Excellent service and welcome
The hostel is situated in a village just outside Moshi called Mbokomu. Michelle lives at the hostel herself so in on hand to deal with any enquiries or problems. There are all Western bathroom and kitchen facilities and the property is gated with 24 hour guards. There are two double rooms available, which share a toilet and shower,and one four bed dormitory with en suite toilet and shower facility.The beds are clean, comfortable, and mosquito nets and bed linen are provided. All rooms have ample lockable storage for valuables.There is a large communal lounge /dining area with comfortable furniture. Hand washing laundry facilities are available or, for a small charge, a local lady will do your washing for you.
Michelle has safe, reliable taxi drivers on call and can arrange airport transfers etc if required. She can also arrange climbs of Kilimanjaro or Safaris for those guests requiring them. She herself works as a volunteer for the Kilimanjaro Young Girls in Need (See KYGN website) and can arrange transport direct from the hostel for anyone interested in helping with the children, or building of the new school which is in progress.
The work at the KYGN involves the care and basic teaching of local children, mainly girls, from the ages of 3-6 yrs in a very poor village called Mabogini, about half an hour from Moshi. The children are all screened for various illnesses when they arrive, including HIV, and treated accordingly. Many have lost parents, and all are undernourished. They receive daily porridge and water at the KYGN and are regularly given shoes, underwear and clothing donated by the efforts of previous volunteers in various countries.
Money is also raised by volunteers to sponsor the education of the children, which costs £30 per year. At present land has been obtained, a well dug and a building is in progress to provide a new school with proper toilet facilities and kitchen. It will also be used as a safe house for those women and children most at risk. State schooling teaches primary level in Swahili and secondary in English, so unless the children know English they have no chance of secondary education.
The new KYGN school plans to have seven classrooms, and will teach English from primary level, giving all children a chance for further education. Help is always needed at the moment, both with the children and the building, but the goal is for the school to become self funding from the pupils fees from a wider catchment area. It has a good reputation within the local community.
