Sindani, Masai Village, Tanzania

“ Even if life is quite tough, I wouldn’t change anything. We have the basics: a home and water”

Name :   Sindani Langanani Mollel

Gender :   Female

DoB :   Day and Month unknown, 1983

City of Birth :   Emairete, Masai Village, Tanzania

Status :   Married, 2nd wife out of 3

Family :   3 boys and 2 girls

Hometown :   Emairete, Tanzania

Education :  None

Job :   Housewife

Religion :  Catholic

Politics :   –

As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?

JOB – How did you decide to do this job? I stay at home all day with all the women of my village. I take care of my children, prepare the meals, clean and tidy the house and wash clothes. Sometimes, I go to sunday markets at Munduli (10 km away from my home). I never wondered what my job could be, as I got married very young – around the age of 13 (Massai women usually get married between 12 and 15 years old), and got children few years later, as soon as I could…

I never wondered what my job could be, as I got married very young – around the age of 13 and got children few years later, as soon as I could…

HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought you would be living by now? I was born in a Masai village in Emairete, close to Munduli – Arusha. I never imagined my life outside of my village. Actually, I have never been further than Arusha…

Striking and memorable events…

IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? Getting married and giving birth are the 2 key moments in my personal life. Family life is the most important thing for me. I have 5 children of approximately 13, 10, 8, 4 and 2 years old. (within tribes, many people do not know precisely their age).

IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – (Sindani answered this question with a much more smaller scope than the world because she is not aware of what happens out of her village / region. Indeed, she is illiterate and doesn’t have access to information.) What strikes me the most are the decisions taken during the meetings in the village even if I do not have one in particular in mind. Like in many other tribes, Massai men often meet to solve the problems of the community: they discuss them together, give advices and then take collective decisions.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am so proud to be able to provide some my children with schooling. Actually, 2 of them are attending schiil. It is a big step forward for us – I did not have the chance to go to school myself. It gives our family a real hope for a better future… My children will be more likely to have a job if they are educated.

Looking back / Reviewing expectations

For her, it was difficult to answer this question as she does not project herself. Her life did not change a lot since she is a kid, except that her family got bigger.

30 years old, a turning point?

WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO? For me, being 30 means handling more responsibilities: taking care of a house, husband and children. It also changed my way of thinking. Before I did not ask myself many questions, whereas today I think all the time and I often wonder « what does the future has in store for my family and I? »

Being 30 changed my way of thinking. Before I did not ask myself many questions, whereas today I think all the time and I often wonder what does the future has in store.

OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? I think I am already old… I gave birth to 5 children. The future with the next generation is already on its way … (Smiling)

CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? Even if life is quite tough: my husband doesn’t have job and we do not have any cattle* that would allow us to fulfill our needs properly, I wouldn’t change anything. We have the basics: a home and water…

(*For the tribes, the cattle represents the wealth of a family, the more cows and goats they have, the richer they are).

My Values

My Typical day

And tomorrow?

YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? I would like to own around 20 cows – which represents much more money than I have today – in order to help my children… Even if I do not have any idea of the way to get it. I widh I could spend this money to pay the scholarship tuition for all my kids. I also would like to have 2 more children if our financial situation enables it.

THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years? The main measure that the government should take for our community is to offer free education… That all children could go to school for free.Today, annual tuition fee (public schools) in primary school is around 100$ USD, in college around 300$ USD, much more than many families can afford. Private schools that usually offer a better education cost more than 800$ USD.

Fears and Dreams…

FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am afraid that, one day, our family would lack of basic needs such as food and water. Even if in our community, every family help each other, we are not free from hunger… as we do not have any cattle that we can to eat or to sell at the market.

ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? As I told you before, I want my kids to receive education at school, that is my main realistic goal.

DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? I wish I would have more money, and that all the members of my family have a job.