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(I am happy to join the Maji Safi Group team!)

On September 3, 2014, I arrived in Shirati, Tanzania, to join the Maji Safi Group team. I am a Swiss citizen, and I am working for INTERTEAM, a Swiss NGO. Guided by the motto, “Sharing knowledge – Relieving poverty”, INTERTEAM fights for better living conditions in poverty-stricken countries while increasing Switzerland’s solidarity with people in the southern hemisphere. At the heart of the commitment, is the transfer of knowledge, skills and experience to partner organizations. To this end, INTERTEAM organizes work assignments for qualified Swiss professionals who carry out development work in Africa or Latin America.

Being born and raised in Switzerland, I automatically had privileges many people around the world can only dream of: education, free choice of work, ongoing education as an adult, self-determination, having insurance for nearly everything, etc.

As a young girl, I received vocational education and worked as an office clerk for my first job. While working, I studied different fields. Today, I am a Specialist in Business Organization. I am also a certified vocational trainer for apprentices. While working for many different organizations, small and big Swiss companies, as well as different international organizations, I gained a lot of experience in various fields of Business Organization – such as process, project and change management, accounting, human resources management, and facility management.

Looking for a new challenge in my life, I decided to work for INTERTEAM and to share my knowledge with people who do not have the advantage of being born in a society that provides all those opportunities I took for granted. I will work with Maji Safi Group until summer 2017. I will support the team in strengthening structures and making sure that Maji Safi Group can grow sustainably on a stable foundation. While in Shirati, I will help implement systems for accounting, human resources, and compliance, help strengthen the evaluation processes, and coach staff members. As the Maji Safi Group works in a participatory way, we will do all these steps together as a team.

Actually, after 3 months of being a member of a team of highly motivated people, who work in the community with passion and profound skills, I am of the impression that it is me who needs to be taught the most!

I arrived in Tanzania in July and had one week of introductions in Mwanza about Tanzanian culture and the work of INTERTEAM. I spent the next seven weeks in Dar es Salaam to learn basic Kiswahili, the national language of Tanzania. So, I thought I would be prepared for living and working in Shirati, but life in a rural community like Shirati is completely different from being in a city like Mwanza or Dar es Salaam. In cities, you feel like a stranger, and you have to learn many things about behavior. Living in a village is completely different.

The most important thing in the village is to be part of the society and the community. Compared to the lifestyle in places like Europe or the USA where we live as individuals, people in rural Tanzania are closely connected. So for me, living in this environment means being observed nearly all the time, being asked where I am going, asked whom I am going to meet, and when I will be back home. There are irritating situations, like visitors showing up at 8:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning, while I was still in my pajamas and drinking coffee on my terrace. That being said, I am slowly getting used to being visited without calls in advance or invitations. I will get used to my landlady knowing that I will leave for a few days – even though I have not yet told her. And, I already enjoy being welcomed by all my neighbors when I return.

 

To finish my work and be useful, I have to learn many things about “Tanzanian work flow”. For example, accounting is a completely different task here in Tanzania. What makes the difference so glaring is the fact that accounting in Tanzania is much less computer-based than what I was used to in Switzerland. It seems to me that for every step in the process, I have to fill in at least 3 forms in 3 copies. And usually, you need carbon copy paper – I think the last time I used carbon copy paper was 20 years ago!

What I really appreciate is the motivation, kindness, and patience of my colleagues at Maji Safi Group. They help me, teach me, and support me in getting used to the new ways of doing daily business. I also have support from external specialists; for example, the head of the accounting department of the KMT Hospital here in Shirati. He gave me the first introduction to the “Tanzanian way of accounting” and will help me if I struggle.

I experience a lot of support at work and also in my daily life. My landlady explained my electricity bill to me (yes, even if the bill was written in English, I had no clue which figure meant what on the paper or how to pay it!), and we have an agreement now that whenever agents from the electricity company are in town to collect the money, her son pays the bill for me, as I am usually working at that time. And one of my neighbors helps me with my household chores. I am so glad to have someone who is doing the laundry for me. I don’t know how much time I would need to wash bed sheets, as I have never done it, and I already know that task takes experience!

As I have started to feel more at home in Shirati, I now wake up every morning looking forward to new challenges and surprises and to learning from the Watanzania (the Tanzanian people).

– Susan Waltisberg

A year ago in November, Maji Safi Group (MSG) hosted the first ever Miss Maji Safi Day in Shirati, Tanzania. This day was imagined, created, and promoted by the young women and leaders of MSG’s Female Hygiene Program. It stands for female empowerment and allows young women to share the pride they take in being strong, confident, and independent individuals who value their bodies and intellect. The Female Hygiene Program started in August 2013 as a way to promote female health and hygiene, the importance of female education, and AFRIpads (reusable sanitary pads generously donated by Lunapads’ One4Her Program). This program started with 20 participants, who met weekly, and it has grown to reach 60 young women twice a week.

 

This year on November 22nd, Maji Safi Group celebrated its second annual Miss Maji Safi Day. Together with the MSG Community Health Workers, 60 young women from Maji Safi’s Female Hygiene Program planned and participated in putting on the event. Over 650 members of the Shirati community attended to see dances and skits about female hygiene and health and sing Maji Safi songs that teach about disease prevention.

In addition to the runway activities, the “Miss Maji Safi” competition tested the program participants on their knowledge of the relationship between female health and hygiene and school attendance and allowed them to show their community the pride and self-confidence they have in being young women. This year, there was also a competition between the female Community Health Workers to win the title of “Miss Mabolozi 2014”. The young MSG women were thrilled with the success of the day. We congratulate Lucia Lucas on being “Miss Maji Safi 2014” and Diana Nguka on being “Miss Mabolozi 2014”!

We are so proud of all the young women in the Female Hygiene Program! They are all wonderful role models to their peers and a great example of strong, empowered, intelligent women in their community.

Maji Safi Group (MSG) is very excited to introduce the newest members of the MSG team.

Susan Waltisberg, Tanzania Program Manager

Susan is originally from Switzerland and worked as a Specialist in Business Organization for the last eight years at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Lucerne, Switzerland. Since July 2014, she has worked for INTERTEAM, a Swiss NGO, as a development worker. She joined the Maji Safi Group (MSG) team in September 2014. Susan will be supporting MSG with her knowledge in corporate development and administration until summer 2017.

 

Question: What interests you most about Maji Safi Group?

Susan’s answer: “To share knowledge. To learn from my colleagues and to support them in organizational tasks – to make it easier for them to concentrate on MSG’s core processes. I want to learn as much as possible about working and living in Tanzania.”

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Raphael Kisasila Nsukuma, MS, Tanzania Accountant

Raphael Kisasila Nsukuma was born and raised at Lalago Village Maswa District in Simiyu Region. He received his Diploma in Accounting and Management from Cambridge University in 2002 and received his first degree in Accounting from St. August University of Tanzania in 2008. Currently, Raphael has completed his Master of Science in Accounting and Finance from Mzumbe University.Raphael worked with World Vision International as the Program Accountant from 2002-2005 with WASH Projects. He also worked with Africa Inland Church, Diocese of Shinyanga, from 2008- Sept 2014 as an accountant for Donor-funded Programs. In October 2014, Raphael joined Maji Safi Group  in Shirati, Tanzania, as the organization’s Head Accountant.

Question: What do you bring to Maji Safi Group?

 Raphael’s answer: “I expect to use my knowledge, experience and skills which will contribute positively to the growth of Maji Safi Group by ensuring that the accounting department is well organized, proper accounting systems are set, timely reporting is made, there is proper use of resources, and that budgeting and budgetary control are adhered to.”

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Grace Goldstein, US Treasurer

Grace grew up outside of Washington, DC and did not stray far from home for college where she graduated with a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia. While at UVA, she studied abroad in Falmouth, Jamaica, and Copenhagen, Denmark. After graduating, Grace moved back to DC and worked for a national construction company for two years. She decided to go back to school and is currently in her last year at Washington University in St. Louis in the dual MBA and Master of Architecture Program. She is focusing on social entrepreneurship and related architectural design. She took advantage of the travel opportunities in graduate school and studied in Barcelona, Japan, and she just returned from her first experience with Maji Safi in Shirati, Tanzania, in August.

Question: What goals do you personally have for Maji Safi Group?

Grace’s Answer: “I think MSG has amazing potential to impact not only the current population in Shirati, but also to change future generations’ trajectory through current education and outreach efforts.”

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 Matt James, MBA, Board Member

 

I have attempted to orient my career in a way that allows me to both generate value to the organizations I work with as well as to generate value to the communities in which I work. To this end, my career has encompassed financing of affordable housing, community development, education and renewable energy. As my career progresses, I hope to contribute new ideas and solutions to the problems that affect our society nationally and globally by creating and supporting sustainable businesses. I have a Master’s Degree in International Business and Bachelor’s in International Studies with a focus on international development.

Question: How is working with Maji Safi Group?

Matt’s answer: “I’ve had such a wonderful experience working with the team at Maji Safi. They remind me of the importance of action. In solving problems related to hygiene and clean water, Maji Safi is able to create tangible results in Shirati today, and their work will lead to a better tomorrow for the people it reaches. It can be daunting to tackle an issue as difficult as clean water, and many experts spend their days thinking about what to do – Maji Safi is doing it!”

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Marissa Jaross, MPH, Board Member

 

With a background in public health and evaluation, Marissa is excited to bring her enthusiasm for social justice, responsible development, and WASH to Maji Safi Group.  In addition to her Master of Public Health from George Washington University, Marissa holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While at CU Boulder, she completed a study abroad program in the Balkans, studying civil society in a post-conflict region. During her time at George Washington University, she focused on Global Health Communication, allowing her to focus on healthy behavior change and organizational communication. For her master’s thesis, Marissa completed a communications evaluation and strategic plan for El Porvenir, a Colorado-based nonprofit operating water, sanitation and hygiene projects in Nicaragua. Currently, Marissa works at JVA Consulting as a Research and Evaluation Associate with social change organizations.

Marissa is a longtime volunteer food server with Bridge House in Boulder and sits on the International Affairs Committee for the annual Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado at Boulder. 

Question: What interests you most about Maji Safi Group?

Marissa’s answer: “You’re doing it right! CHW model, full integration of Tanzanian staff, and an openness to new ideas!”

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 Margaret Fredrickson, MPA, Board Member

Originally from Oklahoma City, Margaret received her B.A. in Anthropology from Scripps College and an MPA, with a concentration on Humanitarian Relief, from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. While in college, she studied abroad in Brazil and Japan and later on worked in China and Ethiopia before settling down in New York City. Margaret is passionate about the transformative effect of philanthropy on individuals and has worked as a major gift fundraiser since 2006. She enjoys making an impact in her current role as a Major and Legacy Giving Officer for World Learning and lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with her husband and 3-year-old daughter.

Question: As a board member, what do you hope to contribute to Maji Safi Group?

Margaret’s answer: “My hope as a board member for MSG is not only to help improve the lives of the children and families in Shirati, but to work as a team on creating an operational and working model that can be replicated in other communities. Our goal is to eventually leave Shirati in the capable hands of locals and move on to other places where the MSG model is needed.”

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Shelly Liposky, MBA, MS, Board Member

Shelly has 20 years of experience in Financial Services and Public and Private Education. She is a Director at Barclays PLC with global responsibility across the Corporate and Investment Bank and Wealth and Investment Management. She has extensive experience with business management, including financial and strategic planning, governance and controls, communications, and human capital management. Prior to her career in Financial Services, Shelly held leadership positions in public education where she led diverse schools in a high poverty area outside of Washington, DC, taught students with disabilities, and coached varsity sports. During her career in education, she achieved remarkable results by implementing and teaching the reading methodology now used by Read Write America, and she expanded the program across the school system of 130k students, increasing student performance and reducing costs.

Shelly earned a B.S. in Special Education from Penn State University, an M.S. in Education Management from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She sings in a contemporary choir and enjoys sports and music.

Question: Why is Maji Safi Group’s mission important to you?  

Shelly’s answer: “Preventative healthcare is fundamental. I have a passion for education and much of what precludes learning is tied to unmet primary needs (food, shelter, clothing), and I would add clean water.”

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Michelle Dunajcik, Maji Safi Group Fellow

 

Michelle, a St. Louis native, headed to the Deep South and received her Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Alabama in 2013. While at Alabama, Michelle decided to take a semester off and volunteer abroad with an orphan care ministry located just outside of Kampala, Uganda, for a little over seven months. It was during this time abroad that she realized her two passions for international travel and working for social change could intersect within a work environment if she was equipped with the right skills and knowledge. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in International Social and Economic Development. Along with Uganda, she has experience traveling and working overseas in Chile, Britain, New Zealand, and Japan, and she is looking forward to adding Tanzania to that list next year. Michelle is excited to join the Maji Safi team and begin working as the Social Work practicum student in the spring and summer of 2015.

Question: How did you get involved with Maji Safi Group?

Michelle’s Answer: “As I began my Social Work practicum search, a professor at Wash U told me about Maji Safi Group and lauded it as an organization with an incredible practicum opportunity for any student interested in social and economic development. After learning more about Maji Safi through their website and by talking to previous practicum students, I was hooked and began the application process. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with MSG both in St. Louis and in Tanzania this coming spring and summer.”

 

Erna Maj, or “Mama Bruce” as she is known in Shirati, started working with the Maji Safi Group (MSG) in March 2012. She received her Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado in Linguistics and TESOL and works as a language teacher, translator, and MSG’s Board Chair. Below, Mama Bruce shares her experience of the Maji Safi Golf-a-Thon she organized and participated in. 

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“Great cause! And fresh water IS the key to getting out of poverty. Big first step into the future for these villages … keep up the good work.”– Chris Squadra, Golf-a-Thon Sponsor –

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It was a beautiful morning at 9:30 a.m. on September 19^th when 18 enthusiastic ladies teed off at Lake Valley Golf Club in warm sunshine under a Colorado-blue sky, and the atmosphere was truly special when the last three players walked onto the 18^th green at dusk with a golden glow from a gorgeous sunset over the mountains and dark clouds with a few bolts of lightning to the east. In between, we had played 474 holes, enjoyed a buffet lunch, and truly helped Maji Safi Group and its work with water, sanitation and hygiene education in rural Tanzania by raising awareness and significant financial support.

 

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“Playing fun golf with great friends. Supporting an important mission. Beautiful weather. A perfect day!”– Jan Fincher, Golf Player –

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I presented the idea of playing a Maji Safi Golf-a-thon when we had our spring meeting for our Tuesday 18-hole Ladies League. I was thrilled when my golf friends voted to pursue the idea, but little did I know that the event would grow into a significant fundraiser. In Danish we say, “Mange bække små gør en stor å” which means, “Many small brooks make a big river”. That is exactly what happened here in the best grassroots fashion. We had over 100 sponsors who pledged anything from $0.05 to $12.50 per hole; we had 18 players who played 18, 27 or 45 holes each; and we had many thankful people in Shirati.

“[I] felt like the quote below surely applies to [Bruce Pelz] and the work he is doing as well as what you are doing to help him! 

“I slept and dreamt life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy!” (Rabindranath Tagore)

– Brenda Lilly, Golf Player –

We already have plans to organize the Second Annual Maji Safi Golf-a-thon for 2015 – not just for the money, but also for the fun and the joy in giving.

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“I had more straight-up FUN playing these holes of golf than any I’ve played since I’ve been at Lake Valley. People were all cheering each other on, sincerely, not just pro forma. We all played serious golf and tried to make each shot the best we could, but the camaraderie was unlike anything I’d seen here. We had a common goal, to do good for others, and somehow it translated into fun and friendship.” –Judith Shinn, Golf Player–

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