Change of address
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
I've moved my blog to a new address: http://tengeruthoughts.blogspot.com
Apparently there was a problem with making comments, which explains why no one has made any at all on this blog so far. It should be fine on the new site.
I've re-posted the last three blog entries on there, in case you wanted to add any comments.
Thanks, and enjoy the new remixed site.
Posted byplayerHAYTER at 3:10 AM 0 comments
First sale
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Our second visit to a safari company to discuss business deals occured on Tuesday of this week, as we trekked out to Massai Wanderings in the outskirts of Arusha. This meant more wholesomely character-building experiences on dala dalas, with only a very vague idea of what to look for in a destination. Fun.
I don't have a driver's license – and I'm talking about a Canadian one. If there's any motivation for wanting to drive myself in the comfort of my own car, then Tanzania's dala dalas (Swahili for “sardine trap of unusual social encounters”) are most certainly it. I've been putting off getting my Canadian drivers license for, well, around six years now. A mixture of laziness and a lack of time and necessity, it's been a mild incoveniance for friends and family who, on the odd occasion, have to cart me around town or province.
Having spent the past month in the some of the most uncomfortable public transit vessels available on Earth, the thought of driving myself in a comparably luxurious hatchback in Canada looks very appealing to me now. Such an experience would be the polar opposite of the crampness of dala dalas, as well as the reckless driving skills often on display here substituting my own (presumably flawless) abilities.
But back to business. Following two dala dala trips and an on-foot trek past a garbage dump and into an obscure patch of Meru countryside, we found our way to the headquarters of Massai Wanderings. After a business pitch not dissimiliar to Monday's trip to Access 2 Tanzania Safaris, we left the office with a succesful trial deal – and 75,000 Tanzanian shillings in our pockets to hand over to Mama Machumba Crafts.
Finally, a month into my trip, we've got results. Sure, 75,000 Tsh is only around $50 CDN, but it's a damn sight higher amount than zero. If that amount grows to the regular 90,000 Tsh weekly (for 30 products at full price), then we'll really have achieved something significant. We've yet to hear back from Access 2 Tanzania, but we'll be able to sell them a trial pack too, if they're interested.
As an added bonus to keep the mamas busy in the future, Massai Wanderings' co-manager Donna also asked us if we could provide banana fibre lunchboxes for her safari business to use. Most safari companies tend to provide packed lunches to their clients when on the road, in order to maximise viewing times in the wildlife parks. On my safari last week, we were given our lunches in disposable, cardboard, non-descript, white lunchboxes. Massai Wanderings' idea, though, is to use a more permanent, aesthetically-pleasing solution. Which we would sell to them. I like how that sounds.
This would be a totally new project, of course, and as a one-off order it wouldn't provide a steady flow of income – as the banana fibre bracelets/coasters do – but it's another great way for the women to make money. For the time being, we'll concentrate on our original deal – selling gifts to the safari companies – but this lunchbox thing has alot of potential too.
I feel like I've got more done in the last two days than I have in the past month. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come, rather than a mirage in the middle of desert.
Posted byplayerHAYTER at 8:49 AM 0 comments
Grey in TA
Monday, March 1, 2010
Rainfall finally accepted my open invitation this weekend, following a scorching Saturn's day spent lounging at home then braving the bustle of Arusha centre. We're approaching the start of the long rain season here in northern Tanzania, which typically affects most heavily the months of April and May, but gets fairly riled up in March too. Basically, as I return to
Canada on April 2, I'll be departing at a good time – just as the country becomes sactimoniously drenched in cool equatorial showers. In February and March, though, the rain acts as a soothing contrast to the parched days ruled by the big hard sun.
Equally satisfying was the work we were able to do on Monday, as our long awaited first meeting with a safari company (re: the banana fibre crafts we are trying to sell) came to fruition.
We met with Access 2 Tanzania, a smaller safari company based in Arusha. After a few daladala trips into, then briefly outside of, the city (and a brief delay following distracting directions from some locals), we found our way to the company's base nestled between farmland and industry.
Having already introduced our business proposal to the company's local owner – Mike, a friend of Lema's – all that was left for us to do was to discuss matters with the manager of operations, Stella. Armed with nicely packaged samples (bracelets/coasters wrapped in banana fibre with a small biographical label attached), paper brochures and a formal business letter, our first attempt at pretending we know how to do business seemed to go over pretty well with Stella.
For now, we'll play a short waiting game with Access 2 Tanzania, and see if they'll bite into at least purchasing a trial package. In the meantime, we'll take our proposal to other companies and see if there's any further interest.
Later in the day, Robin and I met more formally with Mr. Shija and Geoffrey – another person involved with Educare – to clear up some of the issues regarding Educare's funds. We decided that for each 3,000 Tsh craft sold, half (1,500 Tsh) will go as payment to the women making them, a third (1,000 Tsh) will go towards the business and its regular expenses, and then the remaining 500 Tsh will be put into the Educare Foundation. It's a division that gives equal attention to the charitable side of the project as it does to growing and supporting the business – which seems like sound logic. The more the business can grow, the more money it can make for the community – which means more money that Educare, as an umbrella organisation, can use to develop further initiatives in the area.
Putting the maths together, a 90,000 Tsh package (of 30 products) will make 45,000 Tsh for the women themselves, 30,000 Tsh for the Machumba business and then 15,000 Tsh for Educare.
So, it's nice to feel like the planning stages are wrapping up and turning into action, of some form at least. After a productive morning, I treated myself to a delicious burger and fries at Via Via in Arusha – a very hip traveller's haunt nestled in the gardens of an old German colonial fort.
Speaking of plans of action, I've been researching my next expedition outside of Tengeru this week. Here's the plan: bus to Dar Es Salaam on March 22, find my way over to the fabled island of Zanzibar for four nights at a reasonably priced hotel and then return via Dar to Arusha. Apart from its northern safari circuit, Tanzania's most popular tourist destination is this middle-eastern styled vacation spot, where architectural relics of the slave trade mingle with sun-soaked beaches and various sun 'n sand activities.
This plan means I have just three weeks left of volunteering. In honesty, it's nice to have an end in near sight.
Posted byplayerHAYTER at 8:22 PM 0 comments