Maier, Margaret E., 1965-1971

U.S. Peace Corps
Box 2613
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania (Tanganyiica)
Bast Africa |
It is Thanksgiving and we have just been sworn in as
Peace Corps Volunteers, seventy«two of ug from the original eighty
nine trainees. Thia marcs the end of a fourteen week period of very
concentrated and vigorous training, It had its tense, frustrating :
and trying moments, but algo we had some fun plus enjoyable olasses
and lectures. Our transportation was by bieyole, with which we went
up and down the hille of Syracuse from classes to living Quarters
to dining hall.
Only yesterday were we told of our acceptance as Volunteers,
a4 most thorough investigation, ineluding Life history and physi¢al
and emotional cheed up, was done on each of uso These studies are
unbelievably detailed and old skeletons from closets are produced,
dusted off and rattled. As a matter of fact, some training officers
naintain that thie Investigation is more thorough than many done on
forelyn G&hplomates
Yes, now I am a FeCoVos, committed to serve for two years
as a teacher in Tanzania (formerly fanganylka).» where z
will be stationed t will not wnow until we arrive in Day os Salaam on
Lecember sixth, We will have three more weexs of inecountry training
at Mbeya before our group is diapersed into different school avreag,
two to six of us together, We will teach in the upper primary, patterned
after the English system.
, « Re all of you I send an early but happy Season's Groetings
and a "Kwa Her," in Swahtlt.o
. affectionately, ‘.
tied tE, MarepUer |

November 27, 106k
Dear Margaret:

thank you for your good wishes for the New
Year which havecrossed with mine of January 1.1
wonder whther my letter has benn forwarded to you srom
Pasdena.l mentioned that I saw Henry in November in
London,but he did not tell me of your Peace Corps
assienment which certainly must be a very exeiting
exnerience and hopefully also a very gratifying one.

During my recent journey to lurope, I met several
friends of your psrents who asked about you.so in
Frankfurt a/v, Dr. Binder,and in Stuttgart Mrs)llse
wWist. That you uncle is clanning to visit Germany,

I learned in Bonn from the Arbeiterwohlfahrt; I

do not know when he plans to be in vurope,but fT
shall write him whther he wants your father's book
"Karl Flesch's soziales Vermichtnis" back or whether
I should send it to your brother in Seattlewhen he
returns from iinrland,

Since I publihsed last year a small research
study,"Some Child “elfare Problems in African coun~
tries", I am ,of course,very much interested in your
observations and experiences in Tanzania,and I should
appreciate learning of them ,of you could include me
in the ciruculation of any round-letters,reports etc,

I hope very much that you do not consider this
susgestion an imposition as I am well aware that I
never have met you and only was a friend of your parents,

For your life and work with the Peace Corps my
sincere wishes, I chaired a meeting on the Peace Corps
contributions to social welfare,lasy year in May at
the National Conference on Social Welfare in Los Ange~
des wethour knowing that you would join this important
work.

If you write to Henry,please give him amd his
family my best regards,

Cordially yours,

_ Hf the gelran Su
. Pee &
hel Snvvtomont of The Pica Somer. Tawa ver’ PAT

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Salam" to ofl 6 poo

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY School of Social Welfare
April 13, 1965

AIR LETTER
Mise Margaret Meier
H./-4. The Agakham School
P,0. Box 47, Mbeya
Tanzania, Hast Africa

Dear Margaret:

Thank you very much for sending me, through your friends in New York,
your very interesting report of March 1965 about your firat experiences
with the Peace Corps.

Your description of the climatic:and cultural condition, the transportation
aystem, and the reaction of the people ia no surprise to those of ue who
have been interested for some time in the bagic conditions of community
development and of educational and social aid to the developing countries,
But I was particularly interested to learn about the reactions of the
pupile and your experiences with the educational aystem of Tanzania.

I was glad to see that the personal arrangements for your quarters and
for your health have been satisfactory. One of my former students who
spent two years in Peru waa by far worse off than you obviously are,

The aumber of your students seems to me rather high and it must be

fairly difficult to keep them interested and eager to learn if you are
unable to divide them inte smaller groupa,

Obviously, the Asian group is much easier for you to contact, but the
basic problem certainly still remains--your commmnication with the African
group.

A few weeks ago I had a letter from your brother in London and was glad
to hear that he had a very successful seminar recently in Hamburg for
which I could send him soma fundamental material, I hope that after
the end of hie basic assignment in England, he will have an opportunity
to gee some more of continental Europe with hig family before he returns
to Seattle,

Some time ago, I aleo had a very nice letter from your uncle in Brazil,
L agaume he will be on hig Eurepean Journey in the near future again,
But I hope chat he will be able to visit with me here in Berkeley when
he should go to see your brother in Washington,

Tt will be scarcely necessary to tell you that 1 will be anxious
to hear more of your experiences in the Peace Corps and of your
professional, plans for the future, With my beat wishes.

Sincerely yours,
Walter Friedlander

Profeasor of Social Welfare
WEs je KEmerd tus

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY School of Social Welfare
April 13, 1965

AIR LETTER

Mise Margaret Méler
The Sgakham School
P.O. Box 47, Mbeya
Tanzania, East Africa

Dear Margaret:

Thank you very much for sending me, through your frleads in New York,
your very interesting report of March 1965 about your firat experiences
with the Peace Corps.

Your. description of the climatic.and cultural condition, the transportation
system, and the reaction of the people is no surprise to those of us who
have been interested for gome time in the basic conditions of commmnity
development and of educational and social aid to the developing countries.
But I wae particularly interested to learn about the reactions of the
pupils and your experiences with the educational system of Tanzania.

Z was glad to see that the personal arrangements for your quarters and
for your health have been satisfactory, One of my former students who
spent two years in Peru was by far worse off than you obviously are,

The number of your studente seems to me rather high and it must be

faivly difficult to keep them interested and eager to learn if you are
unable to divide them into emaller groups,

Obviously, the Asian group is much easier for you to contact, but the
basic problem certainly still remains--your commnication with the African
group,

A few weeks ago I had a letter from your brother in London and was glad
to heay that he had a very succeasful seminar recently in Hamburg for
which I could send him some fundamental material, I hope that after

the end of his basic assignment in England, he will have an opportunity
to see some more of continental Rurope with his family before he returns
to Seattle.

Some time ago, I algo had a very nice letter from your uncle in Brazil,
T assume he will be on hig European journey in the near future again,
But I hope that he will be able to visit with me here in Berkeley when
he should go to see your brother in Washington,

It will be scarcely necessary to tell you that I will be anxtous
to hear more of your experiences in the Peace Gorps and of your
professional plans for the future. With my best wishes,

Sincerely yours,
Walter Friedlander

Professor of Social Welfare
WEsja Emeritus

Margret Mawr

ls Chace Comp ;
Doren Sloe Peepoct Sid!
. pennant enn ” May 24,1965

Dear Margaret:

t trust you have my last letter .!inclosed,vou find
a photostat of a report on langania by @ group of VISA volunteers
under the auspices of the American Friends Service Committee
which did not impress me at all.vhat do you think of it?,after
your ownw xpwelence during the past months?

T question whether this type of orientation is not
very superficial and meaningless,I hope the Peace Vorps gave
you goettor introduction,How are your classes going?i particl pated
during this springs semester in a soclological course on Compara
tive Community Levelopment with a well informed british professor,
Dy .Brockensha who spent many years in Afriea,particularly in Ghana,

{ have'nt heard from Henry recently,but truat that he enjoys his
stay in London very much and will return with new stimulations
and pleasant experiences.

From several colleagues in Los Angeles and in St, Louis,iio I rew
cently had extremely nice letters after they had read the biorra~
phical study on your father of whom they did not know before,

Please let me know of your well-being and your challenging work
in Africa.
dith my best wishes,

Cordially yours,

we
We? 5

| HH The Agakhan School
| P.O.Box 47, Mbeya,

Tanzania, East africa.
/ November 28, 1965.

Moulena Shan Kerim aAl-husseini Hazar,
weil educated, mé@giful King, descended of the
seini family, our present leader). We humble
students, most humbly pray for thee. Make firm our
faith in thee and give us courage to be virtuous.
Give us the divine giviaance to discharge our duties
loyally and sincerely. Give health, happiness and
peace to our worthy teachers, parents and all our
bretheren. Oh Lord, oh our Savior bless us with
your holy noorani didar (appearance, full of light)
in this world and th€ amext. Amen.

; this prayer we begin our school day every morning and I send
it to you as my Christmas greetings.

a Now I am starting my second year in the Peace Corps in Tanzania.
@here have been some changes, ut in diving allowance for one,

even though prices are rising. “ We sutit have enough and can live
like the better off Africans,. being also provided with housing and
medical care.

we re are changes in the P.0.v. groups. Almost all of Tanz. III

D have terminated and are on their way home Among them I had
mane © rlends, because many were stationed in this area. New groups
have arrived, the latest one being ‘Tanz. IX, an-other teacher's
group. That makes us Tanz. VI the "older" ones, more imowledable
in the ways of the country and our mission. The matter of fact is
that the new group locEs very young and green to us. But I guess we
gave the same impression upon our arrival a year ago. .

Although throughout the year I have been teaching
nmetic in standards 8 and 6, art and some English
in standards 6,7, and 8, there were often changes, either very tem-
porarily fOr longer. Teachers left, were transfered or were sick.
So I have ofttime or anfoth her been teaching in standaérdsai, 2,5,5 be-
sides my standards, BELELE EEL LER I am really getbing an
experience in teaching even though teaching here is quite different ~
Prom the U.S.A. It is more formal, more dogmatic and and more

ited because of less materials and books available and the x

Limitation of background of the children. The understanding of
the subject iby the children is often very shallow and to stimulate
and motivate the children to learn is the most difficult task.

At the beginning of the second term our headmaster went for an ua_
ing course and made.me headmistress pro temp.. Upon his return I
iy gave back this privilege to him, especially because of short
somé other teachers I often had to teach 40 hours a week. While he
gone, one afternoon I had to mareh with the @ntire upper school to
aix rport, four miles away,to greet the vice-president of Tanzania Mr
7a. He was to arrive at one p. m but finally cameat six. School
en from all surrounding schools were there to welcome him. When

) finally came he hardly stopped to greet the children.

y

4.00100
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iene

hp bas
ae

ince September I have been teaching an English course twice a
week in the evening on the secondary school level to adults. This
>t of Adult Education Extension, a branch that just recently has
opened in Mbeya. This has been a very rewarding experience even thor
it added more work to my load. The student's English is limited, es
pecially in comprehension. Many of ‘the,students are teachers, two
were headmasters, some medical assistanéS in the nearby hospital, a

preacher, farmers and secretaries from the regional government office.
In November our standard 8 had finally their big general .entranes *
examination that lasted for the whole day. The children are now
waiting anxiously for the results to know who are the lucky ones to
be selected to go to secondary school$. There is a fear that this _
year there will be fewer selected than usually pecause this year .
eitigenship and Swahili play an impotant role. Many of our ehi
are either Indian or Peakistanian citizen or hold still a British :
passport, even though most of them were porn in this country.

She Swahili paper this year carries exactly the same point value (7
than any of the other subjects: English, mathematics, general
knowledse(science, history and geography-) » Many of the children ©

nave studied Swahili formally only for the past two years; speaking Dy
mostly Gujarati at home and English abischoole

on

\
/

at the examination itselfsT was an invigilater {test sugp rvisor)
at an other school, peing personally invited by the Educational
strict Officer. To watch the.poor students from 7:50 ase to

+20

n

D
ZO 2p ith only one hour off for lunch was very tiving put

evesting. This way I had a chance to take 4 good look at the
&

of.cause therdare always some parties in and out of school for

one reason or an other. If it is at one of the Asian homes there
always interesting and strange goodies being served; ample ang numerous
Bood plays an important role in the Asian community, Hindues, Ismelics
B

and Moslems alike. Q
B

BA For relaxation I sometimes work in the garden, often somewhat*
tpom Sayer” fashion. Only last sundey I was trimming a rather large
Gyprus hedge around our house, when from next door first one and
later two more of the Southwest African refugees came to helpe

day I was preparing the ground for seeding vegetabless
ittle neighbore servant girl came to help. There is 4 .
ek walk to our entrancegrull cf holes. When I was fixing it
avored pedlar came by selling local made Grums and spearse

imes he selis us porkmeat’ or ivory pracelets(some are made

f plastic). His elothing, whatever there is of it, is hela *-

ther with string and safety pins and his bare feet are full

ealed sores and calluses. That day there was no pusiness at our

He put down his goods and offered his help. He could
ey better job th I ever could have done, using his hands
% to put the pricks in place securely.

oO

oowo sg

Q Whoa ¢
Oct

oO

Fy

ch
yo
oS
f0
o

Be
fon
La)

On one week end everal of us P.c.Vis went on 4 safari by
lendrover, about 400 miles from here to the Uzangu fiats. The
flats at this time re very barren and arig. The rivers had
pardly any water and the grass was SPAarce. Some areas had
Fevertrees, eautiful very thorny tree with light park and
yellow flowers. In this area I saw my first wild giraffes,
sometimes three to five together and ~wildexbeasts, gazellas and *
many intersesting birds. The area is em hunting area and for
this reason the animals there are very shy.
And then I have 4 little black dog, ross bread between an
overgrowm dacnshound and a peddle. He ils seven month o1d and

very clever. Fe obeys well, he knows what tno! means, exebt as
far as he is concerned when it is about chickens. They are around
to be chased and pulled on their tail feathers, just for fun or 7
cause. He looks for ‘She-ball when he is told to and feels like it
and stays in she garden wher he cannot go with me, sometimes sneaxing
- ground the pushestrying it anyhow. ae

I am looking forewara to hegé from ALL of youe To all of
I wish a very MERRY CHRISTMAS ana@-a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Brom far away Africa.

Yours, Margaret mn

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, HORKELEY School of Sootal. Welfare

January Ty 1966

Miss Margaret Maier
HH The Agakhan School
P.O, Bow Ly Mbeya
fenganiea, WAST AFRICA

Daox Margarats

Thank you for your good wishee for the new yeas which I sordially
veturn, I was very much interested in your further experience in
the Pease Corps, and I hope you will be sugeessful. now in your
senond year in helping the young volunteers find thelr way in thely
new assignment in Afrloa,

Iwas alse interested to learn that you are teaching an adult
course in English which le obviously an extension course eonneoted
with the University, le ib not?

You probably have heard from your brother that he ia planning to
twenslate my biographical study of your father into English, and
T hope this wild help to make it weeful for your nephews and for
other people not familiar with Corman. TI hava also sent the list
of your father$a publications to the Leo Baeek Inatibute dn New
Yook and to the main archive of social, worl in Germany, This was
done oinoe the original publication of your Retherts Life and work
did not include the list of publications which I had prepared tor
his blography.

Your wiele in Breall wrote me recently that he was quite interested
in ponding the compilation of the books and articles which your
father had wreitbons,

T hope theh this second year of your volunteer agtivity with the
Peace Corps will bring you further satisfaction in apite of all
the hardships connected with your present work. L would like to
hear from you again about your experiences.

With my bel wishes in which Mrs. Friedlander joins with me, T
remadny

s ‘ Gordially yours,

t Walter A, lriedlander
Professor of Scolal. Welfare
Tmew ita

WE sot.

February 3, 1971

Miss Margaret E. Maier
908% Arroyo Terrace
Pasadena, California 91103

Dear Miss Maier:

I talked with your brother, Henry, at the Council on Social
Work Education Convention in Seattle and he told me that you
axe from time to time coming to Berkeley to visit friends.

I wonder whether you could arrange to be here in this region
on Friday, February 26, 1 aw planning to have a meeting of
the NASW Golden Gate Chapter Commission on International .
Social Welfare on that evening in my house, 6437 Regent Street,
Oakland - at the border of Berkeley and Oakland ~ and I would
like very much for you to give a report on your experiences

in the Peace Corps if you would like to help us. 1 shall
appreciate word from you whether it might be possible for

you to share your expertences with us.

You probably remember the biography which I wrote about your
father and which was published in Germany several yeare ago.

With best personal regards.

Sincerely yours,

Walter Friedlander
Professor Emeritus

| WEims

Fe brane 7 IF 4]
Near ae. Exiccllaroler

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COW | rat Nr at Fume.

me hes we te obo

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