Photos from Kili!

Sorry for the delay, but here are the pictures from our climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Again, a huge thank you and shoutout goes out to everyone who donated to our Climb for a Cause in support of The Small Things. Proceeds will help support the orphaned and vulnerable children of the Nkoaranga community in Tanzania, and we could not have done it without our amazing friends and family.

Another shoutout goes to the team at Samba Treks. This not-for-profit social enterprise truly provided us with unique and life changing experience, all the while ensuring porter welfare and impacting the Moshi community at large. Our climb would not have been the same without our incredible team, and we genuinely owe our summit to our passionate and encouraging guides, Charles and Rashid.

Day 1: Ashley signing in!

Day 1: Anna signing in!

Day 1: Unloading the van

Day 1: At the Lemosho gate, where we began our adventure!

Day 1: Ashley and Biff the travelling moose

Day 1: And the trek begins!

Day 1

Day 1: Black and white colobus monkeys

Day 1: We arrived at Mti Mkubwa, our first camp!

Day 1: Mti Mkubwa campsite

Day 1: Anna in our “dining room”

Day 1: Ashley in the “dining room”

Day 2: Anna and Rashid excited for day 2!

Day 2

Day 2: Guides Rashid and Charles taking a break

Day 2: Enjoying the moore land

Day 2

Day 2: Enjoying the beautiful views

Day 2

Day 2: Spot lunch on the mountain

Day 2: Ashley is ready to conquer Kili!

Day 2

Day 2: Even Biff the moose was relishing in the views!

Day 2: Rock Sculptures

Day 2: We made it to Shira 1, our camp for the night.

Day 3: Shira 1 – Good morning!

Day 3: Ready for a new day!

Day 3: Our amazing guide Rashid

Day 3: Interesting plants along the way

Day 3: Rashid teaching us about 1 of 3 of Kili’s indigenous plants (Lobelia Deckenii)

Day 3: Us with the Lobelia

Day 3: Dressing up the Lobelia

Day 3

Day 3: Made it to Shira II (3rd campsite)

Day 3: Shira II

Day 4

Day 4

Day 4: Happy campers

Day 4: View of Mt. Meru from Mt. Kilimanjaro

Day 4: Lots of energy!

Day 4

Day 4: In memory of Ian McKeever

Day 4: In memory of Ian McKeever – Attitude over Altitude

Day 4: Next stop, lava tower!

Day 4

Day 4: Tennis ball bird

Day 4: Half way done our trek!

Day 4: The lava tower

Day 4

Day 4: Groundsels

Day 4: Groundsels

Day 4

Day 4: Arrived at Barranco Camp!

Day 4: Barranco Camp

Day 5: One more day until summit!

Day 5: Samba Treks guide Charles and Anna

Day 5: About to climb the 300m Barranco Wall!

Day 5

Day 5: Climbing the 300m Barranco Wall

Day 5: Climbing the 300m Barranco Wall

Day 5: Porters on Barranco Wall

Day 5: Waterfalls!

Day 5: Taking a break while scaling the 300m Barranco Wall

Day 5: Barranco Wall

Day 5: Post-Barranco Wall climb

Day 5: Dancing with the Samba Treks team after a successful day!

Day 5: Dancing with the Samba Treks team after a successful day!

Day 6: Waking up at the Karanga Camp

Day 6: About to leave Karanga Camp

Day 6

Day 6: Arriving at Barafu Hut to get in a little sleep before we begin the summit at midnight.

Day 7: Sunrise climb to the summit!

Day 7: Sunrise climb to the summit!

Day 7: Sunrise on summit morning

Day 7: Summit Morning

Day 7: Charles and Ashley on Summit Morning

Day 7: Our amazing guide Charles

Day 7: Summit Morning

Day 7: We made it to Stella Point! Next, Uhuru Peak!

Day 7: Even Biff the Moose made it to Stella Point

Day 7: Glaciers on the way to the summit!

Day 7: No altitude sickness, yay!

Day 7: Our amazing guide Charles

Day 7: Glaciers on the top of Africa

Day 7: Almost there!

Day 7: Last stretch to the summit

Day 7: Almost there!

Day 7: We made it!!!!

Day 7: We made it!!!!

Day 7: We made it!!!!

Day 7: So excited that we achieved our goal!

Day 7: We made it!!!!

Day 7: Ashley on top of the world!

Day 8: Descending Mt. Kilimanjaro

Day 8: Us with the wonderful Jeyson.

Day 8: Us with Rashid

Day 8: Chameleon

Day 8: View of the peak post-summit

Day 8: The elephant trunk flower

Day 8: The elephant trunk flower

Day 8: Back to sea level!

Day 8: Us with the Samba Treks Team

Day 8: Rashid and Ashley

Day 8: Charles and Ashley

Day 8: Anna receiving her official Mt. Kilimanjaro Certificate

Day 8: Ashley receiving her official Mt. Kilimanjaro Certificate

We made it!

Blog post written by Anna Hoy

We are thrilled to report that we managed to reach Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m/19,341ft ASL). This means we reached Africa’s highest point, as well as summited the world’s highest free standing mountain!

On top of the world!

We started our ascent up Mt. Kilimanjaro at Londorossi Gate. For the first three days, we happily hiked through the rainforest and moorland. Since we were below 12,000 ft., we were not yet affected by the altitude. At that point, getting used to sleeping in a tent, using the outhouse, and not showering for me was more difficult than the climb. The third day, we had a full day of rain which meant I was not a happy camper. Both our guides Rashid and Charles had warned me that I should put everything in my backpack in plastic liners. Ofcourse, I put everything in plastic except for my money belt which contained our cash and passports. After waiting a couple of days to see whether it would dry out, I sheepishly asked Jeyson (part of the Samba Treks climbing team) for some uncooked rice (to quicken the drying process). Based on his facial expression and his questions, he was clearly puzzled with my request but still politely returned with a small bag of rice.

I must commend the Samba Treks team for their high level of service and professionalism. They worked collaboratively to alert one another of what they observed and was responsive and respectful of our needs. They always made themselves available when we needed their assistance and also when we didn’t think we needed them.

One evening, Jeyson kindly found me when and escorted me back to my tent after I got lost in the dark after a visit to the toilet. It was both an embarrassing and humbling experience. Note to self… don’t put a lady who does not camp in the middle of a mountain in the dark. I took a wrong turn in the dark after visiting the loo and found myself going from tent to tent calling out “Ashley!”. Thank god Jeyson appeared out of no where to bring me back to my tent. I was so relieved when I saw him.

Us with the wonderful Jeyson

There is absolutely no way we would have made it to the summit without the Samba Treks team. The team was our backbone that supported us throughout our entire climb, guiding and teaching us when we were more alert and attentive, and holding us up when we were at our lowest points. There were many times throughout the week when I felt broken. During those difficult moments, the Samba Treks team reminded us that we should not be focused on our timing, or the pace of other climbers, but do what is right for us. This encouraged me to search inside myself to find the positive energy that Ian McKeever possessed. He was an experienced mountaineer who summited 6 mountains. Kilimanjaro was to be his 7th. However while climbing about a year ago, he was sadly struck by lightning. On his tombstone placed on Mt. Kilimanjaro at the site where he passed, the inscription aptly reads “Attitude over Altitude”. I thought of the phrase with me throughout my trek. It helped me increase my tolerance and widen my threshold when I needed more encouragement.

 In memory of Ian McKeever

“Attitude before Altitude”

The entire Samba Treks team worked efficiently and effectively as one unit. They were in constant communication with one another to ensure all our needs were tended to. We would not have reached the summit without their support, knowledge, and guidance. We are forever indebted to this wonderful team that helped us achieve our dreams.

The amazing Samba Treks team!

 

Off to Climb Kili!

As we started packing last night for our Kilimanjaro climb, the electricity went out at Ashley’s compound. It certainly made for an interesting end to Ashley’s stay with The Small Things (TST) and our start to our next adventure. Ashley not only had to pack for Mt. Kilimanjaro, but she also had to pack up all her belongings she used over the last 6 months. Given we were short on time, we had no choice but to continue on and pack, using our headlamps to navigate through. The electricity in Tanzania is very unpredictable and dealing with power outages has become the norm for Tanzanians.

 

Today was a very sad day for us, but particularly for Ashley, as it was our last day in Nkoaranga. Ashley quickly fell in love with the kids at TST and with the country of Tanzania. It is very hard not to fall in love with these adorable and affectionate kids that generously greet you with wide smiles and big hugs. The country of Tanzania is an absolutely magical place like no other with wild and natural elements harmoniously co-existing. Other than the fear of being attacked by animals higher up in the food chain and human poachers, animals can enjoy a pretty good life.

Over the last 6 months, Ashley made lifelong friendships with the staff/supporters of TST. it was very touching watching Ashley bid heartfelt farewells to the kids and to the staff/interns/volunteers at TST. She is leaving this assignment a very different person with a stronger desire to make a difference in international relations. Asante sana to Bekka, the Executive Director of TST for providing Ashley with this wonderful learning opportunity.

We are now both very pumped to tackle Mt. Kilimanjaro. We know it is not going to be an easy undertaking, but we feel we are ready to “kill” kili. We expect to return in 8 days with some wonderful pictures and stories to share 🙂

Thanks for caring and following our blog.

Many blessings,

Anna

P.S. Sorry for the lack of photos! Our internet connection right now won’t let us 😦 But many more to come!

Day 3-6: Safari!

It is day 6 of my mother Anna’s arrival in Tanzania and we’ve just arrived home in Nkoaranga from a 4 day safari. Even though I had already been on a day-trip safari to Tarangire National Park back in July, visiting the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti still proved to be magical to say the least.

On the first day of our safari, we were picked up by the lovely staff of Samba Treks and began our 3 hour drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here we saw over 20 types of animals, only a fraction of the amount of species residing in the crater. After a day of animal watching, we settled in to our campsite where dinner and a good night’s rest was very much appreciated.

[Photo Gallery] Safari Day 1: Ngorongoro Crater

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The next morning, we woke up at 6 AM and headed towards the Serengeti National Park. This park was ENORMOUS in comparison to the more self-contained crater we had just experienced. While searching for animals took a longer time than Ngorongoro due to the size of the park, we were still amazed by the variety of animals we were able to see. As the Serengeti was so big, we made sure to get two full days in to ensure we could make the most of our time there. On our second day in the Serengeti, we decided to wake up extra early (5:30 AM) in order to get in a morning game drive. This is the time in which people are more likely to see some of the animals due to the low morning temperatures. We saw many many lions that are typically resting during the day, and herds of buffalo and wildebeest running around in the morning.

[Photo Gallery] Safari Day 2 and 3: Serengeti National Park

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For our 4th day on safari (today), we left the Serengeti to go visit a Maasai Boma, one of Tanzania’s most distinct tribes. Here we learned about how the Maasai eat, build their homes, and other various cultural practices.

[Photo Gallery] Safari Day 4: Maasai Boma Visit

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We then headed to Oldupai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. It was really neat to learn about some of the earliest humans who had lived at this site about 2 million years ago.

After 4 days of exploration, we finally headed to Nkoaranga, where we’ll stay until we begin our climb up Kilimanjaro Wednesday morning. Until then, we will relax and enjoy our last days here in this beautiful village, spending as much time with the kids as possible.

Last photo with the Samba Treks staff. Asante sana (Thank you!) for such a memorable safari!

Day 2 – Life in Nkoaranga

Today was a busy day filled with laundry, markets, a hike, and food! Here’s how our day went in 5 photos.

Zawadi teaching Anna how to hand wash her laundry

 

Fresh fruit at Tengeru Market

Checking out the beautiful sights of Mt. Meru

Practicing for our Mt. Kilimanjaro climb with an afternoon hike

Ending our day with a delicious meal at Jeremiah and Tumaini’s

Tomorrow morning we’ll be headed for a 4 day safari, checking out all the animals living in the Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti. So expect some elephants, giraffes, lions, and zebras in our next post! We are so excited and cannot wait from the AM so until then, we’ve got to catch some zzzzzzzzzz’s!

Usiku Mwema! (Goodnight in Swahili)

– Anna and Ashley

Day 1 – Both AHOYs in Tanzania!

*Note: As my mother has officially arrived in Tanzania, my blog posts within the next few weeks will be co-authored by my lovely mother, Anna Hoy. So without further ado, I introduce to you Anna Hoy’s first blog post in Tanzania!

After a long 19 hour journey, I arrived in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania very tired. The last leg of the flight between Amsterdam and Kilimanjaro was really tough. My body was really achy and stiff the entire trip. The flight was full so sadly I couldn’t stretch out between two seats. Ashley, Rose (Ashley’s friend from the UK), and Emmanuel (our driver) kindly picked me up from the airport. Once I got to Ashley’s intern/volunteer compound, I went immediately to sleep.

Ashley’s Room at the Volunteer/Intern Compound

The nights are REALLY noisy here even with the windows closed. The calls of the wild could be heard loudly throughout the night. Regardless, the much needed sleep helped me throughout today. We grabbed a quick breakfast of muffins and chai before heading to the orphanage to meet the babies and the kids. Frankie, one of the boys immediately ran up to me and hung onto me like a koala bear for the entire time I was there. He pushed the other kids away from me because he wanted my undivided attention. All the kids were very affectionate and respectful.

Frankie

We also visited a local, off the beaten natural path, hot spring (called Maji Moto) with a few of Ashley’s colleagues. The place was absolutely tranquil and peaceful. We jumped into the water with the help of a Tarzan rope swing and had our feet exfoliated by little tiny fish who nibble on your feet. Rose was brave enough to immerse her whole body into the water for a full body exfoliation.

Getting my feet nibbled on my little fish!

Ashley and I enjoying ourselves at Maji Moto

A beautiful oasis in the middle of the savannah

The Tarzan rope swing at Maji Moto

It was nice that we had the place to ourselves for a while before others dropped by. While we watched the others enjoy the water, we enjoyed a dish of chips mayai (a french fry omelet). We ended the night at a local restaurant called Rivertrees for a delicious dinner. They served great food and the place was very intimate and cozy.

The group at Rivertrees

Bonfire

Hanging out by the fire

Volunteers and Interns: Rose, Theresa, Ashley, Quentin, and Cassie

Ending a wonderful day with my daughter by the fire 🙂

Lessons Learned from Working in Tanzania

Note: Blog post originally posted on The Small Things Blog.

Today marks the very last day of my internship here with The Small Things (TST). Exactly 6 months ago, I arrived in Tanzania with a free mind, an open heart, and helping hands. Having recently graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Physical Health and Education as well as Post-Graduate Certificate in Sport and Event Marketing, I was eager to apply my academic skills on the international field, while keen to gain the knowledge and perspective achieved only by immersing oneself in an unfamiliar setting.

Little did I know how impactful my experience here would be. By this I refer to the genuine impact that TST has on the community it serves as well as the impact in which the past 6 months has had on my own personal life. I have gained an abundance of knowledge, and a wealth of experiences of which 3 key lessons, while intuitive, have affected me greatly and will stick with me forever.

1) Small actions really can lead to BIG change

Specifically when it comes to creating positive impact and empowering people to improve their lives. TST’s Outreach Program is a prime example of how a simple one time donation of $50 can empower a mother of 3 by setting her up with a small business. With a simple micro-grant in the shape of a clothing, soap, or chicken business, TST enables families to be able to put food on their tables, get more kids in school, and sustainably break the poverty cycle of a family and generations to come. I was fortunate to witness the inspirational Mama Max from our Outreach Program during my time here, who truly embodied the essence of taking a small step in producing positive effects. With her determination mixed with a little bit of TST support, a small business grant has led to a successful chicken business, enabling Mama Max to expand into the banana business, while improving the living conditions of her 4 children.

Mama Max – Outreach Program

2) Just because things are better, does not make them great. Just because things are great, does not mean they can’t be better.

From the beginning of my internship, it seemed as though every day brought new and exciting adventures for TST. From acquiring new grants and moving forward with the Children’s Village construction, to the addition of new staff and the expansion of the Outreach Program, TST was clearly growing very very quickly, positively impacting more people everyday. What really struck me however is the determination by the on-the-ground staff and TST’s passionate Board Members in ensuring TST’s growth is sustainable and responsible. Midway through my internship, an NGO Capacity Building Consultant, Carrie Barbo, took the TST staff through an unforgettable workshop, teaching us how to capitalize on our strengths and build from our weaknesses. This experience was extremely eye-opening and beneficial for the growth and development of TST as an organization, as well as all the staff as individuals. While it’s easy to get caught up with all the exciting new advances, especially being such a small and intimate charity, it’s refreshing to be a part of team that has such a great focus on developing and ensuring the constant improvement of its programs.

3) When many people work together, we can change the world!

Well.. I realize that’s a bold statement. So maybe not the entire world, but it’s definitely steps in the right direction.For instance, my main project during my internship with TST was to run our summer fundraising campaign, #SmallThingsSummer. The goal was to raise $20K by motivating people to make small actions in order to raise funds and awareness for TST. While $20K is a lot of money to raise through small efforts such as coin jars, lemonade stands, bake sales etc., supporters from all over the world came together to not only raise $20K, but exceeded the goal by more than $3000! With everyone coming together for a purpose larger than themselves as individuals, the TST community was able to raise enough funds to implement the Orphanage Reform, upgrading the orphanage’s infrastructure, hiring more staff, installing solar panels, renovating the kitchen etc.

During my time here, I have learned so much about myself as well as about the world I live in, and the world I hope and dream of. This journey of mine would not have been as remarkable had it not been for all the talented and passionate people in which I had the pleasure of working with; TST’s on-the-ground staff, the Board of Directors, all of TST’s amazing donors and supporters, the Mamas that work day in and day out to provide the children at the Nkoaranga Orphanage with love and care, TST’s loving volunteers, and of course the amazing kids I’ve come to love unconditionally. To all of TST’s family and friends, I want to give my thanks and say “Asante Sana!” for an unforgettable adventure. I wish the best for TST and the Nkoaranga community, and I look forward to returning in the future.

Nakupenda TST!

– Love Ashley

Happy Halloween from Tanzania!

Here in Tanzania, Halloween isn’t celebrated to the same extent as we do back home in Canada. However, recently my boss had returned back to the U.S. for a couple weeks and managed to pick up an assortment of masks, hats, face paint and costumes. That said, while most Tanzanians haven’t even heard of Halloween, the staff and volunteers from The Small Things decided to make an afternoon of dress-up fun!

#SmallThingsSummer Project Wrap-Up

August 31st marked the end of my first major project with The Small Things: The #SmallThingsSummer Campaign. The project was an online crowd funding campaign with the goal of raising $20K to fund the Nkoaranga Orphanage Reform, upgrading the orphanage’s facilities to increase the quality of life and health of the kids. The project invited people from around the world to do one small thing to make a difference in the lives of our beautiful kids; be it through a small donation, or hosting a small fundraiser themselves.

As I was responsible for raising the $20K, I was thrilled that the campaign not only reached its goal, but surpassed it with a grand total of $23,260 USD! Further, this campaign involved participants from all over the world – Canada, the U.S., Denmark, the U.K., the UAE, and Tanzania. 100% of the funds raised will go towards improving the orphanage through the installation of solar heaters, hiring a staff nurse, creating the new baby room, redesigning the kitchen, hiring more mamas (the caregivers), plus more! 

We’ve even already started implementing the Orphanage Reform by creating the new baby room. We’ve now installed new soft foam mats (previously hardwood flooring) for the babies to safely crawl and play, new toys and clothing organizers, a changing station, and restructured the bedding system. 

Now as #SmallThingsSummer has come to an end, my fundraising ventures don’t stop here. My next big fundraising project is a personal project that mother and I have taken on. As a mother daughter duo, we will be climbing the tallest free standing mountain in the world, Mt. Kilimanjaro, all to raise funds and awareness for The Small Things. Our goal is to raise $5000 by our climb in November, and while the trek will be a strenuous one, being one of our most important challenges in our lives, we can not wait to start climbing!

If you’d like to donate to our Climb for a Cause, or learn more about our climb, please visit our page here.

With only a few more months here in Tanzania, I’m looking forward to continue supporting the amazing kids of Nkoaranga. Each and every single one of them have stolen my heart and I’m honoured to be even the tiniest part of their lives.

Isaac and Ashley

 

 

 

Ballet in Tanzania

Here in Arusha, there’s a Google Group (Arusha Mailing) for expats/residents in Arusha that acts as a bulletin board for things like activities, sales, events, or lessons happening in the city. It’s quite similar to Craigslist, but less comprehensive with about 10-15 posts a day.

So, this morning when I opened my e-mail to see a posting about kids ballet lessons by the Ibuka Dance Foundation, I was so surprised as this is the first kids’ dance class advert I’ve seen in the past 4 months. Throughout the first month of my stay here, I had been actively seeking out dance opportunities here in Arusha. Whether it be myself taking dance lessons, teaching classes, watching dance festivals/performances etc., I didn’t want to spend my 7 months here in Tanzania without practicing my lifetime’s passion and hobby. I had even attempted to try to contact this killer hip hop group that I saw perform at Via Via Cafe one night, but my e-mails kept bouncing back.

While back home in the western world, every community group, company and/or business has a website that you can easily find by googling related key words; but here in Arusha, it’s quite rare that organizations have functional websites. So after a month of seeking dance opportunities here in Tanzania without any luck, I had stopped my active search and accepted that dancing in the shower and seldom club nights out would have to fulfill my dancing needs for my 7 months abroad. 

Now, back to the kids’ ballet posting. I was so excited to see something dance-related that I immediately e-mailed the coordinator asking if the Ibuka Dance Foundation had adult classes, performances, teaching opportunities, workshops etc. Anna, the founder of the organization, e-mailed me back almost instantaneously inviting me to help assist with the ballet class that evening, and discuss upcoming opportunities. Right away, I tied my hair into a bun, packed a bag, and jumped on a dala dala (Tanzania’s public transit bus – see photo), then switched to another dala dala, and then switched to a piki piki (motorcycle taxi), making my way to Life Fitness Gym to point my toes and pirouette my way through this incredible city.

A dala dala – looks like a normal van, but usually fits about 25 people.

I’ve now just returned to my home in Nkoaranga from teaching ballet and I can feel all my dance muscles in my toes singing from being put to work again! While dance clearly isn’t my focus while I’m here completing my Marketing/Fundraising Internship, it felt great to get back in a studio, even if it was filled with little kids in pink tutus.