Moving On

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is uncommon for people to have to borrow money occasionally just to get by. Most likely, Moses had to do so as well, as he was taking care of his relatives financially. The local custom is that the lenders come forward 2 days after the funeral to make the issues known so the old debts can be settled. Some of the people Moses worked with are getting together next week to figure out what else can be done to help his family. I am waiting to find out how I can help.

Meanwhile, I am starting to do some research about a project for Chiapas, Mexico. Chiapas has a large indigenous population and is one of the poorest states in Mexico. Nadine is putting together a proposal to help raise money to build a midwife school there. Because the school is accredited by the Mexican government, the graduates will be eligible for jobs at public agencies or non-profit organizations such as United Nations. Better paying jobs mean a better chance of preserving such culture. I hope to interview some of the students at another midwife school in Guadalajara to understand their challenges at school and back home. Many of them are from Chiapas. I am always fascinated by Mayan culture so I am really looking forward to being more involved with the project.