The Kitchen is Done!
Written on July 15th, 2026 by Ben Weber
I’M FINALLY DONE WITH THIS PROJECT. I AM SO RELIEVED!!!
This project has really drained me over the last few months. I’ve been working on the grant for over ten months now. I’ve really struggled to find motivation to work on the grant application when internet access is limited at my site. With my ADHD, it is challenging to get started on computer work like grant writing in a not studious environment like my house. Truthfully, the school office is not much more studious either since the Tanzanians watch TikTok and the news, listen to gospel music, or call their friends and family on full volume. As a side note, I believe that a good majority of Tanzanians have undiagnosed hearing damage due to the average volume level at most social events. The average here is the maximum on these sound devices. They frequently max out the gain on the microphones and there is constant feedback.
Anyways, I’ve been asked by the teachers at my school more than once a week where the money for the project is. It’s had a great impact on my mental health. I’ve felt like a failure, and it’s reinforced my negative mindset that my brain can’t work well in our society.
Thankfully, this project was finally approved in May, and I was able to secure funding by the middle of June. Once the funding arrived, the community came together quickly to plan and construct the new kitchen. I received the funding on June 15th and purchased most of the materials on June 19th. By the end of that weekend, they had finished clearing the former kitchen and completed the foundation. On the fourth day of construction, they started building up the kitchen walls with bricks. I was stunned with how fast the project was coming along, on the tenth day of construction, they had finished all the kitchen walls and installed the roof. The next week was spent plastering the walls and building chimneys while we waited for the doors, stoves, and windows to arrive. For a project that took nearly ten months to achieve funding (mostly due to my procrastination), the village had finished building it in less than three weeks. It certainly helps speed up the process when you don’t need to follow OSHA guidelines or secure building permits from the city.
Now, my counterparts and I are teaching the kitchen staff and students about food and kitchen safety. The smoke inhaled by the cooks and the amount of firewood needed to be collected by students has decreased this semester, which was the main goal of the project. I still need to finish the completion report, but the school is very happy with the new kitchen and I’m glad this project is almost behind me.
I am awaiting a donor list from Peace Corps for those who donated, but you know who you are and thank you so much for your support. And for those who wanted to donate but were unable to due to me not notifying you early enough (SORRY), I truly appreciate your eagerness to help. With the help of my fellow teachers and friends Raymond Kalaamba and Marudio Sanga, we took many photos to show you all the progress of the kitchen over the last month. I’ve made a shared album on google photos which can be found here.
In other good news, I received funding for my second project this week. This project will support students and people in my village living with HIV by constructing 60 beehives near the school. The honey will be used for nutritional purposes, and excess can be sold for income generation. We’re aiming to be done with this project before August, but unfortunately I won’t be around to see the first collection of honey.
I leave here in less than five months. Truthfully, I am ready to go home. This has been the longest period I have been away from my family. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and have experience immense personal growth. But life here is dull at times and I see the light at the end of the tunnel that leads to something new.
I don’t think I am alone amongst my peers of counting down the days until we can go home. I am relieved these projects are starting and ending now, since I am finding it harder to motivate myself here. But most of all, I am glad I will have a lasting impact through these projects as they will continue to support my community for many years to come.
