduvai Gorge to Rhino Lodge and then into and more importantly back out of Ngorongoro Crater. During the drive we saw many wildebeest and some babies, some only minutes old; zebra, large and small; lots of birds, including flamingos; huge hippos, elephants; lions; cape buffalo; 4 Black Rhino, three at a distance and one up close; hyenas, cheetah, tortoise, jackals, crocodile, giraffe, hartebeest, rock hyrax, zebra mongoose, impala, grant gazelle, thompson gazelle, dik-dik, eland, warthog,bat-eared fox. . . . .

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Part 5 - Three Nights at Flycatcher Campsite and Safari Adventures - Purposeful Travel Trip Jan 30-Feb 19, 2020

3/24/2020

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Leaving the luxury of Ilboru after a wonderful breakfast, we meet our drivers Kisana, Hope (yes! a woman) and Alex. None better. The Safi 17 piled into Dorobo's vehicles and headed down to the tarmac and west towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti. The drive took all day due to a mechanical glitch, making us late. But no worries, well a few as the sun was setting and we saw all the mud and water that would be a part of our adventures in the next few days. In dramatic fashion our worries dissipated as we drove into camp. A great meal greeted us. Sebastian is still the host and he sends you his greetings. All 17 of us and 3 drivers fill the tents at Flycatcher. This would be home for the next three nights.

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