Volunteer Maasai

Mimi nakupenda Idimayii Maasai School !!! (as Swahili speakers would say) or I love this very promising project I have been involved in as a volunteer! I had a great...Read more

Mimi nakupenda Idimayii Maasai School !!! (as Swahili speakers would say) or I love this very promising project I have been involved in as a volunteer!
I had a great time out in Tanzania, while volunteering with children from the Maasai tribes, thanks to the wonderful team coordinating the project and of course, the Maasai children together with their teachers.
Throughout the day I was running and alternating various on-site activities for the children, their teachers and the project coordinators. I was starting the day with teaching English to the cute bunch of kids attending the school, then playing and singing with them, doing arts, crafts and sports. Later on I was working on improving the Maasai teachers’ level of English by teaching them the language. Then by the end of the day I was discussing and exchanging ideas with the project coordinators, ideas aiming at further developing the Idimayii Maasai School project.
My new Tanzanian family, represented by Lalahe, director of the organization and Lazaro, project manager, have been taking very good care of me during my entire stay in the country and have constantly been looking after and entertaining me. After a first day of interacting with them I had that amazing feeling as though I had known them for ages and we ever since have been very good friends. Every evening we were having lots of fun together, drinking beer, chatting and laughing. During weekends we were spending time together, either taking a walk in the nearby town, cycling through different Maasai villages, going on Safari or just relaxing at the guest house. Simultaneously I was provided off-site support by Claire, managing partner and co-founder of the organization. The two Maasai teachers form the school, Helena and Seneyo, were so nice to work with and flexible in adjusting the class timetable according to my activities’ planning. As for the kids from the school, they were just amazing! I am missing you all! Asante sana, Volunteer Maasai!

I have been volunteering at the school for about a week. With this report I want to give you an impression of life and work here. Helen, one of the...Read more

I have been volunteering at the school for about a week. With this report I want to give you an impression of life and work here.
Helen, one of the teachers, invited me to stay at her home. It was lovely to live with her and her family. We had good food, I could help her with the cooking. What a nice feeling to sit outside in the evening , drinking chai, looking at the stars. You can’t imagine how quiet it is. No sound, only sometimes you can hear one of the family’s goats moaning.
School started at nine in the morning. I was helping the teachers in the lessons. At the moment the kids are learning basic like the alphabet or the numbers in Swahili and English. It would be great if there would be English-lessons at the school in the future. The teachers can only speak little English, so after class I was teaching them. I was impressed, how fast they are learning. I got to know some Maasai as well It is important for the kids to be able to communicate in English. This will help them later to go to secondary school or university and to find a job.
In the afternoons I had time for myself, so I often went to Makuyuni or Mtowambu with Lalahe to have a drink, get some food for the family or meet friends of Lalahe. The countryside is beautiful, some fields, dry bushes, goats, cows and you can see very far. You meet friendly people on the way. If you need to be there quickly you can also take a motorbike.
I was looked after very well. If there had been any problem, there would be someone giving me a hand. I met so many interesting people, who are making me love this place! I hope to be back soon.
Asante sana, thanks a lot for everything.
Caroline