Mvua Nyingi Sana!! (Lots of Rain!!)

Well the short rains have started and Dar es Salaam has turned into one big muddy puddle! This morning when we left the house there was a new chorus of frogs croaking away – it seems they were rejoicing (as are many Tanzanians I am sure) at this new wet weather. The rains also provide some hope for the power problems here in Tanzania as many of the dams used to generate power were about to dry up. However for most of the folks living in Dar – the rain causes all sorts of headaches in terms of getting around.

However as is often the case here, problems give birth to new opportunities for entrepreneurship! My colleague was telling me today about the long rains (which start in March) and how folks in the city centre use carts (normally used to transport goods) to take people across flooded intersections….for a fee of course.

I am trying to embody that Tanzanian entrepreneurship spirit of identifying a need and coming up with a practical, effective solution in my work now. Along with developing the youth, livelihoods and HIV/AIDS project (of which we have had very positive response so far in speaking with others in the donor/NGO community), I am also working with my colleagues here in the microfinance department to develop a proposal for a global competition to address issues related to health and nutrition.

It is a fascinating task as I learn more about the challenges facing Tanzanians (especially rural women and children) and how interventions such as adding Vitamin A to children’s diets and ensuring women consume enough Iron can radically prevent blindness, child and infant mortality and all sorts of other health complications caused by a weak immune system. Providing access and means to these foods and making use of Tanzania’s existing resources is the challenge!

So over the last few days, as I wait for my clothes to dry on the line (which may never happen) this is what I have been thinking about, talking about and sometimes even dreaming about. I will keep you updated on what we come up with.