Prague- Istanbul-Dar es salaam

Vladimir drove me to the airport at 09:45.

At the airport Vladimir wanted to say goodbye outside of the airport but then he had a hunch that we should check in together as he was afraid of my heavy back pack.

He was right, 1 kilo was supposed to be reduced from my back pack, he talked to the desk supervisor and I was good to go without leaving anything behind.

After I checked in my flight to Istanbul was delayed for 15 minutes. Few flights were delayed from Prague’s Vaslav Havel Airport, I thought it just happened there but yet there were much more flights delays in Istanbul.

Many People especially Africans were complaining a lot for a delay of 35 minutes saying Turkish Airline is not organized, I was quite because to me it doesn’t make any different regarding that most of flights will land to their destinations in the middle of the night even if they will be delayed for 2 hours

In the other hand I wish these complainers should try to fly via Dubai from Dar es salaam to Europe. Or Fly from Dar es salaam to Sierra Leon, 10 hours waiting for connection is worse than 35 minutes delay.

According to my opinion these delays were caused by 30th of March time changing in Europe. For example my flight to Dar es salaam from Istanbul was supposed to be at 19:10 but it was changed to 18:10. It is rather difficult for most Africans to understand this because time changing does not exist in Africa

It’s called EU Daylight Saving Time, clocks are advanced by one hour in spring and moved back in autumn to make the most of seasonal daylight

Tanzanians say “Tembea uone” it means travel for exposure, if you have enough exposure you can’t complain over 35 minutes

The saga of my heavy weight back pack continued at Dar es salaam airport while checking in for my flight to Mbeya. Fastjet transport 20kg baggage and cabin baggage for 10,000 which you pay while buying a ticket. Any exceeding kilo is charged 8,000 which I didn’t know. Before I checked in I removed some stuffs for my brother and my mother but my back pack still had 10 kilos exceeded this is 80,000 TZS. I can’t leave any humanitarian aid behind, I paid and continued to Mbeya

Heavy rainfall continued for 2 days in Mbeya caused turbulence in the sky of southern highlands. Turbulence is what nervous fliers fear the most when boarding an aircraft. In the sky Inside Fastjet Airbus A319 we were safe until we landed at Mbeya airport at 15:30

Outside airport there were 3 journalists and albinos waiting for my arrival as I was carrying sun creams for albinos that’s why I didn’t want to leave any humanitarian aid behind because I didn’t want to disappoint these beneficiaries

Im at home and ready to finish the roof of girls dormitory in Mahango but first I have to clean my house and the environments around it. My house corridor is cobwebbed, My parking lot is covered by Grasses, my front trees garden is indefinable with long grasses growing so fast because of nonstop rains. .

I guess this will be the end of my Euro 2014 tour blog which according to my observation was successfully. Before I close the chapter I would like to express my appreciations to all who made this happen:-

Michaela Gongolava, Ondrej Horecky, Tomas Gongol, Tereza Horecka, Radka Hojna, Michal Sotak, Lukas Zavadil, Renata Eleonora Orlikova, Eliska Novakova, Jitka Hudeckova, Marie Novakova, Roman Kaziel and his family, Suzana Klusova and her family, Gabriela Gongolova and her family, Kamil of Kavamat, Marie and Vladimir Albrecht , All Czech Partner schools, TV odra, Czech National TV, Polar TV, Dobraticky Zpravodaj newsletter and other people who participated in one way or another  

Český Krumlov "South Bohemia Safari"

Many people are asking how can Bez mamy do all these incredible and exotic projects despite of being a small organization.

There is only one answer to this....TEAM WORK

Rome was not built in one day so is Bez Mamy, the whole thing started later 2005. Volunteers, workers and our associates are still united to-date because of Team work, Team building trips, sense of humor, freedom of speech, communication, management, e.t.c

There are people with lots of money but cant run their organization because they lack the above qualities. 

It is conformable for me to work with serious organization even if there is no enough money. 

I'm saying all these because our associates and supporters Vladimir and Maria they are old but they know and have team work and team building mentality just to keep Bez mamy and members move on

They took to me to a "safari" in the very exciting southern Bohemia where the plan and history of Cesky Krumlov will hold your breath.

13th Century Cesky Krumlov is a small city in South Bohemia and it is a UNESCO world heritage site and was given this status along with Prague castle district

Temelin Nuclear Power Plant

ENERGY FROM SOUTH BOHEMIA

I wouldn't talk about the history of Cesky Krumlov because it will take me a long time to finish it but I can help you by providing the web page www.museum-krumlov.eu where you can find the whole story.

Ostrava – Prague "The Obsession"

I would rather not talk about what happened from Nizni Lhoty, Frydek-Mistek to Ostrava in my last day in Moravian- Silesian region, because it was too painfully. It’s not like somebody pissed me off, but it’s the pain of saying goodbye to people I loved, people who took good care of me, Family which was far too kind to me, people who worked with me, good old and new friends I met.

On my way to Prague in Regiojet train I said prayers from Psalm 23:1-6 to keep myself stronger. My mother taught me this long time ago

1.The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

...My throat was choked by unhappiness, so all the way to Prague I only spoke two sentences to the train attendant

“Hot Chocolate please”
“I can only offer you tea, Coffee and Apple Juice, She said to me.
“Apple juice please”
Then the chapter of talking was closed until when I met Vladimir at Praha Hlavni Nadrazi. I didn’t have a mobile phone so It was difficult to find him, so I decided to stand in front of the “Tabule” (Train timetable Board), I knew he could come across there and It was as I thought, He showed up at least 15 minutes later then We left the station for his house.

At his house in Praha 10, Katerina came to bring me aid for Albinos and orphans in Mbeya. I found out that my bag was not able to pack about 15 more kilograms. Vladimir Improvised and dug out some hiking bag which he was using may be in 1970’s, it was just a perfect bag for the trip, now I believe old is gold. In this pack everything will fit.

With this back pack I real look like a Mercenary of compassion especially when also wearing my Khaki shirt bearing Czech flag and Bez Mamy’s logo as well as hanging my stainless steel name tag around my neck bearing my name and bezmamy’s webpage

I'm too obsessed and still choked but I have to hold it for the sake of Vladimir and Marie. They are always the victims of my problems. In 2012 I was with them when too obsessed with the goodbye party done in Konicek, few weeks ago I was here again with severe flu.

The last stand at studenka

“What are all these cameras doing here”, I asked
“These are journalists and TV reporters”, Tomas replied.
Wooow, on TV again?, I was surprised

 You are the only famous black man in Czech Republic. This is the only year when Bez mamy has been on the news man times than ever, Tomas said.

We were in bunker at Studenka where I was doing my last Presentation in Moravia region before I move to Prague Bohemia on friday 28th ready for my trip to Istanbul. The Presentation was organized by Polar TV´s Renata and Lukas Zavadil

Studenka is on the mainline railway between Krakow and Prague. I always pass here by train from Prague to Ostrava and otherwise

The bunker which was built by Germans in 1944 is being rebuilt by Renata and Lukas for people´s meetings and gatherings, it has not been finished but can be used for different occasions

We had about 16 attendants, and about 3 cameramen for local news, one was from TV Odra. It was cold in this bunker but people never care about this because they were interested with the event.

Before the starting of the presentation TV interview was first, audiences were interviewed then I and Michaela followed. Lukas was a reporter in this event

Tomas made a joke to me that I should be Bez mamy´s Hall of fame.

In the end of the presentation people asked many questions and one old man wanted to have photo with me and before that he said, What we are doing to help children in Africa is more than a job, it is sympathy from the heart

I guess this is the last encounter with Lukas and Renata for the year 2014. Personally I thank them for the publicity they have made for our projects especially the Documentary production which can be viewed on the link below, Note: It´s is in Czech Language. The version with English subtitles will be released for international viewers

WATCH

http://www.polar.cz/archiv/video/host-dne-24-03-2014-17-44

Projects Presentation in Trutnov

It was 16:30 and the outside temperature was about 10 degrees when Michaela, Zuzinka and I were leaving a district of  Frydek Mistek to Trutnov. Trutnov is a city in the Hradec Kralove region of the Czech Republic.

We have project presentation in this city where Bez mamy volunteer Radka Hojna invited us. None of us has ever been to this city,so we needed map to reach our destination as the car GPS was broken. Michaela was driving and Zuzinka was the navigator

We drove for at least 4 hours to the City.  When approaching the city we figured out that the temperature was completely different from where we came from. Snowy rainfall and the temperature was absolute zero

No one in the car was well equipped with this kind of temperature, Michaela had summer clothes, I had winter boots but only one Jacket, Zuzinka had better jacket but summer shoes. We all need help

We reached Ratka´s house safely, thanks to the good driver and a navigator. Meeting Radka is another encounter after Lysa Hora.

On Monday 24th we woke up late as the presentation was supposed to be at 17:00. Before leaving the house for a sightseeing I had to call Marian, a Czech man who lived in Arusha,Tanzania for 5 years. This man is the organizer and translator of my presentation.

We all wanted to surprise him by Swahili language.

Radka dialed the number and handled a phone to me, Marian Picked up and he started speaking in Czech , I don’t know what he said exactly;    

„Habari yako Bwana Marian“ I said in Swahili
Nzuri, He replied surprisingly
Habari za kuamka“ I asked again
Salama, Chris? He replied and asked
Ndiyo bwana“
„Could we switch to English?
Yes of course.

We made an appointment of meeting later at 15:00. At the moment we had to go out for sightseeing after Radka equipped us with some warm gears.

We first visited World War II bunkers, very interesting but unfortunately the museum was closed so I didn’t get more stories about these interesting bunkers

From there we went to visit coalmine which was established in 1570 and closed in 1992. History and technology are always my favorite, I was interested much on old mining trains, bells and old dial phones communication, elevator operation and technology

After this interesting tour we went for lunch at the city square where we met Marian. It is the second time I’m speaking Swahili in Europe after the last encounter with Frank in Prague

The presentation started as planned with encouraging audiences and journalists of the regional magazine. As usual I talked about Tanzania, life differences, children lives, education, health care and moreover; our projects in Mbeya region, where we started, achievements and our future plans

Our African projects has been on the news ever since I arrived here, Czech National TV, Polar TV, Universities news,  Dobratice newsletter and now we will be in  a regional magazine in Trutnov. It is a good fate for orphans involved in our project in Tanzania

School to School project at Dubnany and Ratiskovice

At 7 in the evening, Me Eliska and her sister we left Brno for Morkuvky where I had to spend a night in Romano´s and his family. They are such friendly and good caring family.

I slept late as we were preparing animals presentation for small children in Ratiskovice kindergaten. The next day I had to wake up at 06:30 ready to leave the house at 07:00 but the sun was already shining at 06:20.

With Eliska We drove for about 30km to Ratiskovice school. Jana, The headteacher of the school is very dramatic and funny. When she came in the office and found us she said: " You are early" and her colleague who was offering us tea told me: "The storm has arrived"
I enjoyed my visit at this school, Welcoming and happy teachers and students

First presentation had so many students but was without projector, when time was up we moved to another room which has a defferent type of projector. We had maximum of 30 minutes for every next 2 presentations. They all went well with many jokes and funny moments especially with the headteacher around

From there we went to Dubnany a partner school of Galula Primary School.
Wooow so it was Chris on TV and now he is in our school....,one of the students said.

Here it was much more exiciting, students were much more cooperating and were asking questions in English.

This school is well equipped with sport equipments and learning materials. They have  classes for music, Language(Russian,English and German), artwork and computers,Play grounds for atleast all sports

After presentation and school tour I took a time to pick up my old days of painting by drawing a picture for one student named Veronika

Then we were invited for a lunch. Where we had a little chat, the headteacher expressed her feelings by wishing to have students exchange program where European students should go to Africa for a short term and learn how it is there because she believe African students are much more disciplined...She is right

At 14:00 we were supposed to be at Ratiskovice kindergarten, the school which is supporting Kajunjumele Nursery in Mahango.

This school has very small kids. I was here in 2012 with Ondrej Horecky and some kids were afraid of me. There was a big poster of Michael Jordan dunking on the wall, I had a question from the poster that why do they afraid of me while they have a huge picture of a blackman in their room? One said; This is a picture but you are real. I understood that they are just kids so I didn´t mind.

It is 2014, Im back again in this school,now kids are not afraid of me anymore. They showed me a Czech traditional dance, it was good perfomance for the kids

Here my presentation was without projector as they dont have one. I used a laptop but still  kids were happy.

"Please come back again",one kid said as I finished my presentation
"Ofcourse,I will" I replied

Many places where I do my presentations people think I´m a teacher. I asked  Eliska why, She said I have good communication and coperation with the audience.

Well I got news for you, I´m not a teacher, I studied IT, Business management and business law so may be I was just born lucky

Was your chocolate made by Illegal child labor?

In Brno, Eliska Novakova invited me for the documentary about Illegal child labor in Cocoa Plantations in West Africa. The film started right after a 17 minutes Afghanistan´s war  aftermath film

I was angry when I saw that documentary. I believe child labor is a present day situation that should not be ignored but I wonder how was it possible for the government of Ivory coast to refuse visa for journalists who wanted to go in country to film about the dark side of chocolate.

These journalists are not Africans but they wanted to tell the world about this illegal situation so that our African children can go to schools. In other ways though the documentary was filmed and now the whole world knows about child Labor in Ivory coast a country that produce nearly half of the world´s cocoa

My Tanzanian friend Expert Sadala who is in Cocoa business in Sierra Leone said
"In Sierra Leon child labor is now under control after intensive training and sensitization. people now understand why they have to leave the children go to school. Because of that it is very rare now to see children involved in cocoa plantations...He continues, Farmers organize themselves in groups and work in turn to make sure they visit each individual. This have reduced child labour in cocoa plantations the only area where I am not sure is the mining sites there child labor can be applicable".

We African,its time to act now and support our children to get better education for the future of our continent, if we have opportunities to develop African children lets do it now because Africa is a sleeping economy giant of the world