Hey! Here’s a little piece about my amazing experience in Tanzania! I’ve only been home a few days, but I still can’t get over how much I was able to do, see, and experience in Iringa, Tanzania over the past six weeks.

After an incredibly long flight and bus ride, I arrived at the volunteer house in Iringa at the end of April. I had expected a traditional African-style place to stay, but it turned out I would be living in a more Western-style house with other volunteers. That first evening we even celebrated King’s Day together with everyone in the house.
The next day someone from the organisation in Iringa took me around for a tour of the city and some of the projects. There is something for everyone to get involved in, and you are not locked into just one place. With a bit of creativity there is so much you can do here, such as teaching at schools, playing with the kids at the deaf school, joining in on football and more. After a little while you definitely find your spot at one or more projects.

I also spent time helping in the village of Itagutwa, a place without running water or reliable electricity, for example by donating a sunflower press. While Iringa has a more familiar lifestyle, in Itagutwa you really get to experience traditional African life. The simplicity and calm of the village is honestly such a breath of fresh air compared to our busy Western world.
On top of that, the appreciation you get from the local people when you help them, even with the smallest things, is huge. The same goes for the joy and excitement you get from the children when you visit a school and spend time playing or doing sports with them.

Besides the volunteer work, there is plenty of time and space to explore the country and the culture. We went on safari with a group of volunteers, climbed a waterfall and camped at the top, visited a Maasai village, and even spent a few days in Zanzibar. We also had many evenings at the volunteer house simply playing games or talking with each other.

In short, if you open yourself up to new people and a new culture, and go into this adventure with an open mind, you are guaranteed to have an amazing time.

My experience in Iringa was incredibly positive. You meet so many new people, you get to see so much of a different culture, you have the chance to spend time with local people in their daily lives, the projects give you so much joy and happiness, and you get to see a lot of the country. Because you live with several other volunteers in Iringa, you also get to share the experience with others, which makes it even more special.
In short, if you open yourself up to new people and a new culture, and approach this adventure with an open mind, you are guaranteed to have an amazing time.

~ Jordy ~