The
remote village of Italazia in Mbeya Tanzania is characterized by good weather
with plenty of rainfall and fertile soils. Rains normally start in October and
end in May followed by the dry and cold season between June and
September.The above picture was taken on route from Mbeya to Umalila showing the cultivated land.
The people in this village live in extreme poverty, experiencing high infant mortality, maternal death and unsupported treatable diseases. Despite the extreme poverty, the villagers are very energetic and determined. Their main source of income is sustenance farming.
Houses are
mostly constructed from mud and baked bricks, with roofs of either corrugated
metal or grass with ventilated pit latrines. The main source of energy for
lighting is a wick or hurricane lamp, while the main source of energy for
cooking is firewood. Umalila can be accessed by bus, though the road is dusty,
bumpy, and usually full to capacity.
Despite the
poverty, Umalia also has a growing economy which has now provided a base for
those wishing to start businesses or to help stimulate small entrepreneurs in
the area to grow. Alfred Rogers, one of the Community Builders partners, has
worked hard and is still working to help eradicate extreme poverty in Umalila.
He partnered with Community Builders to buy a grinding for the village, as
villagers had been forced to travel great distances to grind the grains they use
for daily food preparation. This grinding mill has been of great help to the
community. The picture to the left shows the grinding mill.
Now, with
the growing economy, guests visit Umalila without a proper place to stay. The
necessity of a guest house was realized as a long time project, which will
generate income and pay forward the profits to the individuals living in poverty
to start up small projects for sustainability.
The picture below show the
villagers digging the trench for the foundation of the guest house.
Currently,
the guest house is still at the foundation stage as seen in the above picture.
I will be sending more updates on this project as it progresses.
