Volunteer in Tanzania with World Endeavors

So I had an amazing time and I feel I did some good work, but while I was out there I started running women's sessions on human rights and sexual health. This was not continued after I left and I feel that in order to make a significant impact the work that volunteers and charity employees do must be sustainable, as in projects continued once volunteers leave. Also, although I felt very welcomed and at home with my hosts, there was very little support or coordination and everything I did was lead by what I suggested, this is not bad as project work is always a good thing that introduces new and impactful work to an organisation, but there was no organised work already in place for me to do and at times, with all the pressure for the work being on me, it became very stressful. Having said this, with the projects I did start, they were incredibly supportive of all my ideas and got me the relevant recourses and help to do them. Overall I had a wonderful experience, when I was getting ready to leave there were a few hiccups but I wouldn't put that on the project leader more on other individuals insensitivity and apathy for my situation. If I were to recommend this project to someone, it would have to be to a very independent and confidant person and someone without serious mental health issues, as thought they were sympathetic and understanding when I needed time to feel better, as I have depression, they had no real understanding of mental health and I had no one to talk to about it when I wasn't feeling great, like I tried but they didn't get it.

I think that World Endeavors coordinators should be more informed about the real conditions and stuffs of the destination country, town and house. A solution might be to visit the accomodation and the city in order to get as many information as possibile.

This experience broadened my eyes to global health and perspective and one day I hope to return to Tanzania to help as a medical professional.The host family was very welcoming and helpful in adjusting to the culture.I gained a much deeper knowledge and appreciation of the culture in east Africa as well as how the health system is operated.