With 2018 commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program and the 10th anniversary of Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS) (IRIS manages the YES Program in Tanzania) the celebratory year sparked a renewed sense of volunteerism in Tanzanian YES alumni. A number of projects across mainland Tanzania were held, totaling the most ever reported from this region!

Read on for details about the incredible projects that Tanzanian YES alumni are organizing!

Tumbi Nursery School Renovation: January 12-15

Paulina Maingo (YES 2008-2009, hosted by IRIS in Story City, IA), Saidi Machinga (YES 2008-2008, hosted by IRIS in Boone, IA), and Miriam Laizer (YES 2009-2010, hosted by IRIS in Muscatine, IA) worked with six community volunteers to renovate the Tumbi Nursery school and teach 120 enrolled children how to remain safe during the rainy season.  As part of the renovation, the team painted two classrooms and the front of the main building. They hope that the school will use this year’s funds to renovate the third classroom, dining hall, and washrooms.

Volunteering & Volleyball: January 26

Saidi Machinga and Zukra Hamidu (YES 2011-2012, hosted by YFU in Virginia, MN) collaborated with Tumbi Secondary School and the Tanzania Volleyball Association to host a volleyball game. The alumni hosted the game to help welcome new and returning students. Students played volleyball for two hours, and then spent an hour learning the importance of exercising, eating properly and concentrating on school. Saidi, the school’s sports teacher, emphasized time management, volunteering, and utilizing school teachers. The representative from the Tanzania Volleyball Association promised to visit each month, as they are looking for young talent to create a national youth team.

Importance of Education Lecture: January 26

Sylvester Chigwala (YES 2007-2008, hosted by IRIS in Gilbert, IA) also organized an event on January 26. The event, held at the Maziwa Secondary School, focused on motivating students to do well in their academics, and stressed the importance of getting an education. “Through our personal experience, we shared the importance of academic achievement,” Sylvester said. He continued to explain that “Maziwa Secondary School has been struggling to do well academically for three years, so we hope this project will have an impact on the students.” Sylvester was the main speaker at the event.

Responsibility and Reason Lecture: January 26

Thereza Joseph John (YES 2016-2017, hosted by AFS in Oakland, NJ), organized a girl empowerment project at the Mhunze Primary School in Shinyanga. The project included talks about self-awareness and responsibility. Thereza noticed there was an increase in lack of motivation among school girls. With this in mind she decided to develop and implement a girl empowerment project. Thereza wanted the girls to know that whether they go to school for themselves or for their parents, having a reason to go to school and knowing the importance of getting an education is crucial to excelling in their schoolwork.

Fadhilla Orphanage Center Boys Dormitory Construction: January 27

Saidi Machinga gathered students from Tumbi Secondary School to help build a boys’ dormitory for the Fadhilla Orphanage Center. Saidi helped the children with their homework as students gathered bricks for the dormitory. Students also donated groceries and toys to the orphanage. After the project, the students discussed how the day changed their thoughts on volunteerism. Many students felt passionately about organizing a fundraiser to further help the orphanage. Students are planning their first community service project, which will be held over Easter break.

Planting Trees and Growing Volunteerism: January 20 & 27 and February 3

Bakari Mtili (YES 2011-2012, hosted by AFS in Kingston, NM) created the Youth Empowerment and Conservation Club (YECC) to encourage youth to become more involved in conserving wildlife and volunteerism. Towards the end of January and the beginning of February, YECC planted 60 trees for 60 households around Mweka village in Moshi. Bakari says he hopes to plant another 80 trees in the weeks to come.

As the year progresses, YES alumni continue to work towards bringing communities together. Celebrating this milestone year with volunteering, alumni express the YES values not with their words, but with their actions. We are impressed by the number of projects in January alone, and cannot wait to see what the rest of this year brings!