Did another hike with our group through one village of the Chagga tribe and we ended at a hidden waterfall. It was heart-breaking to hear about the class system set in place at the village, which segmented it's members into lower, middle and upper class, according to our Chagga member tour guide. There was virtually no way to escape what group you were born into and the differences in resources was appalling. For example, the lower class had their own bar which was a decrepit shack where women weren't even allowed inside, but had to sit outside under a tarp. Lower-class members aren't allowed to speak about anything other than the farm work they are allowed to do and the upper class sends little children around to eavesdrop to ensure they do.
As in many African countries, women do a majority of the work, from raising the kids, to housework, to agricultural work in the fields, etc., yet are relegated to the background.. My big hope is that as access to the Internet increases, women will see how other women in the world are treated and can begin to demand change within their families, communities and culture...
The view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, at sunrise, the day we left this region:
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