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.

Being abroad, I learned so much about myself and a different culture. I gained more patience. I was able to work with the kids a lot. I was able to have a very good mix of teaching and playing with the children.It helped me learn that I love teaching, so I am sure of my future career plans.

From my experience abroad, I gained a whole new level of confidence in myself. I went outside of my comfort zone to travel alone to a new country in order to help others. I gained a further appreciation for other cultures, and a knowledge that other parts of the world are extremely different and yet similar at the same time. I learned of my love to volunteer, and a deeper passion for traveling.

The program in Tanzania opened an opportunity for me to have a new outlook on life. I believe that everything has its own natural beauty.

I think i gained experience working in difficult situations and adapting to new situations through this program. I also learned a lot about african culture, which was something that I had never experienced before.

The World Endeavors local coordinator was hosting me and others volunteers in his house in Tanzania, this was a very safe and good solution. He organized for us amazing trips and he was always very present.

Living in a very different place teaches you what you actually need as opposed to all the things you think you need but so many go with out

I felt like I became more independent after this trip with World Endeavors. I traveled with groups before where the coordinators did all the work. Now that I traveled alone, I feel like I can accomplish anything.

I had a great time, a great experience in Tanzania. The school structure recommended for my teaching program was satisfying. I didn't expect to learn and receive so much from the kids at the school. Thanks for helping me experience Tanzania and Africa through this program

I felt well-cared-for from the first day to the last one, if I had doubts I could ask and soon had an answer. I experienced many unexpected feelings and faced a lot of situations which made me love Africa even more than I thought. Moreover, I became familiar with the local culture, met local people and made so many friends there.