Tanzania my home away from home

In October, I was again back in Tanzania visiting students and running Programs at the School of St Jude. Days there are always filled with laughter, joy, and absolute admiration of the vision that the students hold. There is never a day that I do not reflect with delight on their ability to think beyond themselves and how they think about the future and how they can be contributors to a better tomorrow.  Our programs, all of which are developed for Leaders in the business world, have been created to support them through school and then post school, so it is always a good reflection point for me to see the differences in their approach to that who are leaders in business in the western world.

This trip was focused on delivering key workshops to prepare 120 students for University and College. The topics were curated so that the students had practical experience as well as theory and frameworks so that they were equipped to stand alone. These ranged from Communication to Presentation skills and then from Time Management, with critical thinking, to Financial Management; all the skills that every student should posses before they leave school and embark on their next stage of life.  As I listened to messages they created in groups that they wanted to share with their peers, their poems, stories, songs created a melody of inspirational messages, the key themes they were sharing were that they want to be contributors in their community and the world at large.

Whilst, I may have been intimidating as a white female standing before them, speaking English and possibly a little faster than what they were use to hearing, they all listened with care as they all wanted to ensure that, as they stepped forward as adults into a new world, they took with them as much as they could to succeed.

My home visits added another layer of pure privilege for me. There is no greater gift in life than being welcomed by a stranger into their home and for these students to spend time with me, sharing their aspirations, their challenges and of course being comfortable to speak with a total stranger one-on-one for so long. I was spending the day with them and sometimes that bus trip to their family home was several hours away.

I will share through my social media posts more details of these four amazing students but for now, it is a joy to introduce you to Andrea, a budding young man who loves all things to do with design, from marketing, photography and yes a new toy – flying my drone and taking short videos. His dream is to become a sustainable architect who helps reshape the housing industry. Andrea is volunteering with the marketing department as part his 1 year of service after having finished form 6. He learnt from a young age to cook and clean as his father moved closer to the school for him to attend St Jude, but as his father worked long hours, he soon discovered new talents for himself. His mother and sisters stay in the family home as his mother cares for elderly parents. His witty humour kept me entertained each day as he accompanied me on most of my field trips and whilst running the workshops.

Veronica was a bright spark and she too is currently volunteering with the school at Smith Campus as part of her contributions to community. Her dream is to study International Relations and Diplomacy with a focus on sustainability. She started her own Foundation that has a focus on Health, Education and the Environment. Some of her initiatives are ones that I know the UN would love to learn more about as they are helping to reshape the lives people within her community. She writes poems as a way to reflect and to communicate messages that will help save the environment and people.

Teresia was a treasure. Quiet and filled with dreams as she shared her passion to produce films and to write books. She wants to be involved in public relations and has wisdom beyond her years when it comes to stories on social impact and the influence she wants to have on youth. She shared her two books with me and both made me realise the gifts that she holds. With a vision as big as hers, the world will definitely be a better place. I have committed to mentor her and her co-author Irene to bring their books to life – watch this space as I share their dreams and stories and as we work hard to bring these books to life together with their advocacy for change in the community and through education.

Juliana is in Form 5 and lives the furthest of the students I had the privilege to spend personal time with. Her father is a farmer living close to Ngorongoro (one of Tanzania’s famous safari conservation areas). Due to the long distance, she boards at the school and is able to go home during term breaks. Juliana is focused on being a doctor and is the eldest of three girls.  When I first met Juliana she was quiet and reflective, but as we rode the bus to meet her father, I shared many of my stories with her about previous trips, all of which she found quite a delight in hearing as I shared a great deal of information about local sites and the Maasai, none of which she was familiar with.  We laughed as she shared that I was different and a lot funnier than what she had expected I would be. We had Adrian on the trip with us to take photos and after hearing my stories they both concluded that I should be a local guide as I seem to know more than the locals about Tanzania.

Here are a few photos of the students and the student group I facilitated the various workshops with. I also want to pay special tribute to Vivian Deus, whom I have worked closely with over the past 4 or 5 years bringing the various programs I run at the school. Vivian’s vision of creating opportunities for the students is endless and no matter what I suggest to her, it is met with a  “Yes Cathy, Thank you for all that you do for the students”. This is Vivian and I capturing a moment of absolute Joy.  

Wait to see what unfolds.

If you are keen to support and help, then please reach out as I do and fund all of this myself so if you have time or would like to contribute, it would be greatly appreciated.