The Tanzania Adventure was an incredible experience for our three E.P.I.C women and here are some of their final thoughts and highlights from the experience.
Tennille decribes one of her highlights from the trip.
After we drill each well, we like to give hygiene and sanitation talks to the kids in the school, and to some of the women in the village. The kids at Mangalali Primary responded so well to it this year, which made it really enjoyable! We play games with them, teaching them about good and bad hygiene and sanitation practices, germ transmission, and the importance of washing hands, and brushing teeth.
We got to try out the song that Alexi and I made up about brushing teeth as well (we learned to sing it in Swahili after Amani translated it for us) so that was a lot of fun too! The kids LOVED it, and it was so much fun to act it out with our “Good Teeth” and “Bad Teeth” puppets!
If only one child understands the importance of washing their hands before they eat, or after they use the bathroom, and if that child teaches what they have learned to their children, and then they in turn do the same, we have begun to improve on a culture.
When Alexi and I come to each new village, we don’t come with the intention to change things, we come with the intention to share, and again, we are given so much more from the people than we could ever give to them, so if we are able to teach them anything of value at all, we feel we have done what we have set out to do.
Jen lets us in on her feelings about the impact that E.P.I.C and Quiksilver Womens is having in these Tanzanian villages.
Each day I spent in Tanzania was incredible, but my experience on the last night was critical to my understanding of the water crisis there and the perception of water. Bibi had helped to gather several women from around Kawe to meet with us and discuss the issue of water and the impact of E.P.I.C.’s first well. The meeting didn’t go as we expected.
Many of the women in Kawe have access to pipes. Even though they are aware that people cut into the pipes to steal the water (which in turn contaminates the water), they see the water as clean. Even though 100% of the women in our meeting had family members experience diarrhea and cholera on a regular basis, they see the water as clean.
In addition to the lack of access to clean water, a large part of the problem is the lack of education regarding water, hygiene, and sanitation. Bibi explained to us that in the 20 years she has lived in Kawe, E.P.I.C. is the first group of people to come and teach them about hygiene and sanitation. It’s overwhelming to think how much work there is to do, but completely inspiring at the same time to be a part of something that is so critical to so many people’s lives. There are some areas that we visited where people dig into the ground in search of water because they have no other choice. We set out to help support young women who are making a difference in the world. When we decided to help support E.P.I.C., we didn’t realize how many lives we could change, and that we’d be empowering women on the other side of the world.
Alexi lists off her highlights from the trip.
Witnessing the pride the villagers of Mangalali took in the well we provided them by building a protective wall around it in order to ensure it’s safety!
Playing with my African brother Gordon…quite possibly the CUTEST kid in the whole world!
Watching the kids we’ve known for 4 years now grow up.
And as always, meeting some amazing new friends.
In my time here there were so many things that made this trip what it was. The people. The communities. That unwavering spirit and hope that each individual we meet carries with them. It will all come home with me and last a lifetime.
P.S.- I want to thank all of you personally for being a part E.P.I.C.! Whether you’re a QSW customer or just a reader of the blog, you’ve helped immensely. Thank you for initiating a positive change in our world! 
