Community Development in Tanzania Past Review
By Rachel M (Photography/Computer Imagery, Shepherd University) for
Amizade: Tanzania
Yes, my experience was worthwhile. I learned to take everyday as it came, to be flexible and positive toward changes in our routine. I have continued to keep up on Tanzania and read about Africa's issues of development generally. I continued to study photography, but my interest in its use changed from art to promotion and awareness. Since graduating, I have secured an internship with a non-profit in Tanzania, working with women artisans to document their work, the work of the non-profit, and to teach photography to the artisans.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Our classes began online with assigned readings--articles on theories of development, books on different approaches to development, etc. We had writing prompts for each set of chapters or each article that we would post. Once we got to Tanzania, classes became more round-table discussions on what we were seeing and experiencing. We would often refer to the readings from before the trip to make connections between the academic and the experiential sides of our course. There were frequent journal assignments--one journal was provided by Amizade with prompts, the other was a personal journal we would be writing in daily. I found these casual meetings, usually after dinner, to be very enlightening and rewarding. It gave students a platform to ask questions, voice opinions, and reflect on the day while still bringing in academic components. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Amizade was very helpful with pre-departure questions and concerns. Every email or phone call was promptly responded to with enthusiasm and information. They are good at keeping both students and parents informed. My program was small, eleven of us total. This kept our experience intimate and made traveling easier than it would have been with a larger group. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
We had a few vegetarians and a vegan on our trip, so it was interesting to figure out how to explain the two dietary philosophies to people preparing our food. We ate a lot of rice and beans, french fries, bananas, plantains, a few greens, and bread. It was a simple diet, but I always felt satisfied at the end of every meal. The only precautions I would tell students to take is with water. We only drank bottled water and also used it to brush our teeth. It was best to avoid iced drinks and to be cautious when consuming fresh fruits and greens found in salads. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student looking for a cultural submersion would definitely benefit from the Tanzania program. You are outside of a university setting, interacting with the people who live in the village. While you spend most of your time with your classmates, there isn't a feeling of being restricted to only your American counterparts. We were encouraged to make connections with the people we met and keep in contact with them. |
