Report from a day care center in Tanzania

The first days in Tanzania: From the city to the mountains!

After two days in Dar es Salaam, I took the bus to the small mountain town of Iringa, where I was to live and work for the next few weeks. An RGV employee on site organized the transfer for me, which I was very happy about, because even after a few days in this crazy city, you can't find your way around on your own for the time being. I immediately felt at home in Iringa and only needed a few days to settle in.

My volunteer project: A day care center in Iringa

Since the project assigned to me was only looking for volunteers in the mornings, I switched to a day-care center where I worked eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. The children who are brought to this day-care center are between 6 months and 6 years old and come from humble backgrounds, but not the worst. Many of the children came from the area where I lived and I often met them, their parents and/or siblings on the street, which always made dealing with each other easier and more familiar.

With the help of the children and the staff, I quickly learned the language and was able to communicate with the children after just the first few weeks.

My tasks included, above all, teaching the children and preparing them for school, eating and playing with them and above all simply being there for them. The staff at the day care center were incredibly friendly and grateful for my presence. The children quickly got used to me, but also viewed me as a person of respect but also as a playmate and friend.

Traveling at leisure and living together in the Student House

Since the school holidays also applied to the day care center, I was able to travel a lot in Tanzania in my free time. There was enough time to go on safaris in the north, lie on the lake in the south or explore the island of Zanzibar.

On the weekends and in my free time after work, I spent time with the other volunteers from the Student House. Be it sports, partying, cooking, eating or washing clothes together, listening to music or just chatting about work, it never got boring in the Student House.

The student house was big enough for all volunteers and had a huge garden. Unfortunately, the "housemaid" who was supposed to cook and clean for us moved out at some point. So we were responsible for cooking and keeping things tidy, which all volunteers have grown from. Here you learn to accept challenges and deal with them.

Report from a day care center in Tanzania by RGV Volunteer 13.09.16.