Martha's Memories of Tanzania

Travelling is the ultimate way of learning about other cultures. This past summer, six of us set off onto what would be one of the most enriching experiences of our lives. Tanzania, Africa had plenty of lessons in store for us. When many Westerners think of Africa, they picture either the incredible wildlife, or the heart-breaking stories of poverty-stricken people. As a result of the latter concept, many imagine the Africa as a place to avoid, when in truth this is that is the worst thing to do.

Our voyage included a four-day youth forum in the company of approximately sixty other youth from both Rwanda and Tanzania. We all benefited from this experience, and were fortunate to meet some of the most driven and well-spoken youth in the country. While we taught about Canada’s strange climate, they in turn shared with us their rich and wholesome culture. Though youth do have difficulties to overcome that we can’t even fathom, they never let that faze them. The main difference between the youth of Tanzania and those in Canada was their incredible selflessness – their desire to make their country a better place. In Tanzania, everyone looks out for each other.

The people of Tanzania were the warmest and inviting people I have ever met. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed with open arms. At each small village that we visited, the head of the town would always meet us first, a protocol that must be followed in order to visit with other members of the community. During this meeting, we always found ourselves signing the village’s guestbook. As I turned the pages in these books, I would read the very few names of those who had signed before me. In nearly all of the guest books, I noticed the names of the previous Youth Ambassadors, often only separated from our names by one or two other visitors. This made me realize just how much our presence meant to them and put into perspective how appreciative they were to have us as their guests. Be it through offering us their food, or dancing and singing, they always made us feel that being right there in that moment was where we belonged.

Yes, there are a great deal of trials and tribulations that the people of Tanzania face, but there is also an overwhelming joy that fills the air - the joy of knowing that those around you love and support you. So when people ask me what I did in Tanzania, my answer (contrary to popular belief) is not that I helped them by building a school or working at a hospital. My reply is that I learned. I learned of the incredible passion and desire that the Tanzanian population has to better their nation. World Vision along with the Tanzanian people are doing as much as they can with the resources at their disposal and the results of their work is evident. We saw once poor families that now have a big enough harvest to feed their neighbours simply through the gift of an ox plough and farming tips supplied by World Vision. The incredible stories that I had the fortune to witness firsthand renewed my belief in the Tanzanian saying “Together, we can.”