Nakupenda Tanzania!

Mambo!

Kindness, love and happiness. Three words that summarize the people I met, the way I was treated, and the motto I will live by. I learned that the people who have had a hard life are often the ones to spread the most kindness, love and happiness. They’re the ones with patience and strength.

A lesson that I will always remember is to never take for granted my education, my health and where I come from. Education is a set up for success. The higher education you strive for, the better. As a first generation graduate, and getting to see the struggles of students in a foreign country, I get motivated to aim high. Health is a big motivator, because I have witnessed two people who were extremely close me lose a battle against stomach cancer. Losing them was extremely hard, because I lost them six months apart from each other. I can’t imagine going through that pain again. As I mentioned Mamma Ellie and Ester in my first blog, Ester was taken to the hospital and the results came out as UTI, Typhoid and Borrelia. It scares me to think that if we didn’t take action faster, what would’ve happened? I am thankful that I am able to go to the doctors immediately, if I start noticing that something is not right. Last but not least, where my parents come from plays a huge role of the person I am. It defines my culture, my beliefs and it’s the land of the people who I love the most. I see how Africans take pride of their culture and their surroundings. Being in Africa definitely reminded me to never forget where I come from.

After spending time with the children at L.O.A.M.O, I question the career I want to dedicate myself to, social work, because being in that classroom I realized how big the teachers roles are in shaping the future and bringing the community together. I can’t put into words how great it felt to take part of their learning and lives. Saying goodbye was difficult for me because I got to see the impact we made in each of their lives and how opening they were to receiving us. I was able to create unforgettable connections. I truly hope that I get to see my students accomplish every single one of their dreams, because they are a group of kids that have the most passion, dedication and capability that I have ever seen.

Seeing life in Tanzania, the goal I am setting for myself is to encourage others to take service trips and help others. I am setting this goal because I have a strong feeling that once others see how difficult it is to live in another country, they will be more grateful, more understanding and they will want to take action. 

Being part of the organization for two years has made me into a completely new person. I find myself having grown, become more open minded and definitely more prepared for the real world. Children’s Global Alliance challenges you emotionally, physically and mentally every single day and that’s why I love the organization so much. You get a lifetime experience that impacts your heart one way or another. As I move on to my next chapter in my life, I feel ready to overcome each challenge that comes my way. Thank you Children’s Global Alliance for shaping a huge role in my life! 

Kwaheri!

Maisha Katika Upande Mwingine

Habari!

Words cannot explain how amazing it is to have the opportunity to grow and expand my knowledge in a country that’s on the other side of the world. So far, I have seen how life is for the Maasai Tribe, how hard life is for an orphan, the daily struggles that the people from Tanzania face, and most definitely[ how determined these kids are to get their education.

I learned that the priorities of these children are far different than the kids back home. As I scan the classroom, I notice that there is no clock on the walls and that they have no way to keep track of how much time is left in school. There are so many cracks on the wall and floors. I noticed how organized they are and how kind they are with one another. I noticed that they don’t conversate while the teachers are teaching. As I approach my classroom they all greet me by standing up and saying, “Good morning Madam, how are you?” The amount of respect and pride that the students have is unbelievable. I have also noticed how much they smile all day. I notice the happiness they have when playing soccer with a plastic bottle. I notice how happy they are without having materialistic items. I notice that what they have is love, and that’s more than enough.

They aren’t exposed to social media and that’s something that I wish I was never exposed to. The time that I have spent here has been an amazing experience. I am living in the moment and that’s something that I crave for my everyday life. I hope to forget about the constant interruption social media demands during my everyday life. I dislike having the feeling of “missing out.” Being in Arusha definitely made me forget about my problems, my worries, and the life I am used to having. Being away and being disconnected for a moment feels great, I feel free. I have more time to focus on what’s important for me and that’s meeting people and creating relationships. Getting to know other peoples stories and being able to make them feel that they matter and that their voice needs to be heard is important for me.

Despite wanting to make connections, I carry with me the fear of leaving my comfort and putting my heart on the line. I continue to stray further and further away from a “safe place” and bond with the people around me.  I am completely grateful that I got chosen to be part of this trip because I continue to be exposed to new experiences that I never thought I would encounter.                                   

Jambo from Tanzania!

Wow! I am amazed by the beauty and generosity of this amazing country.

After traveling for 30 hours, the people from Tanzania received us with very welcoming arms. Tanzania’s beauty is breathtaking. We are surrounded by different shades of green; it makes me feel like home!

Not only am I amazed by Tanzania’s beauty but also by the people. I met Nae, a woman who gave us a lesson on the culture, people and the language. I learned that men do all of the outside work and women do all of the house work and it is important to serve others rather than to rush someone. Another thing that I learned was that the proper way to start a family is by getting married and afterwards, begins having children. The way people from Tanzania present themselves is very elegant. They are always dressed in bright colors and patterns.

Nevertheless, when we’re on the road I am always astonished by the people I see. There are always women walking on the street balancing huge baskets full of vegetables and fruits on their head walking from very long distances.

Additionally, I went on my first home visit and I got to meet Momma Ellie and her precious daughter Esther. Momma Ellie works at the school where we’re volunteering and Esther goes to form 1, which is equivalent to high school. They have both impacted me in a way that not many people could understand. I got to see the way they lived and they were in a very poor situation. Their home was about an 8x8 room that shared a bed, a couch and two chairs with a rectangular table in the middle. Their bathroom was outside made out of mud and wood. They have so little and they smiled every single second we were there. They were very generous and kept insisting to have water and tea! As we were having a conversation I noticed four pillows on Momma Ellie’s couch, they were white with flowers prints in the middle. I told her they were very beautiful and she responded with, “Thank you, I saved a lot of money for them.”

Furthermore, Momma Ellie reminded me a lot of my grandmothers. She’s truly a sincere woman with a genuine heart. She is an extremely hard working person just like my grandmothers. She always wakes up at 6:30 in the morning to head to work until 5:30 in the afternoon 7 days a week.

All things considered, I could definitely see that behind her smile she was suffering. Esther truly won a spot in my heart. She’s the sweetest 16 year old I have ever met. She is determined to continue her education and hoping for one day to accomplish her dream on becoming a pilot.

In brief, the way Momma Ellie and Esther express themselves about education guilt’s me because I have free education and there’s times where I take it for granted but, I feel so blessed to be living in the place that I live.

In addition, at one point into the conversation with Momma Ellie, Esther, asked us for help. I have never had someone beg for help like she did. At that moment I felt like all I could’ve done was to hold her hand and wipe her tears away.

To continue, the first two days of teaching were surreal. After working so hard it was finally time to share my knowledge. I got assigned to class 6 and had 11 students. As the days went by the students demonstrated how determined they were to get an education.

The students are very punctual; some are even at school earlier! Never in my life have I seen students so focused on their learning the way I’ve seen it here in Tanzania.

The children in Tanzania taught me how valuable education is and how important it is to keep pushing through each obstacle. My first couple of days has taught me a very valuable lesson. I have gained a better appreciation towards my family because that’s truly what these people have. I learned that family sticks together no matter the circumstances.

These couple of days has made it clear on what I want. I want to keep working hard and keep getting inspired by the people from Tanzania.

I aspire to maintain a relationship with each person that crosses my path and I truly can’t wait to share more of everything that I am experiencing with you.

 Living in the town that I live in makes me feel very blissful. It is full of generosity and opportunity which not many communities have. The people who shape our community do an amazing job to make this place an incredible spot to grow up in.

For instance, teachers, who improve society by sharing their knowledge, take a tremendous role by shaping student’s integrity and by motivating students to accomplish great things. Police officers, their duties are to protect the lives and property of citizens. Not only do they put civilians lives first but they put their own at risk. I have been fortunate enough to engage with each of these influences.

Growing up in a small community like Eagle County allows you to make connections with people who mark a place in your life. Throughout my life, I have met a tremendous amount of amazing people that have taken a role in each one of my successes. A few definitive examples are, Celebrate the Beat. A program that contributes to a healthy and high achieving student body. It’s meant for children to listen, focus, and take direction. It’s meant for students to learn about resilience in the face of setbacks, endurance, motivation and tenacity to work hard for a final performance. I learned that if I practice enough, I am willing to remember the steps! And due to that understanding; I am capable of using that strategy to my everyday learning environment.

Our schools shape a huge part of who we are. It breaks down to tiny bits of pieces; from learning the ABC’s, to what’s 7+8, and to solving hard physic questions such as, can you go fast enough to get enough mass to become a black hole? Our school system is such more than just subject matter learning environment. Developing communication skills by interacting with other students is an amazing skill to develop because it’s a skill that will last you forever! To continue, teamwork is taught in schools. It’s important to be able to work with people because it helps solve problems. Collaboration within a group can solve difficult problems. A great way that a team can exchange ideas and come up with something creative is by brainstorming. By working together, the team can find solutions that work best.

I will like to conclude my blog by expressing how appreciative I am of where I have grown up in because I have seen and heard of poverty all throughout my life because of my family and where they were born. If it wasn’t for them wanting a better future for my siblings and I, I wouldn’t have the honor to be part of every single thing that the community has given me.

I learned that the past is our lesson, the present is our gift and the future is our motivation. We each carry an untold story that our silence keeps us from telling. My future is based on who I am today out of attachment to my past.

I never really thought about the importance of writing down thoughts. I always thought that my opinion didn’t matter or that I wasn’t getting heard but the amount of views I get per blog amazes me and inspires me to put my heart out in every single blog I write. My point is that I never imagined myself doing the things I am dedicated to do now. It’s important to follow your heart and to do things out of your comfort zone because you never know how amazing the results would be. For example, myself. I never really had expectations for myself and never really knew what I was doing till I started to analyze my future and realizing how important it is to create a designated plan. It’s perfectly fine if things don’t go the way you planned. What matter is that you set expectations for yourself and you’re happy with them.

Happiness is the joyful feeling that CGA gives me because it has allowed me to gain knowledge and has given me so many life lessons that I will forever cherish. My life has been changed ever since my first service trip to Nicaragua because of every single person I crossed paths with. They’re the most humbled, kind-hearted souls that I will forever remember.

My upcoming trip is to Tanzania and going on my second trip outside of the country with the purpose of helping others is a dream come true. Tanzania is located on the eastern coast of Africa and has an Indian Ocean coastline approximately 1,424 kilometers long. Tanzania is home to some of the oldest fossils and oldest human technology. Tanzania’s beauty is inexpressible the beauty is surrounded by Mpingo trees, also known as Africa Black wood Trees, which happens to be the most expensive hardwood tree in the world. Animals play a big role in Tanzania’s beauty. The country has the largest concentration of wildlife animals per square kilometer, with more than four million wild animals and representatives of 430 species and subspecies. The beautiful mountains, most importantly the largest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro that sits 19,342 feet above sea level.

On April 26^th, 1964 the United Republic of Tanzania united. Tanzania became free from the British rule. From then, the capital of Dar Es Salaam has been moved to Dodoma, which was founded in 1907 by German colonists. Ever since, the capital has thrived from trade and relationships with other countries. The unity that Tanzania represents has been shown through the 120 languages, 125 ethnic groups, the three major religions, and the diverse culture.

Tanzania has many untold geographical riches but remains immerse in poverty. Despite being surrounded by three of the largest lakes of the world, water scarcity has turned into a nightmare for rural areas. As of 2009, nearly one-third of the country had no access to clean drinking water. Nearly 40% of the whole population lives in extreme poverty, and nearly 60% lives below the World Bank designated poverty line of $1.25 a day. One of the key reasons for poverty is the low pace of urbanization. More than 80% of the population lives in rural areas, which lack basic civic amenities like electricity, sanitation facilities, and education.

On the whole, the future is unknown, but we have the power to convert the world to a better place with unity. Together we can be the difference that needs to be seen. 

I can't tell you how great it feels to be part of this amazing program for the second year. I can't wait to take you through my journey and share the amazing memories I will create in this chapter of my life. I am proud to be part of Team Tanzania 2019 & I am grateful to have the amazing team I'll be traveling with.

In my blog I will be telling you a little bit more about myself and a bit of how much my life has changed for the past year. I am currently a senior at Battle Mountain High School and I'm preparing myself for adulthood. I still can't believe how much can change in a single year. This time last year, things were completely different. One thing that hasn't changed is that I am writing to you a year later around the same time about the same topic. Myself.

My trip to Nicaragua really helped me grow as a person. I really got influenced to strive for what I want and to work hard for my dreams. I've always been the type of person to step back and take no action due to the fear of failure. But thanks to people like Karlie and Lisa-Marie really helped boost up my self esteem. They made me believe in myself when no one would and that's what's so amazing about the program, the people around it.

It's an amazing way to start changing the world. Thanks to my amazing experience with CGA,I've been getting more and more involved in my community. For the past months, I got selected to be part of Eagle County's First Generation Career Wise Program and I started working at a non-profit as a development apprentice & helping out the other departments. I got to speak at a school board about my experiences and I was accepted to the Colorado State Patrol Youth Academy and just to many to list that I still remain doing!

It’s amazing to see how many people want to see you do great things in life. It inspires me to think bigger and do things that I never thought I would be able to do. It inspires me to inspire others, to let them know to take the chance that they’ve been considering. It inspires me to be the face of the future. Last and foremost, it inspires me to talk to people and influence them that we can create a better tomorrow. TOGETHER.
I am excited to bring you along on my next adventure!!! #TANZANIA'19

Day 4:

School is cancelled… again. Have you ever had those types of days where you’ve had something perfectly planned but, suddenly, things change last minute; and, then, that excitement turns into stress, but at the end of the day that change of plans turned into an amazing day? Because that’s what happened day four in Nica! We went to La Virgen and volunteered at Los Pepitos.

This little “barrio,” like Nicaraguans would say, is 45 minutes away from Hotel Hamacas. We arrived and met the people who improved this branch of Los Pepitos! They were very appreciative of our arrival; right after we said our “hello’s,” the team got straight to work. We all split up. The patio was very clean! We hardly found trash. Then again, Eddy and Jessica are constantly keeping track of the property and making sure it’s neat.

The place where Los Pepitos is located is in a very poor and rural area. As we were passing by, their neighborhoods, we were able to see their homes: what they had, how they showered, everything was in plain view. There were some that barely had a roof on top.  It got to me; I’m not going to lie. I thought I knew what I was going to be seeing, but I seriously can’t believe that there are people living in these conditions.

My family, all my life has been telling me that the lives of Central Americans was brutal. My family is from Honduras. They all come from different barrios; but they’ve lived the same struggles. “Money,” my mother has always told me, “isn’t the most important thing in the world. It shouldn’t be your main focus. You should be taking the time to create an image that you want to be known for.” But I don’t get it. I still don’t get it. I don’t want to seem like a clueless person, but I feel like money is always going to be a main issue. Our world revolves around money. If there’s no money, there’s no roof on top; if there’s no money, there’s no food on the table. Without money, not everyone has the opportunity to get an education.

Throughout my trip, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of poverty-stricken families who have it hard. As we were volunteering at Los Pepitos, we each gained a friendship with Pedro and Alejandro. They each had Down syndrome. The minute I laid eyes on Pedro, he immediately greeted me with a hello and a big old bear hug. Pedro is very much into arts and crafts, while Alejandro is more athletic. Despite their different interests, they share many characteristics. They love having the company of others and are full of love! I felt happy as soon as I heard of Los Pepitos. Jessica, Eddy, and the volunteers along with the community have built an amazing environment. No matter the wealth, the place, or situation the people are very generous. I felt very welcomed, these families don’t have much, but they still put the necessities of other first.

Day 5:

School is back! Wow. W-O-W is what I have to say after my first day of school. I can’t begin to express to you how in love I am with the kids at Escuela Especial. The desire and passion these kids have for school is incredible. I noticed two completely different worlds on “Day 5.” In the states all these kids have everything: the support, the resources, the transportation, but they don’t take advantage of it because school is just something you have to do as a minor. It’s somewhere you can be while mom and dad are at work. But in Nicaragua, the kids are woken up at 6:30 a.m to get to school by walking, bicycling, or riding a motorcycle. I saw a family of four on a single motorcycle: no helmet, no protection, no nothing! Unlike Americans, these kids have no air conditioner, run out of supplies, and are only in school for five hours if they are open.

 I had the opportunity to teach in the autistic classroom and meet Yaferi, a twelve year old boy with Autism. He hardly speaks, but still knows his numbers one through ten. As I was teaching him how to write and better his grip I noticed that he loses interest rapidly. I had to put together different lesson plans with my limited supplies in order to keep him busy. He was definitely a handful.

I was able to teach with Professor Lidia. She’s an amazing teacher; she has so much patience and knows her kids well. Despite only spending little time with her, I learned how much of a big heart one must have in order to be a special ed teacher. I learned how hard the teachers at the school try to gain the parents trust since the conditions are truly extreme. Further, I’ve witnessed how much love the students receive from their teachers. It’s been one of the most beautiful relationship developments I have witnessed.

Day 6:

 I went from being a teacher on Day 5, to being a little bit of everything Day 6. I was in the physical therapy room; I was a doctor’s assistant and a psychologist for the moms who needed a shoulder to cry on. All of the kids the doctor saw today have a disability. Most of the mothers said that their pregnancies were normal; the ultrasounds detected no disabilities. All the moms at the doctor’s visit mentioned the word “fe” meaning faith. Our Spanish culture depends on God. We have faith in everything we do, because we have faith that God will do his miracles. The moms I met today were ages 18-40, but they each had the priority: to be there for their child. A mother’s role is a very selfless one. Everyone depends on their mom and everything is left for mom to do. This holds true across the world.

Many of us including myself are blind enough to not realize that we don’t give our mothers the proper credit they deserve. These women are truly warriors because more than anyone, they’re suffering the most and they don’t have the support that they need. I am such a blessed person to have had this opportunity to be a part of this unique experience. I learned how to value things more, how ungrateful I truly have been. However, more than anything, I learned how important it is to help those who are less fortunate.