Seeing the World Through New Lenses Thanks to Polaroid Eyewear
The Maarifa Project 2010
Blog Photos: with thanks to Maarifa Team Member, Josie Farrow
A privilege held by students, and envied by many, is the long stretch of summer months, which certainly allow for a measure of fun and shenanigans. The Maarifa Project, developed by my lecturer, Jan Wilmington, provided me with an opportunity this summer to spend 4 of these weeks in a constructive and enjoyable project working alongside staff at Karanga Technical Training College (KTTC) near Moshi in Tanzania.
My involvement in a learning setting in Tanzania enhanced my understanding for my course as a student on the BA in Community Education at The University of Strathclyde. It also proved to be a hugely rewarding and significant personal learning journey as all 4 of our team summited the 19,000ft of Kilimanjaro.
Polaroid Eyewear was generous to donate a new pair of Women’s Inkognito Sunglasses and Canoe 8535F Suncovers for the trip. Special thanks must go to two Polaroid Eyewear representatives Aileen Brown and Rona Foster, who made these available to be packed in my rucsac as necessary kit for all the challenges I would meet on the expedition. 
The purpose of the college, supported by the Diocese of Moshi, is for young people to learn vocational skills in subjects as diverse as tailoring, welding, mechanics, joinery and I.T. which they can then use in the workplace to support their future and the growth of their community.
Work with a group of the girls at the college enabled us to support staff to introduce a health & fitness programme based around the culturally familar means of dance, music and movement.
“Team Maarifa began our assent up Kilimanjaro from Machame gate. We walked through the rainforest with the expert guidance of Heaven and Matti; friends and our mountain guides for the week. Very beautiful. I feel a little like royalty as the porters whoosh past us, light on their feet, carrying all our gear. All I need to consider is my day-sac and my Polaroid Eyewear Suncovers, which prove to be a real mountaineering essential to wear over my spectacles.”
Work at Karanga Technical Training College
Our small team brought diverse skills and capabilities that enabled us to develop positive relationships whilst working with the junior girls. Through parachute games and the culturally familiar means of dance, music and movement; the girls experienced the value of physical activity for themselves.
“We spent two hours working with the girls in class today. The workshop went down exceptionally well. It was encouraging to see the students relax into a dance and health information session in their classroom, where they usually attend formal lessons. Teacher Mary was able to translate some of the difficult parts into Swahili: real proof of a developing partnership between KTTC staff and our Maarifa Team.”
This was all underpinned by sessions in physiology, based on questions brought up by the girls, which were directed to Jan with her experience as a sexual health nurse. Our hope was that this ensured any learning was relevant to their specific needs. A major aspect of the Maarifa Project is that any work established will continue after our departure. We were really pleased when this aim was realised in the last few sessions as the girls started to lead dance for fitness amongst themselves, with their tutor providing support.
“Today we used an exercise to take the girls through the difficult process of ‘becoming their own teachers of dance.’ It is difficult for them to have the confidence to take the lead, without direct input from a teacher, but one or two older, more self-assured girls guide their classmates through some dance moves. An encouraging sign!”
Credit has to be placed with the many local people and friends including: Priests, Father Willie Manigi & Monsenior Philbert and their kind housekeepers; teachers and dedicated mountain guides and porters who made our experience an unforgettable one. The collaboration between teachers and ourselves allow the dance sessions to continue into the future and our mountain guides supported us to the summit of Kilimanjaro with great care. I could not have done it without them.
The Big Summit
“We have a steep walk (more of a scramble) up to a high level today. This takes a huge amount of effort, focus and patience with myself to allow our guides to help me. It is getting hotter and brighter as we now climb above the clouds. The dazzling daylight is undoubtedly helped by my Polaroid Suncovers, which wrap right round, protecting my cornea and the Polaroid lenses allow me good visibility of the changing landscape and stunning views. Matti also takes a liking for my Polaroid Suncovers and wears them for part of the walk. He certainly thinks he looks “poa” (Swahili for “cool”)”
The whole experience has allowed me a wider view of my job as a youth and community worker. My capabilities, perceptions and views of the world were challenged in order to see the similarities in how the same kind of work is done by professionals there. A final diary extract describes the surreal, but fulfilling feelings on reaching the roof of Africa:
“Energy surges from some buried reserve deep inside me as we begin the final short, but gruelling ascent to Stellar Point. The winds are cold, but tea is already poured at the stop off point and the sun begins to rise, filling up the shadowy crevices of the rocky landscape. A quick, but refreshing pause and the appearance of the sun lifts my spirits before we navigate the final three points. Out of nowhere the summit sign appears! Now it is within my reach, I can hardly believe I am actually going to make it! … We glow with pride as we make our victorious descent past earth-shatteringly beautiful glaciers illuminated by the morning mountain sunshine.”
