Before I left for East Africa, I couldn’t imagine what I would do when I came home. Now that I’m home, I still don’t know because there’s so much I could do! People always say that visiting Africa changes your life. For me, it broadened my perspective of the world, as if I added a room to my brain – or maybe a whole building, or even a stadium. I learned more in two weeks than I have learned in years. It was the trip of a lifetime!

What influenced me most? It could be how happy Tanzanians are even when ten people live in a one room house with its roof of tattered plastic bags. Or it might be how one high school student in science could answer any question I asked even though the 70 students sat two to a desk with no books, and only a few scraps of paper and stubs of pencils.

Another compelling observation was how the Masai people hold on to their traditions while also making changes that bring them into alignment with current human rights concepts. This means that while the boys still herd cattle, they can also go to school. The fathers are beginning to allow their daughters to go to school rather than requiring them to marry in order to get the bride price of a few cows. During the Leadership Workshop I co-led for 20 motivated girls in the Global Partners Scholarship program, we heard a lot of talk about how women can improve their own lives and the future of their villages and their country. This important aspect of modern life is not lost on the girls in secondary school.

One of my most amazing encounters was with Janeth Daniel. She was one of the girls in our Leadership Workshop who chose a project of informing fellow students of how to avoid getting pregnant. Girls who get pregnant are expelled from school. In addition, HIV has taken a horrific toll on the whole country and Janeth is determined to do something about it. Even though sex education is not taught in school, she had gathered correct information and wanted to inform her sisters. This was not because she needed to be informed personally; she’s never had a boyfriend, and she’s committed to completing her education without male influence. Janeth’s plan is to tell the headmaster of her project and give him an outline of the information she wants to deliver. Imagine doing that when you were 17 years old! Sex was a taboo subject five years ago and adults currently don’t know what to say, so they don’t say anything. Not this young woman! She took advantage of my education and background to confirm her knowledge so that she didn’t give any misleading or incorrect information. She said that if her project is successful in the school, she’ll take it to her village where women need family planning info and have no place to get it. 

Men’s recognition of women’s abilities and contributions is something new in East Africa. The women create businesses that demonstrate the value of commerce over subservience. The mission of Global Partners, the organization Jim and I travelled with, is to promote partnerships that empower the people (men and women) to raise their living and health standards and create sustainable livelihood. We definitely saw this in action through schools, water projects, clinics, and animal husbandry.

More than anything, I was touched by the beauty of Tanzania. From the smiles and songs of the people to the lions, cheetahs and giraffes, we saw beauty every day. Two mountains, Meru and Kilimanjaro, are silent sentinels overseeing a country that is peaceful in the midst of countries engaged in internal conflict. The contrast between the breathlessly primitive life style and the struggling attempt to be modern is fear-inducing and awe-inspiring. I fear their traditions will be lost and I am inspired by their determination to improve. I am so blessed to have been in this country for even the few days we visited and I hope that more people can benefit from similar ecotourism.

© 2008, Jacqueline Hale