Tanzania
Overview
The first Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) volunteers travelled to Tanzania in 2022. This was post-Covid 19 and the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia and VLM sought to build new partnerships with the Vincentian Fathers and Daughters of Charity in other countries. Since then, many have volunteered in projects across Tanzania. Tanzania is located in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It has a population of 62 million, making it the most populous country located entirely south of the equator.
- Over 120 languages are spoken in Tanzania. Swahili is its official language.
- The country has designated 25% of its land to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The total area is greater than the size of Germany.
- The most famous national park of Tanzania is the Serengeti National Park when a million wildebeests cross over to the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya. This migration is so epic, that it is named as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
- Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing peak in the world.
- Tracks of footprints formed some 3.6 million years ago were found in Tanzania. The footprints vary in size and suggest that they were formed by a group consisting of a male and two females.
- Tanzania is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, however, widespread poverty persists. Almost half of its population is living on less than $1.90 per day.
- The flag of Tanzania represents four elements of daily life – the green represents nature’s beauty, the yellow represents the mineral deposits of the country, the black represents the people, and the blue represents the great lakes.
Tanzanian flag
- Most Tanzanians live in rural areas, and only about 7% of rural regions have electricity.
- Tanzania has the same national anthem as South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is a pan-African liberation song called “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (“God Bless Africa”), and was composed by Enoch Sontonga.
- Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Projects
Songea
Project: De Paul School
Area: Songea is a city of around 200,000 people. The De Paul school is located in a suburb of the city. Getting there involves flying to Dar es Salaam and then taking an internal flight to Songea.
Details: This is a large school with around 1200 pupils in total aged up to 17 years old – 700 in primary school, 300 in secondary, 200 in nursery and baby school and some of the children board. It has 103 staff. The school has excellent facilities including sports field – soccer/football, netball, basketball, volleyball. Accommodation is with the Vincentian Fathers in their house which is beside the school campus.
Suitable for: This placement would especially suit primary and secondary school teachers with the possibility of teaching English and also some subjects. Running sports, games, arts, music, etc after school is also possible.
Masanga
Project: St Catherine Laboure School, Hospital
Area: Masanaga is a small village located in the north of Tanzania and is very remote.
Details: The school has 236 pupils from age 5 to 14 (103 boys and 133 girls). Girls are prioritised for places. The nursery has 35 pupils (15 boys, 20 girls). Staff = 15 teachers and 12 non-teaching staff. Some children board. Accommodation is with the Daughters of Charity in their house which is adjacent to the school. The Daughters of Charity run a hospital in Masanga. Additionally, they have a women’s empowerment programme and a Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) project here.
Suitable for: This placement is suitable for volunteerd with a wide variety of skills. It would especially suit primary and secondary school teachers with the possibility of teaching English. Also running sports, games, arts, music, etc. They have a soccer pitch area within the school. The school also has computers and it would be possible to teach IT to the children. The hospital is suitable for all healthcare workers.
Dar es Salaam
Projects: De Paul School, Vinkindu Kindergarten, Hospital.
Details: There is a nursery and primary school up to age of 14 with 300 children. It would be possible to teach English here. Also running sports, games, arts, music, etc. They have a soccer pitch within the school. There is accommodation with the Sisters on the school campus.
The is a hospital that would be suitable for all healthcare workers. The sisters also run a kindergarten here. Accommodation is onsite with the sisters.
Suitable for: Teacher and hospital suitable for all healthcare workers.
Volunteer Stories
Jane Scott – Explore a New Sky
Welcome to Masanga, Tanzania. Set near the Serengeti, Lake Victoria, and the border with Kenya. Here the people of rural Tanzania await you with their unconditional warmth. It was my privilege to volunteer here from October to December 2022. The support of VLM and the Daughters of Charity based in Masanga ensured a most precious experience.
Here in this rural Tanzanian village these resourceful, multi-tasking Sisters bring education (St Catherine Laboure School), healthcare and array of community supports to a people who otherwise would certainly struggle to avail of these services.
During my time in Masanga I worked with the team who raise awareness of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The practice of FGM still pertains in this part of rural Tanzania. The project provides a refuge and daily support for young girls fleeing FGM. During my stay over 400 girls were taking refuge here.
I also worked with the women’s development project in Masanga. Here a network of local women combines to support and empower each other and strive to build sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their community. Currently a purpose-built resource centre is under construction in Masanga thanks to VLM donors. The significance of this building is immense to the overall empowerment of this dynamic group of local women. They continue to ‘break the glass ceiling’ in rural Tanzania. Experience a new journey in life…Masanga, Tanzania awaits you.
