Carlotta, Teaching Volunteer in Tanzania

Rebecca, a Childcare and Teaching Volunteer in Tanzania, spent several weeks working with local staff in a variety of educational settings. We asked her to share some highlights from her time abroad.

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m Carlotta, I’m 25 years old, and I have just graduated with a master’s degree in “Methods and Topics in Arts Management” at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy.

What did you do during your Teaching and Childcare Volunteering program?

I had the chance to deeply connect with the community I was immersed in. My duties as a volunteer were to teach English to nursery classes in the morning (my students were 5-6 years old), and to take part in different community projects in the afternoon. I taught English to businesswomen twice a week, painted a nursery school once a week, and participated in different activities aimed to enhance the quality of life within the community. The thing I enjoyed the most was that day after day, we progressively built a real relationship with these people, getting to know them and their stories.

What motivated you to choose this volunteering program in Tanzania?

At the beginning, I was quite uncertain about doing the teaching and childcare program or the marine wildlife conservation one because of my sincere love for the animal world, but after having concluded my experience, I could not be more happy with my choice. Having the chance to get in touch with those people is what I will always remember about this experience.

Any favorite memories from your time in Tanzania?

I have a ton of beautiful memories of this volunteering experience: for example, the students shouting, “Teachers, teachers, teachers!” before the beginning of our class, or the laughs we had during the business ladies class, when trying to make them feel more comfortable in learning a new language as adults. Another volunteer and I decided to try learning Swahili ourselves, so that they could feel understood.

It is also worthwhile to note that the people I have encountered during my journey definitely shaped it in a very positive way. The local association’s managers were a constant point of reference for us, and I shared a lot of quality memories [with them].

What will you take with you into your future plans?

To take stock of what I learned during this experience, I would say that I’ve matured. Feeling useful for someone in a way that does not need something in exchange is the biggest acknowledgment I will take from this experience. This volunteering program changed my perspective about life’s priorities, gratefulness, and also happiness in general.

I hope my story will help someone else decide to do this experience, because it will be one of the best choices of your life.