The Scissors For You

This is Eveline, a bright student in our Blessed Maria Teresa Ledóchowska pre-school in Kiabakari Catholic Parish. Her dream is to be able to continue her studies in our educational institutions up to Form Six class in High School. She knows too well we have pre-school completed only, while the primary school is still under construction since August 2007 with only six classrooms ready and the school kitchen to be completed in the next month or so. A secondary school and a high school are still in the planning phase only. But she is full of hope that her dream will become reality some day and the ropes of limitations coming from the place of birth and scarce opportunities of proper and continuous education in this area to develop her skills and talents and obtain the best education possible in Kiabakari - will finally be cut through with the help of Fundacja Kiabakari and the people of good will worldwide. Here are the scissors for you from Eveline. Come and take your part in cutting through those bonds enslaving dreams of our children and the youth in Kiabakari.

"Ntampata Wapi?" The Tribute to All People of the Foundation Kiabakari

This song I wish to dedicate with all my gratitude and respect to the Chairperson of Foundation Kiabakari, the board and the council and all esteemed volunteers of the Foundation, private volunteers and of other organizations who came or are committed to the cause of Kiabakari and gave our people the greatest gift ever - their selves, their talents, time, love, care, kindness, passions, creativity and devotions...

New Website Same Address

Just to let you know that our Foundation Kiabakari website underwent a major upgrade and facelift. The address is the same at www.kiabakari.org but the content is totally different and more user-friendly. Great job done by our two volunteers - Agata Krupa and Tomasz Zbrzeżny. Kudos to them! Enjoy!

Screenshot of the the new website 

Priority 2014

Arrived to home town of Kraków last Thursday night for the long awaited vacation intertwined with the quest of securing some help for the completion of our primary school in Kiabakari, medical checkups, visitations of people and places dear to my heart and so forth.

I am very grateful to my colleagues who invited me for mission awareness Sunday, with preaching and fundraisings for the cause. I am grateful also to Miss Agata Krupa, volunteer of Foundation Kiabakari for the design of the info leaflet I will be distributing in the parishes and places wherever I will happen to be. Gratitude to Fr. Roman Zapała who volunteered to cover the expenses of the printing of the publication and to Wydawnictwo Platan in Kryspinów, near Kraków, for offering to print it immediately and for the costs of the materials used only. Thank you so much, you people of immense heart for the mission's cause in Kiabakari. God bless you much! I do hope this little publication will help people I will meet in my quest to know better Kiabakari, Foundation Kiabakari, what we do, what is needed there and so forth.

Here it is - the little leaflet, my little companion on the road from May to August. May God grant special convincing powers to all readers of this publication to move their hearts to join our cause and help to push it forward. It is in Polish language, understandably, and here it is shown front and back on one page for better viewing.

One Week

One week left till the opening of the new school year, the day when our new pre-school fills with children laughter and smiles. Can't wait! Such a huge reward for all the effort of the passed year.

Rain And Ground Water Harvesting, Cleaning and Storing Project - Images

And the final post for today - just a few pictures of the final stage of the completion of the rain and ground water harvesting, initial cleaning and storing in concrete and PVC tanks development project in my mission in Kiabakari, co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. These pictures were taken also in mid-December, like the previous two posts. I had no time to post them earlier - internet issues and guests prohibited to do so. Today, I am in Musoma, so the internet is gentle enough to allow to upload the pics. Mind that the latest works are not depicted here. Not all elements of the project are seen here as well. This is just to let you get a general idea of the nature of the project.

I will post final pictures along with the remaining two projects once they are in full swing. Still, what is seen here, fills my heart with pride and gratitude to God, Polish Foreign Ministry, Foundation Kiabakari and all people involved directly and indirectly in the realization of the project.

Extension Of Health Center In Kiabakari Project - Images

A few pictures of the final stage of the completion of the development project of expansion of our health center  in Kiabakari, including the construction of new wards, ICU of infants, maternity ward, gynecologist's office and so on, co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. 

These pictures were taken in mid-December, the latest works are not depicted here. Late equipment arrivals as well. A couple of new wards, not all. I will post final pictures once the new wards are open and fully operational (first, I need to stamp logos on bedsheets, hang mosquito nets, place the trash bins according to color code, prepare hospital clothes for patients - these clothes were not included in the project and to finalize the tender for running of our new hospital kitchen before I allow patients to be admitted in the new wards; and so forth). Still, what is seen here, fills my heart with pride and gratitude to God, Polish Foreign Ministry, Foundation Kiabakari and all people involved directly and indirectly in the realization of the project. 

Modern Pre-School Project in Kiabakari - Images

A few pictures of the final stage of the completion of the modern pre-school development project in my mission in Kiabakari, co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. These pictures were taken in mid-December, the latest works are not depicted here. I will post final pictures once the pre-school is open and students are in the school. Still, what is seen here, fills my heart with pride and gratitude to God, Polish Foreign Ministry, Foundation Kiabakari and all people involved directly and indirectly in the realization of the project.

Getaway

Time has come to get away from Kiabakari to focus on work which needs silence and seclusion. Living alone as a parish priest in Kiabakari makes for a life of never-ending saga of 'hodi hodi' (verbal announcement of someone who comes to the house in need of seeing someone, most probably me) disrupting my mental flow and rendering my work impossible.

That is why I used opportunity to escort my visitor and volunteer, Anna (flying back to Poland via Dubai today) to the airport, to use the next six days for solitary paperwork as I await the representative of Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fly in next Friday to Mwanza to begin her monitoring of our projects and participation in seminars in our health center. I look forward to her arrival as I never had any bad experiences with those people, to the contrary, so far I found that very smart, bright, creative, easy going, friendly and compassionate people are employed in our Foreign Ministry who come to visit us in Kiabakari.

I remember all such occasions and feel proud and grateful to our government that they keep in touch with us, Poles, living in working abroad, in particular in Africa. Thus making me believe that I leave permanent hallmarks of what we as individuals and as a nation have the best to offer to Africa and Tanzania in particular.

Moreover, it is totally different to hear or read about Kiabakari than to visit it personally and see with one's own eyes what Kiabakari is all about. The pictures of this year's development projects I was posting on Foundation Kiabakari or mine timelines do not do justice to the immense effort we put in its completion and the level of professionalism we were able to achieve with our primitive tools and using only local task force.

The Bishop Msonganzila of Musoma was speechless, District Commissioner as well. And I hope the lady from our Foreign Ministry will be glad and satisfied that their money were spent well in such a professional and spectacular and aesthetic manner.

I have never felt more burnt out and exhausted like now. And I have never felt more proud, happy and satisfied like now as well.

Faith and Good Deeds. This was and is our motto in Kiabakari inspired by the motto of our diocesan synod underway in Musoma Diocese.

As I say 'see you soon!' to Anna, I look forward to the next wave of visitors. Our Foundation Kiabakari logo displays an open inviting door. This is also a statement of the reality in Kiabakari. Open to everybody with no-nonsense approach to life, responsibilities, people and tasks in hand.

Jubilee Missal Cover

This is the cover of my jubilee missal (both pages - back and front - in spread) designed by Miss Agata Krupa, the volunteer of our Foundation Kiabakari, and printed by Miss Bożena Koczur, the CEO of Foundation Kiabakari. I am very grateful to the ladies for their skills, contribution and kindness, Thank you so much! The back page of the missal features all parishes I lived and worked since my birth till now.

Left - back page; right - front page

Silence Is A Way Of Communication

A couple of weeks passed since my last post. A lack of word is a word itself. A lack of post can speaks volumes. In my case it means an intense period of time for me, full of responsibilities, travels, things to do, matters to take care of, decisions, stresses, challenges and lot of work - on the upcoming jubilee, graduation, opening of projects, finalization of registration, insuring and servicing our donated motorcycles, drilling the borehole and water quality testing in government lab etc... And by saying - a lot, I mean A LOT!

White Plate White Mug

On my to-do-list for today in Dar es Salaam there was a quest for food warmers / food servers for our new kitchen in health center and in new pre-school. I went to Kariakoo to search for them. Found them here and there, but what caused my heart melt were white plastic plates and mugs I bought from the wholesale Chinese shop for the pre-school dining hall. 

As I was holding a sample plate and a mug in my hands, my mind went to the opening day of the new pre-school, November 22. On that day we will not only have the ribbon cutting ceremony at the gate, but also the short sample of 'a day in new pre-school' which means - first lesson in each age group, breakfast in new dining hall and first games in our new playgrounds. 

I felt touched by the mental picture of some one hundred happy pre-schoolers sitting at the new tables in dining hall and having their first breakfast served from the new kitchen, equipped with modern stuff. Nice nutritious breakfast served on new white plates and a mug of freshly brewed tea for our little ones... All effort that went into the planning of the project, waiting in anticipation for the announcement of the Polish Ministry for Foreign Affairs - if the project passed or not, then the entire construction process up till now - it was worth it. 

The picture of our pupils enjoying their first day in their new pre-school is priceless. And melts my heart. Grateful to God and so many grand people of good will - from the donors through our Foundation Kiabakari to the task force - who made this possible, who made this happen. 

Hernia Project In Kiabakari

A few pictures of one of the hernia surgeries performed by visiting Polish surgeons in our health center during the Hernia Surgeries Project under the umbrella of the District Medical Officer of Butiama District in cooperation with the Diocese of Musoma and Foundation Kiabakari. Warning: Although the most drastic and graphic images have been avoided on purpose, still be warned that some of the pictures show the operation from a close distance. See the pictures here.

Blue Monday? Nah!

A few pictures from today. Boring, depressing Monday? No way! Our surgeons continuing with surgeries in the health center, clinic day for mothers with children, development projects underway and closing slowly to its completion. A good and busy day. We do not know blue Mondays here in Kiabakari.

Pictures From Construction Sites In Kiabakari

As you know well, for a few months now, three development projects funded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the scheme of Polish Aid 2013 are being realized in Kiabakari. Here are some pictures of the current state of their completion as posted by Foundation Kiabakari on their Facebook timeline (click here).

Please, continue to sponsor our projects through your kind prayers, well wishes. Keep your fingers crossed as well, humanely speaking. Our aim is to complete all three projects by the end of October, well ahead of deadline which is the end of the year. And this despite continuous problems with water in Kiabakari and drought in Tanzania. I am proud of my construction teams, supervisors and suppliers. Well done, so far.

Inguinal Hernias In Tanzania

I woke up early this morning in my favorite room at SMA Regional House in Bwiru district of the city of Mwanza. In a couple of minutes two young Polish surgeons will land in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and then after a couple of hours they will board the Precision Air flight to Mwanza. They are expected to land here in Mwanza at 9.20 A.M. I will pick them up and we will drive straight to Kiabakari, hopefully, God willing, reaching their final destination around lunch time. Then after a short rest and settling down in their rooms, we will have a first meeting with the staff of our health center, to get to know each other, prepare the theater, newly purchased autoclave machine (I brought it from Dar es Salaam especially for this project; it is brand new and never used so far), other operating tools (brought by the surgeons themselves) and select employees who will work directly with the surgeons. We will set up procedures for the upcoming hernia surgeries and will hope that people affected by this ailment will shop up starting tomorrow, Monday, September 2.

The government of Tanzania via District Medical Officer of Butiama District will finance the procurement of all needed medicine and dressings. We, as the health center and Foundation Kiabakari, will sponsor internal health center costs, so instead of paying a lot, the patients will contribute as little as 15 Euros (of course the will pay in Tanzanian shillings) for the surgery.

Sławek and Przemek will have only two weeks to perform as many surgeries as possible. On my part I did everything that was possible under circumstances and with the financial resources I had in my disposal, posting announcements everywhere in the Region, spreading word through friends channels, via Radio Victoria and government and church healthcare institutions. We will see if this effort brings some effect.

As always, I count very much on your kind prayers and well wishes for the success of the project. And it is my hope that this Inguinal Hernia Project in Kiabakari will be the beginning of the new chapter of healthcare in Kiabakari - opening the avenue of visiting doctors and specialists of various kinds according to the priorities of health problems of our communities in Kiabakari, Butiama District, Mara Region and beyond. Already people ask for cardiologists, dentists, eye specialists, gynecologists, physiotherapists, diabetic specialists etc to come. The needs are huge. Let's spread the word about this. It is a noble cause!

For Polish readers (but you can also use Google translator) an article on our surgeons adventure in Kiabakari (click here).

Caring Healthy Arms

This is the title of the exhibition of pictures and artifacts prepared by my Foundation Kiabakari at ŻyWa Pracownia located in Krakow's Kazimierz district as a global education effort to spread the news and knowledge about the ongoing development project 'Upendo Unaojali' in Kiabakari. I am very pleased with a huge work done by our team under the leadership of Miss Bożena Koczur. I hope and pray and humanely I keep my fingers crossed as well for the success of the exhibition and good media coverage. If you happen to be in Krakow in this period, please come and see for yourself!

The links to the event - Facebook (click here) and Internet (click here).

Against All Odds

No rain, continuous drought, no water in village water pipelines. We are forced to fetch water from drying creek down in the valley in order to be able to push ahead with development projects. I don't remember such a bad situation as this year. Since April no rain whatsoever. I am amazed how we are able to continue with works and reach a promising stage. Against all odds. Please, pray for us and for rain. Here are some pictures from today posted by Foundation Kiabakari on their Facebook timeline (click here).

No Half Time

First six months of the year already behind us. Today marks the beginning of the second half of the year. Sadly, no half time in between as the steam roll ahead with full speed closing on the highlights of the Year of Faith in Kiabakari - ordination of our deacon Augustino Mapambano, his Thanksgiving Mass and other celebrations, events and function which are associated with these event. The development projects of Foundation Kiabakari are well underway as well and we are ready to put roofs on the new buildings. The end of this week will see the first volunteer arriving from Italy for one month voluntary experience in our pre-school. Later this year we expect a few more - Polish surgeons coming in August, then volunteers of Foundation Kiabakari. The second half of this year looks even more challenging than the first one. We need to stay focused, determined, committed, in deep prayer and trust, united in purpose and getting down to work with courage. Let us pray for each other!

Deep Ocean Diving

Back home in Kiabakari, feeling on the very first day after return as if I dived deep down into the ocean of issues and troubles forcing me immediately to switch to the full working and combat mode. Pity it did not rain since I left for Poland some six weeks ago. Everything has changed so dramatically since then. I left the place green and lush. I found it upon my return dull, dusty, gray and yellow. Trouble, big trouble with water supply for our development projects which I commenced before I left. Guys did a great job anyway and things are moving forward in a decent pace, though they admit if not the water problem, they would be much farther ahead in the construction process. Still, I am impressed! Yesterday I spent most time discussing water issue with relevant authorities. Today we started digging out all pipelines to see who has been connected to our water lines and to make sure everything is in proper order. If I cannot solve the problem with steady supply of water from village pipeline, then I will be forced to use the option of water tanker supplying water from the nearby creek. This will be very costly and I do hope we can avoid it. Let's see what happens in these few days.

Here are some pictures (click here) I took yesterday on my tour of construction site which I posted on Foundation Kiabakari Facebook profile. As always, I count very much on your kind prayers!

Houston, we've got a problem! Water!!!