Question: Who are you?

Oh, how I struggle to answer this short, but very challenging question. My name is Julia. To say I wear my heart on my sleeve would be an understatement. You already have it.

Question: What are you doing now?

I am back at school (part-time) and spending the rest of my time working on a few projects. At the moment, I am putting together a book. Eight years ago I picked up a fiction novel about a girl who traveled to Africa (Journey of Hope), and the book changed my life. When I returned home this summer, I went looking for non-fiction books about young women following their dreams and getting involved in the world and I couldn’t find any!  So, with encouragement from friends, I decided to write my own. The saying goes that a picture says a thousand words, and I’m not really a writer, so the book has a lot of pictures. At NYU, I am designing my own major focusing on poverty, community health, and social change through media and the arts.

Question: When are you going back to Africa?

As soon as I can. In the meantime, I’m trying to learn as much as I can about photography, writing, public health, social change through media, maternal child health and nutrition, sustainable development and art therapy.

Question: Why help Africa (or anyone else) when there are so many who need help in our own country? America first.

Quite a few people have asked me this. So many people in America need help. I’m not going into the statistics of how many people live below the poverty line, do not graduate high school, and cannot afford health care, but too many people are not getting the help they need in the US. In some community’s (like the South Bronx), the situation is a crisis. But

1. Situations abroad are so dire that I can’t compare Africa with the US. In sub-Saharan Africa, one in five children die before reaching the age of five (it might be one in six now). People are suffering and dying from preventable, treatable, and curable diseases. People are suffering and dying from not having access to something as basic as clean water! Yes, there are many problems, but there is so much we can do, in America and abroad. Helping internationally does not necessarily mean focusing less on the United States.
2. Many of Africa’s problems can be traced back to the West’s historic and continued exploitation. The West divided Africa like a piece of cake ignoring systems that were already in place. When designating land into separate territory’s, the West did not take into account anything of importance to the people-  access to water, food, or where tribes had lived for hundreds of years (if not more). I can’t even begin to trace conflicts back to their routes to find the West’s role, but it’s usually there.
3. Globalization has made all of us neighbors. Our sugar might come from slaves working in the Dominican Republic, our paperclips from prisoners in China, our chocolate from Cote d’Ivoire, or our clothes from children working in India. The luxuries we live with often (unknowingly to us) come at others expense.
4. It’s in everyone’s best interest to build up people around the world. Peace can never last in a world where human rights are violated. By ending extreme poverty, we strengthen the entire world.
5. But it really comes down to this: I don’t think of the world in terms of “us” and “them”. By helping them, I’m not ignoring us. Those associations do not have any meaning. We are all brothers and sisters in this world and everyone is equal.

Question: Africa’s problems are unsolvable. Don’t forget that before AIDS there was famine, malaria, and TB. The countries are unstable, ruled by corrupt leaders, and there are always tribal wars going on. The place is a mess. Why do you think this will change now? Why bother?

Do I think we can solve all the worlds problems? Not a chance. Do I think we can make one person’s life better? Sure. Many? Yes. And I think that’s enough.

Question: What kind of career are you thinking about?

Well, I have no plans, but here are some ideas. Working in the Peace Corps or with Doctors without Borders. Teaching in either America or abroad. Doing something with photography/video/journalism/activism. I think it would be awesome to photograph for National Geographic. I am open to anything. Because my interests are so varied I will probably create something. I would love, love, love to be a doctor/art and music therapist working in refugee camps. I also really love getting others involved- so whatever and wherever I end up, I will keep you in the loop and provide a way for everyone to participate.

Question: What does your family think? Aren’t they worried sick? How could they let you go to Africa by yourself?

I’ve been preparing them for a long time, so I don’t think it ever comes as a surprise anymore when I mention a new idea. I was eleven when I first read Journey of Hope and told them I wanted to go work in Africa. Over the years I built up their trust with trips closer to home. Every summer I went a little further away from home. I guess when it comes down to it, they trust and support me. I know everyone misses me when I’m away.

I made this blog to share stories of my experience in Kenya with family and friends. Summer of 2008, I worked as a visiting staff member for Tenwek Hospital’s Community Health and Development department. Here’s what I did (or attempted):

1. Recorded footage to make a movie describing TCHD’s work. This movie will be used for raising funds. Funding has all but run out, and TCHD desperately needs support. They reach hundreds of thousands of people every year. Hopefully soon I will be able to provide a link to a webpage to tell you how to contribute. There are MANY ways. Message me to let me know that you would like an e-mail with information. My e-mail address is juliadesantis@nyu.edu!
2. Recording music in the local languages (Kipsigis and Swahili) to bring back to hand over to Jimmy Chalk to make the soundtrack for the movie (and for entertainment for people here!)
3. Working with others to make a new website for the hospital- John Wright, the Fitzwaters and the Gainey’s. This is very important because Tenwek is a leading hospital in Africa but you definitely wouldn’t know it from the current site!
4. Visiting with patients, learning Swahili and teaching the staff of TCHD to use computers (they already know how to use them- but more specifically, how to create media stuff).
5. I am paying for the trip with the Feffi Stiassni scholarship, with money I make working and donations from people who want to get involved. Let me know if you would like to contribute, I would appreciate it greatly!! (Juliadesantis@nyu.edu)
6. LEARNING A WHOLE LOT!!!!

This picture was taken on the top of Mount Montigo- an hour and half’s walk from Tenwek hospital. One day Megan, Petra, and I climbed to the top. Some kids followed us and were very fascinated with the camera!

More about Tenwek… (from the website)

Tenwek Hospital is one of the largest mission hospitals in Africa. Tenwek is located in the Western Highlands of Kenya, 240 kilometers (150 miles) from Nairobi in the Bomet District of Kenya’s Rift Valley Province. It provides primary health care to 600,000 Kipsigis people within a 32 kilometer radius and serves a referral center for a much larger region. Surrounding Tenwek are several small government dispensaries and health centers; many patient referrals come from those facilities.

Many ethnic groups utilize Tenwek Hospital. The dominant ethnic group near Tenwek is the Kipsigis. Not far away are the Kisi and Maasai. The Maasai are notable because they have been slower to assimilate many elements of culture and language used elsewhere within Kenya, including western influences on African culture. Both the Maasai and the Kipsigis have an emphasis on animal husbandry (cattle), but the Kipsigis have adapted more to a residential/agricultural lifestyle than have the Massai who are more nomadic.

This blue line shows you the driving route from Nairobi, on the right, to Tenwek, on the left. The drive goes through the Great Rift Valley. The shaded area on the lower left is the Masai Mara game park, and the adjoining Serengeti game park. The Mara Safari Club, which most visitors to Tenwek use for their safari, is located a bit northwest of the Masai Mara game park.