A Village Photo Tour

Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. It's true when it comes to describing Longido and Kimokouwa. In today's blog post I want you to get a feel for the places I write about - the place where TEMBO is located. This will give you some idea of the homes people live in and the business activities they are involved in. First is Longido, then Kimokouwa.

Above and below are photos of typical fruit and vegetable markets that are scattered around Longido.
Women buy produce in Arusha or Namanga and bring it to the village to re-sell.
Almost nothing is grown locally because of the persistent drought.

This woman can purchase better quality produce because of the loan she receives from TEMBO.

Here is a used clothing store that carries a bit of everything.

Chinese exports have even found their way to places like Longido.

A common sight is groups of women with their children selling food, 

bead work, or firewood, as they are here. 

Since there is no electricity food is cooked and water is heated

over wood or charcoal fires.

There is a very crude machine for milling corn inside this building. Maize flour is used

for making chapattis or ugali or stiff porridge. These foods are staples.

Women purchase corn kernels and bring them here for grinding.

There are perhaps a dozen butcheries located in Longido. Meat is slaughtered just outside town

and brought to these shops for selling. Goat is most commonly purchased. 

Beef is also available. Ten male goats from the KWGP (Kimokouwa Women's Goat Project) 

were recently sold generating an income for the women who raised them.

The meat would be sold in places such as this shop.

What village doesn't have a Hardware Store? 
Oftentimes you might be limited in what you can get for a project or repair.
It's amazing what works in a pinch!

Here is the Post Office. If you ever send mail to Longido
it ends up in this building.


A Beauty Salon? There are a few of them.


Here is a cement house with windows and screens. This is a very nice house
and is complete with a small garden. These are certainly scattered throughout Longido.
People who live in a house like this would have a steady income.

Many villagers live in accommodation like this.

Or like this. Entire families will share one or two rooms.

This is the pharmacy in the local clinic. The clinic provides very basic health services
to the local people - treating malaria and respiratory problems is common.
So is treatment for burns.

Kimokouwa is 13 km north of Longido. It is home to traditional Maasai herders.
Cattle and goats are everywhere.

You won't find any shops here, and none of the 'cosmopolitan feel' of Longido.
Just bomas and mud huts, like above, spread throughout the countryside
that are home to extended Maasai families.

Water for family use is still drawn primarily from deep, open, man-made wells.

A common sight in your backyard are animals like giraffes or elephants.
This photo was taken from inside a boma during an August 2011 project visit.
The Nursery School in Kimokouwa is in the background.

It's all about the people who live here. You won't find any better anywhere else.