Back to Africa – Service Work in Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth with huge natural capital and a booming tourism industry. It is still, however, one of the poorest countries, with many of its inhabitants living well below the poverty line. It is with this in mind that we made our annual Global Campus Worldwide visit to the Arusha area to see the wonderful country and wildlife and to work on making a difference to the people who live there. 

On arriving in Tanzania, we were immediately welcomed by a huge group of Maasai dancers in full ceremonial dress. Whilst this was a wonderful welcome, sadly it was not for us but instead the Prime Minister who was arriving on the plane behind us!

The students settled in to the Nord Anglia Education Shamba Kipara camp quickly, enjoying the spacious tented accommodation and the prime views of Mount Meru. After a relaxing evening enjoying the cool breeze, everyone slept well and enjoyed the sounds of the African night.

The next morning, the students set to work on the community service projects that  were the focus of the trip. This was a humbling experience, as we encountered the real level of poverty that the country faced. After a bumpy journey to meet the family we would be working with, we set to work building a goat shed: the shed and its horned occupant would provide income for a local family who had none. We also fitted solar panels that would for the first time give the family access to lighting in their home. Some students also took time out to build a smokeless ‘rocket’ stove for the family that would mean cleaner, more efficient cooking.

Through these small things our students were able to make a notable difference to the lives of the families they were honoured to work with. We are just one of 42 Nord Anglia Education schools which are committed to making this sort of contribution through the Global Campus Worldwide.

Article by Paddy McKenna, Science Teacher / Global Classroom Coordinator