January 22, 2009

The day started with a bit of R and R – some of the women relaxed around the pool (very nice!), and some had a massage to work out some of the Mt Meru knots. Very indulgent, but we figure that it is deserved.

Some of the women went shopping in down town cosmo Arusha at a artists co-op, and picked up some pretty nice stuff (some for gifts, some for keeps). Immediately after lunch we all got together and headed off to Support for International Change (SIC), one of the benefiting charities of the event. SIC focuses on regions and communities that are not serviced by other organisations. The staff provide HIV/AIDS testing, education, and awareness programes in the following rural regions of Tanzania: Babati, Arusha rural, and Meru districts.

As part of the afternoon’s activities, Yvette volunteered for an HIV/AIDS test during a role play with the SIC staff. We were all impressed by the time and cost effective testing process used by SIC (and yes, Yvette has a clean bill of health).

The money raised by the 2009 team is being used by SIC to test 20,000 people for HIV/AIDS, and provide care for 250 people who have tested positive. The care provided includes the provision of soap, multivitamins, and mosquito nets. The need for more funds for this organisation is very apparent, and the team are very pleased to see the funds we have raised being utilised in such an effective manner.

Late this afternoon, some of the women received some rather excellent formerly loved garments they had bought in the days before and had sent off for dry cleaning. Sam was particularly chuffed with her pink down jacket, with pristine ‘ski bunny’ faux fur collar – Mt Kili wont have seen anything like it!

Yvette, missing her dogs terribly, ended up at the Summits Africa office, getting some fuzz therapy from Ruger and Kili, the company’s guard dogs. Both dogs are really healthy and happy, but could do with a little spa treatment, so she has promised to send some delux doggy wash from Australia when she returns home.

In anticipation of Ali’s birthday tomorrow, we are all heading out to a club in Arusha to celebrate and shake our groove thing. The club, Via Via, is run by a bunch of funky rastas, and hopefully a good time will be had by all, particularly Ali.