In northeastern Tanzania lies Lushoto, a tiny mountainside village perched in the lush, green heart of the Usambara Mountains. There, on the front porch of a small cottage, sat the Girl. She sat alone, early one morning, to watch the sun rise and the day unfold. The Girl had long brown hair, soft brown eyes, …

I first learned of Romania’s overcrowded and destitute orphanages in the early 1990s, as Western nations were realizing the implications of the domestic policies of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. When Ceausescu was overthrown and executed in 1989, there were more than 150,000 children in Romanian orphanages. This was a direct result of his insistence that …

Certain aspects of Tanzania ensure your constant awareness that this truly is a different world… The sky, for one, seems bigger here than anywhere else I’ve ever been. It hangs over you, flattening you between the immensity of the space above and the solidity of the earth below – sky and earth, each the aerial …

Today we set out early in the Chetna Vikas four-wheeler in order to accommodate a full day agenda – field visits to several villages across Dumka District. Specifically, we were headed to an agricultural project being piloted in Haripur, Dhankutta and Patharia villages. The rationale for this programming is readily apparent in the project operational …

It was barely 8 a.m. when I rounded the bend into Barmasia to begin my morning commute. My eyes were immediately drawn to the bobbing sea of umbrellas as pedestrians moved through the (already) stifling, dusty street. Of course, I recognized that the umbrellas were being used as sun-shades, and I smiled in agreement – …

Moyo is the Swahili word for “heart.” Maya is the Sanskrit word for “illusion.” To me, the words “MoyoMaya” together represent an intention to use the heart to heal the “space between us.” After all, the space between us (between people, between cultures, between countries, between you and I) is an illusion. Separateness is not …

PRESS RELEASE: Tackling Child Malnutrition Requires a Holistic Approach, Targeting Health Care, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Gender Equality Recently, UNICEF released their State of the World’s Children 2019 report, entitled “Children, food and nutrition: Growing well in a changing world.” It showed that, globally, more children than ever are surviving, but they are not thriving. …

In many ways, it simply has to be experienced. An overnight train across India, and the opportunity to view all the pockets of space between cities and towns… it is intense, and it is disorienting. For me, the journey began with delay… although I had arrived at Delhi’s bustling central station with plenty of time …

For several weeks, I left everything behind. Armed with just a sleeping bag and a friendly guide, I embarked on a surreal journey into Tanzania’s wilderness… First we visited Tarangire National Park, occupying 2600 square kilometers of wilderness in the Rift Valley. Beautiful Taranguire is otherworldly in its endless presentation of ancient Baobab trees and …

Years ago, when I started volunteering overseas, it was simpler… the “volun-tourism” industry hadn’t actually exploded and caused damage to what was otherwise a potentially beautiful force of good in the world: international volunteering. So, when I see pictures of myself like this now, I tend to cringe a bit and immediately wonder if I …

Kumar knows a thing or two about setting priorities. Since his life crashed down around him during the earthquake five months ago, he has worked tirelessly. His focus has been on restoring a sense of safety and home for his family. Kumar is just 35 years old, but he supports a family of 9, including …

Tanzania offers many rewards to those who rise early. On my morning walk today, I watched a brilliant pink and orange sunrise slowly warm the ice-blue cap of Mount Kilimanjaro. Kili herself stood stark and completely unobstructed against the pale blue perfection of Moshi’s sky. Several days of sunless cloud have finally broken in an …

I have come to deeply appreciate the power of volunteerism to open one’s heart, mind and self-awareness, and to transform one’s perspective of his or her role and relationship to the world at large. My volunteer experiences have each provided a unique gift of insight, presented here as “principles” of MoyoMaya. ♥ No act is …

Maybe it’s the seasonal turning, but I’ve noticed that I’m beginning to feel a familiar sensation which seems unique to the developing world… “Time” becomes thick and real, and you can feel yourself swimming through it with each step. And strangely, even though the sensation is one of “slow motion”, every once in a while …

God is in the breeze moving a curtain, in the breath filling my belly, in the dreams deep in my heart. All these things are sacred and beautiful. I am part of the night sky – a blanket of twinkling sisters to whom I belong. I am understood and valued by this spiritual family, and …

PRESS RELEASE: July 27, 2007 Tanzania’s national population statistics reveal a startling truth – more than half of the country is comprised of children. In 2002, it was reported that 55% of the population is 19 years of age or younger.(1) In 2005, it was revealed that a full 45.8% of Tanzania’s population is actually …

Brief but visual, and intense in its effect. The dream fragment is so clear, I can still see it. I can still feel it – the fear, the exhilaration, the journey. Beautiful, rustic surroundings. Mountains. I thought, “Nepal”. I was on a massive bus, loaded heavily with passengers and belongings. I noticed the rich, brown …

Sitting under a mango tree in a small, rural community in Mozambique this past November, I began to truly appreciate the meaning of lasting change… I had traveled to Mozambique and Zambia to report on CARE’s Southern African Nutrition Initiative (SANI), which aims to provide women, families, and health providers with the tools they need …

I have traveled far, and in many countries But I have never found one culture or creed that was correct And yet I have found truth and authenticity in all of them In each of them You will never be what you think you are — “right” You will never NOT be a part of …

India has a “hidden face”… it is her disabled population, and they are all but denied and forgotten. Indeed, the statistics are staggering: there are over 70 million disabled persons in India; less than 5% of the disabled are educated; less than 30% are employed; more than 80% live in rural areas. As it seems …

Today I was given the opportunity to spend the day with the Health Coordinator, Arif; together, we would be traveling by motorcycle for more than 100 kms for field visits to see Chetna Vikas’ health-related work in action. I happily abandoned my laptop, grabbed my digital camera, and hopped on the back of Arif’s bike …