AIDS Walk Africa 2007: Before the Walk
3/9/2007
Children peek outside at the Nkoaranga Orphanage near Arusha in Tanzania. |
Virtual Walk
AIDS Walk Africa 2007
Before the Walk
Read Ramona's blog.
Pre-walk
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
By Heather Mason Kiefer
Photos by Jon Hrusa
Anticipation is building here at the River Trees Country Inn outside of Arusha, Tanzania. AIDS Walk Africa begins the day after tomorrow, but the Inn is already filling with walkers and staff. Hopefully we’ll all be sufficiently recovered from our jet lag by the time the walk starts.
Most of the AIDS Walk staff members have been here for several days already, making preparations for the walkers’ arrival and scouting the routes for our daily walks next week. Driving the routes was tiring enough; one can hardly imagine what walking them will be like. But we’re all up for the challenge.
River Trees, our home base for the week, will be a welcome respite at the end of our long, hot days of walking. The main house is cool and airy with beautiful handmade furniture, and there are several smaller cottages and cabins dotting the grounds. The Usa River flows right through the front yard and massive “River Trees” line its bank. The open-air dining room serves hearty, fresh food, much of which is grown in the vegetable garden behind the Inn.
Sharing a meal at the orphanage. |
This morning, a few staff members made a pre-walk visit to one of the hospitals that will be on our route and then decided to spend a few hours at an orphanage next door. Looking into the faces of these children – the youngest of which was just two weeks old – reminded us that every child truly deserves a lifetime. And we’re here to help make that happen.
The walkers will continue to arrive tonight and tomorrow, and our adventure officially begins on Sunday with an optional “stretch of the legs” walk in the morning, an orientation in the afternoon, and a welcome reception and in the evening. Check back Sunday night for our next update!
A child guards the entrance to the orphanage.
|
A moment of comfort from a volunteer. |