Adventuring with MaryLou: Teaching English at Albino Peacemakers

Last Friday, February 1, 2019

When I first started getting oriented to life in Arusha, I met a woman named Terry Morton. Since 2014, she has helped to organize the Albino Peacemakers which is a sewing workshop operated by Albino women, or women who are supporting an Albino child, sibling or spouse. People with albinism are severely marginalized in Tanzania mostly because it is so misunderstood. The northern part of Tanzania hosts the largest population of albinos in Africa—maybe even in the world.

Well, one day, Janet was talking to Terry and Terry mentioned that the women would like to learn English since there are several English-speaking-tourist visitors to their workshop every week. Janet told Terry that I was a bona-fide ESL/EFL-type English teacher in a former life. She came back and told me about her conversation with Terry and how I would be the one and only to teach them English so I said something non-committal like “That could be interesting.” and before I knew it, Janet said the women were looking forward to me teaching them English. Whew! So there you have it. I’ll be going to their workshop on Wednesday and Friday mornings to teach English. No textbooks. No computer printer. No photo copies. No materials. There is a whiteboard and Janet bought them all little notebooks and pens. Get the picture? A fun time will be had by all.

For the record, my friend Brenda said, (and I quote) “Janet is turning you into a productive member of society over there, it sounds like.”

Anyway, last Friday, Janet and I went “behind the black gate” to the workshop. We met some of the women and got an idea about what they do and what they want to learn. There are roughly 3 levels from practically no English to basic conversational. They all have very interesting lives and are truly eager to move forward and improve their situations.

Here I am being introduced. Terry is on my right. To my left are Stella and Dorcas.

While we were talking, a young man came in to pick up an order for a business that has 11 extended-stay cottages for rent. The women had made bed runners, wall hangings, an apron and a cloth checkers set (and probably other stuff I can’t remember) with which to decorate the cottages. The women stopped our meeting and laid out the items to show the young man before he took them away. Here’s a picture of the women with the things they had made. It was formidable.

Janet and I took a look at all the beautiful things the women had made. There were bags of several sizes, computer cases, hats, aprons, wall hangings, table runners and other things I don’t remember. In this photo, Terry and I are modeling a couple of green hats.

I mentioned that I wanted a ktenge and they said they could make one. The women brought out a couple of boxes of fabric. I chose a very colorful one with a traditional purple, blue, yellow and green design. Judith sat down and, in a few minutes, had sewn one up for me. I was so amazed. impressed. delighted. humbled. They said it was a gift. Here it is.

They also gifted Janet a bag that she wanted to buy.

While we were there, they offered us a drink which they called a kind of porridge. It was thick but not like oatmeal-thick. It was made of millet and corn and other stuff. Quite interesting. And I liked it.

Eventually it was time to say goodbye and Janet and I parted ways at the gate. I wanted to see how long it would take me to walk to the workshop from Kundayo so I started out. There was nothing memorable about the walk except that it was bloody HOT. I know, it’s bloody COLD in Spokane.

So that was Friday.

Addendum: Wednesday, February 6, 2019

This morning I walked to the workshop – “Behind the Black Gate”—sounds like a book title, eh. For your personal enjoyment, here’s what I saw along the way. (Be sure to check out the sign on top of the building too.)

When I arrived, most of the women were working hard at their machines. I got myself organized and had a conversation with each one. They’re a very interesting bunch of women.

Siwema had very good English. In fact, she often greets the visitors and talks to them about the workshop. She also does some of the translating. She told me that she learned English from listening to Sister Martha, the director of the program, giving presentations to visitors. Then Siwema asked her about what she said and memorized the common phrases. Then she listened to English and read in English. She has amazing fluency. She’s a natural learner.

Four of the women, Stella, Sauda, Arafa and Dorcas have some basic English so they can work on some conversation skills. Judith and Anziran are pretty good so they need some fluency practice.

I was most surprised with Anziran who has 2 years of college in Journalism and Broadcasting. She did an internship with a radio station. After the internship, she was told that if she volunteered for 2 years, they’d give her a job but she knew that she couldn’t afford to work for free and after 2 years, a job was not guaranteed. So, basically, she had to give up her dream and join the sewing workshop to support herself, her mother, and her 2-year old daughter. I think that’s the reality of Albinism.

When I finished chatting with each of the women, it was time to go so, after stopping off at the produce stand, I walked back. It was so HOT that sweat was dripping from my hair. I was reminded of when I lived in Japan during the hot season. When I got to a certain level of “wet,” I was actually cooler. Must be the body’s natural air conditioning—without the air.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures of the women at work today but I do have a couple of other photos from the other day.