Goals for my summer in Tanzania
As I begin my travel to Arusha, Tanzania, I have given thought to the experiences that I hope to have and the skills that I want to develop during my time abroad. One experience that I am especially excited about is the opportunity to visit the Destiny Foundation, a school that serves children with disabilities. As someone who is passionate about child welfare and education, I am interested to learn more about how inclusive education is approached in Tanzania. I hope to gain a better understanding about the challenges and opportunities that are involved in supporting children with diverse needs. This experience will allow me to gain a broader perspective on educational access around the world.
Another opportunity that I hope to participate in is the women’s outreach program. Through this initiative, volunteers are able to purchase groceries for families in need and spend time talking with women about their experiences and daily challenges. I am interested in this program because it offers me a chance to hear directly from community members about issues that affect their daily lives. I hope that this will allow me to gain a more personal understanding of these issues through direct conversations. This experience will also help me move my research forward by providing valuable context about the communities that local schools serve.
Finally, I hope to spend time truly getting to know the people in the community and participating in local activities. Whether this means learning some Swahili, or simply spending time with local families, I want to learn more about Tanzanian culture through firsthand experience. This goal is both personal and professional. Building relationships with the local community can help me become a more effective global citizen, while also allowing me to learn about the cultures values which directly impact the education system.
There are two professional skills that I hope to gain during my experience. The first is intercultural communication. This skill is essential for anyone pursuing a career in international affairs and global development. Throughout my volunteer placement and research project, I will have opportunities to interact with teachers, students, families, and community members whose perspectives may differ from my own. I will have to practice careful listening and adapting my communication style to different contexts. These are all skills which I can apply while working with international organizations focused on education and child welfare.
The second skill that I hope to strengthen is cultural humility. Cultural humility means to approach a new culture with openness and the willingness to learn. I believe that it is important to recognize and value local knowledge and lived experiences. This summer will provide me with many opportunities to practice cultural humility since I will be experiencing a culture that is very different from my own. Developing this skill will help me become a more effective and ethical professional in the international development field, because sustainable solutions are more likely to emerge when communities are actively involved in creating them.
One quote that captures how I am feeling as I prepare for this experience comes from Angelina Jolie’s acceptance speech for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2013: “Nothing would mean anything if I didn’t live a life of use to others.” This quote sits with me because it reflects why I chose to study international affairs and pursue opportunities like this. As I prepare to travel to Tanzania, I am excited to learn from others and contribute where I can.
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