In the days that we have with Suzanne in Dar es Salaam we can enjoy her passionate inspiration for her Gutz Foundation and how she shares it with her surroundings.
First we meet Mutta again, he is the hub of Gutz Tanzania in Dar es Salaam. A passionate young man, slightly older than Suus I think, he has a huge network in the music and media scene in Tanzania. Along with Suzanne and Nyakwezi he is the source of Gutz, he supplies the artists, gets in contact with the media and can provide the hardware for the festivals. In the few days we there he is ensuring that there is an interview with Clouds media. This gives Gutz and upcoming festivals in Kahama national attention.
Nyakwesi, the same age as Suzanne, in her enthusiasm as passionate as Suzanne. She has set up a group of street children who addresses children’s traumas using theater and dance and let them discover their hidden talents. At the Gutz festivals they use these talents in the dance and theater group to convey the message of Gutz, awareness of the dangers of HIV and how you can live with HIV. Also Nyakwesi is full for the purposes of Gutz and together with Mutta she is the mainstay of the region Dar es Salaam.
Suzanne invites Lily-Ann to lunch at Mahaba Beach and later we have brunch at her home. What a woman! A wealth of experience in doing business in Tanzania, a huge network, flowery stories about the society and its network, but also a treasure of a woman! She can help Suzanne and Gutz further in finding a location for a permanent place in Dar es Salaam and knows many people who may be important for the further development of Gutz in the coming years.
And then Dr. Damian. We met him before in 2014, already then he was impressed by the inspiration of Suzanne. He knew to speak to us so we both stood with tears in our eyes.
On our last evening in Mahaba Beach he comes to meet Suzanne. What a knowledge this man posesses. He specializes in HIV and knows everything about it, but he says it with a passion and inspiration showing his concern with the people. He feels fully involved in Gutz and always talks about “we” when he talks about the future of Gutz.
After this and other meetings with people around Suzanne, I can only say: “I’m so proud our daughter has achieved this and what undoubtedly will arise with Gutz”. And I know Sonja feels the same pride.