The Gift that keeps on Giving!

just a few of the 100's of beautiful scarves 

At the end of each of my trips to Arusha, Tanzania, I look forward to making a visit to the local Masai markets. It is truly, an adventure, like no other. It's kind of scary, real crazy and fun all at once! After 7 years and 16 trips to this same Masai market, these vendors have come to know Mama Linda quite well. 

one of the Mama's I buy scarves from so she can feed her family

They know why I am here! 
To buy about 300 scarves! As soon as they see me, the word is out "Mama Linda is here!" They are all over me and each one pulling me, trying to get me into their shop to buy. It's hard not to buy from them all, but I can't. I pick 10 or 12 shops that are run by a Mama and buy about 20 - 25 scarves from each. I buy from the woman only because I know the Mama's will use the money to buy food for her children.  

I fill up the car with all my beautiful, handpicked, scarves and off I go. With the sweat dripping off my face and down my back from the heat, I leave with a big smile and a warm feeling in my heart, knowing that the 'watoto's' (children) are going to have full little bellies for the next month!

When I get home the scarves are sold for $25 to family, friends and strangers. The funds are then donated to Bridges of Hope to the  'Tanzania Education Fund'. 
The funds will go to educate a Girl in Tanzania. 







Educating a Girl in Africa not only educates an individual but it educates a whole family, a whole community, a Nation. Across Africa, almost 28 million girls between the ages of 6 and 15 are not in school and may never set foot in a classroom. For most girls, only 5 years of school is the most education they can expect and they are considered the lucky ones! Most girls, after attending primary school, grades 1-6, will quit and not attend secondary school. 

Why? The girl will have to stay home to do domestic chores or the family is too poor to send her to secondary school because of the cost. Girls who attend school are three times less likely to become HIV positive. Also, an educated girl on average, will spend 90 percent of her income on her family. She will send her own children to school and contribute to the community.

So now, you can see, how me sweating at the market for hours, buying scarves from those women, has gifted a whole lot of people! The women have food for their children; the scarf is a gift for you or your friend; the money will educate a Girl and take her off the street; that Girl will then educate her family! It's the gift that keeps on giving!


Scarves can be purchased at:
*Reflections Hair Design
 1612 - 2nd ave So
*Herbal Magic
 814 - 3rd Ave So
*Call Linda at 403-795-2261 and I will come to your home or work place.


 Mama Linda 
Tanzania Project Manager
Bridges of Hope

A Journey to Arusha, Tanzania, Africa, October 2015

Here is a quick video that features our Bridges of Hope journey to Arusha, Tanzania in October 2015 with Tina, Martha and Henry. The video features our fun visit and stay at Karim Children Care Centre and the project at Sotwa Wilson School that the three of them funded. The project consisted of painting the rooms at Sotwa Wilson School and building a fun colourful tire playground for the children. The playground was a hit, to say the least, as you will see in the video. Thanks Tina, Martha and Henry for all your hard work and for your big Hearts. 






Love  Mama Linda 
Tanzania Project Manager
Bridges og Hope