Volunteering in the Women Empowerment Project

Mambo! Habari za leo?

In Tanzania, people greet each other with these words. Translated into German, this means something like: Hey, how are you today?

My name is Sarah, I am 21 years old and I was in the Women Empowerment Project in Mtwara, Tanzania for 2 months. After my training, I really wanted to travel. Going to Africa or Tanzania was not a long-considered decision, but simply a gut feeling. Looking back I am so happy to have been to Mtwara.

Arriving in Africa

On April 29.04.2019th, XNUMX I went from Frankfurt via Zurich to Dar Es Salaam. Surprisingly, I wasn't particularly excited and didn't think too much about the arrival, the flight and life there, as it felt like I was going on vacation.

When I arrived in Dar Es Salaam, I got nervous and wondered if everything would work with my visa and if I could find the RGV employee who would pick me up. Everything worked out, I was welcomed very friendly and a short time later I was sitting in the Bajaji on the way through Dar Es Salaam to the Student House.

That's when I realized for the first time that I will be living 7000 kilometers from home for the next two months and that it will be different than in Germany. I'm very glad I was picked up as Dar Es Salaam is chaotic, big and noisy. I would have been totally overwhelmed on my own, but it was a great arrival.

Living in Mtwara

Life in Mtwara was just beautiful. After working on the project we mostly went from our beautiful home in Mbae to the Piki Piki, which is a motorbike taxi, to Mtwara and stocked up at the bakery with delicious baked goods and juice shop with freshly squeezed juices. Then it went on the market. There you really get everything from Kitenge, that is the fabric from which the clothes are sewn there, about pots and table tennis balls to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Then we went back home on the Piki Piki in a beautiful landscape and over bumpy roads. The roads there always made for fun rides, especially during the rainy season when the roads flooded and we got stuck in the mud quite a few times. Then it was time to get off and walk home.

Our house was really a dream.
The view of the palm trees all around was so beautiful and as soon as you came out of your room you were out in the fresh air and in nature. From our roof terrace you had a perfect view of the sunsets, which fascinated me every evening. When we didn't go to the market, we were at the beach. Most of the time we were at Shangani Beach, which is about a 15 minute drive from Mbae. At the weekend we often went to Msangamkuu, a deserted beach.

The beaches in Tanzania are heavenly. Crystal clear water, white sand and palm trees for shade. What I particularly liked about life in Mtwara was that you had a lot of contact with the locals. You live under one roof with the locals, go shopping with them at the local market and learn so much about life and culture there. Another highlight is definitely the food there. The vegetables taste so much better, the fruit is so much juicier and a fresh coconut is just great.

The project

In the project, I first had to get used to the fact that things work differently in Tanzania than in Germany. It took me a bit to get used to the African work attitude. Everything is seen more relaxed there and it takes longer to make decisions, but everything always runs true to the motto: Hamna Shida - we enjoy life. Working with the girls was great fun. I taught the girls math, but just sitting and laughing with the young women was a great experience.

Travel in Tanzania

During my 2 months I also traveled. I got from one place to another by bus. Driving in Tanzania is always an experience. The landscape you drive past is impressive. It's always exciting on the bus itself. Loud music is played throughout, vendors keep getting on and off, and most of the time the bus is overcrowded. Since the road network in Tanzania is not so well developed and the distances are a lot further, it can happen that you sit on the bus for 2 days until you reach your destination. Traveling is always exciting in Tanzania but I definitely recommend it as you meet so many nice people and Tanzania has many different corners to offer.

Conclusion

I had a wonderful time in Tanzania. The people there are so hospitable and warm that it was easy for me to settle in. I found it very nice to get to know a different culture and a different life far away from luxury and technology. I've learned so much in the two months and now I appreciate the good situation I'm in much more. The people there are to be admired, how they organize their lives with little means and are so cordial and enjoy life. I had so much fun during my time there that I miss it every day.

Report from the Women Empowerment Project in Tanzania in August 2019, Sarah S.