This year, International Education Week (IEW) concludes with International Students’ Day on November 17. In different locations across Tanzania, YES alumni educated students and community members on a number of different topics.

To highlight the importance of education, the Zanzibar YES Alumni Association (ZAYAA) visited three primary schools from November 13 to November 15 to prepare students for their upcoming national exams.

Having had to take the exams when they were in primary school, ZAYAA members know the stress and anxiety that comes along with having to prepare and study. By sharing the tips they found beneficial in succeeding on their own exams, members hoped to ease the students’ minds so they could better focus on their studies.

While doing well on the test benefits the students in their academics, high scores also benefit the schools. According to the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) website, the exam results help the council determine policy and regulation changes. Exam results also determine funding for schools, meaning schools with higher scores could get an increase in available funds.

With this in mind, ZAYAA members travelled to and discussed with grade six students at three locations: Kajificheni Primary School, Jang'ombe A Primary School and Kiembe Samaki Primary School.

At each location, alumni prepared students for their exams and gave them tips on better studying tactics. The alumni remained engaged with the students by asking and answering questions.

At the afternoon school session at Jang’ombe Primary School, 70 students were present for the event. A blend of students with and without disabilities gave the alumni a different focus than the other two locations.

With the students learning in an unfavorable environment, the alumni motivated the students rather than educated. They told their own stories of overcoming issues in their studies to be successful.

“We told them to study hard as there is no easy road,” Msimu Abdulla (YES alumna 2011-2012, Tanzania, hosted by AFS) said in the project report.

Noticing the lack of proper desks and school supplies, the alumni offered the students the opportunity to attend free English courses at their main office to improve their English speaking and writing skills.

It is important for the students to learn the best practices to succeed on the exams, as their schools’ fundings rely heavily on the performance of the students. For the Jang’ombe A Primary School, a high performance rate on the exams could make desks and other resources available for students.

YES alumni realize the importance of education every day, as they too had to complete the exams. By giving students the tips they used to overcome learning obstacles, alumni are also giving them the opportunity of improving the schools for future students.

On the mainland of Tanzania, in Dar-es-Salaam, one YES alumnus took it upon herself to educate local barbers and beauticians about the importance of sanitizing their tools before and after each use.

Ndeenga Shamata (YES alumnus 2009-2010, Tanzania, hosted by IRIS) piloted the project after realizing the different ways of thinking about international education.

“Following that it’s International Education Week, I looked into the community [with] different eyes,” Ndeenga said in her project summary. “[I looked] into the small things we do daily that can bring setbacks in [our] health.”

Ndeenga set out and spoke with two barbers and two beauticians, telling them about the hazards of using unsanitized tools on their customers. She educated the people on the potential risks of HIV/AIDS when tools aren’t cleaned properly.

In 2016, there were a reported 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS, found on the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) website. And while Tanzania has done a fine job of controlling the spread of the disease, unobserved tasks such as improper cleaning of salon tools still pose risks.

Ndeenga also spoke to the attendants, as well as a few customers, about how to take care of their hair. She shared with them the dangers of chemically treating hair and also warned them about the strength of hair relaxers and the damage they can cause.

For another project, the following day Ndeenga helped an elderly woman and widow by completing some chores for them. She did laundry and house cleaning to rid the elderly woman's home, and the area surrounding it, of malaria and any disease-causing bacteria.

After she finished the cleaning and the laundry, Ndeenga then taught the woman about personal hygiene, specifically dental hygiene since one woman had commented on having tooth aches prior to Ndeenga's project.

Ndeenga gave the women the proper resources to keep her teeth clean, and showed the best methods for brushing.

International Education Week isn't just a time to focus on the students. It is also a time to educate others in all aspects of life. Ndeenga realized this need to focus on different ways of educating. 

Thank you to all alumni who found IEW to be the perfect time to complete a project. Educating communities will always be important and useful in creating a better, safer and healthier world.