Elena Chiavazza Prieto, Grade 12
UWCEA (Arusha)
Imagine the experience of being able to work with young women from different tribes in Tanzania. Imagine helping these women to learn English because, due to their life contexts, they were unable to learn that language or to have access to a proper education. Imagine listening to the variety of stories that each of them has. Sounds a bit challenging, right? But it's also exciting. Well, that's what I thought the first time I heard the "More than a drop" project that was being carried by different students from my school.
Before coming to live in Tanzania, I heard many stories of the differences and gender issues that are experienced here. So, when I came, I found it very interesting to develop an activity that was related to this social problem. When the organisers gave us the talk about the different services we could apply to, none of them caught my attention more than the one in which we would educate young girls about their menstrual periods, while teaching them English and learning from the difficult times they had to go through in their lives.
I remember the first day we attended the institute where these girls study. I was very nervous and excited and did not know what to expect. I did not know what level of English they would have, and I was unsure they would be open to interacting with me. Well, I'm not going to lie, the first few times were a bit awkward, since, of course, they were all quite shy. I remember that they separated us into groups, and we had to create different games to improve their English and get to know them better. It was a very fun first experience, however, when I realized that practically every time we went to this high school we did the same thing, I got a little depressed. I thought that we really were not generating any substantial change in them, and I realized that in all that time, I still had not had the opportunity to get to know them well.
One week, I decided to prepare for the meeting with the girls, and when we arrived at the institute, I asked them if they would like to do a yoga practice with me. They seemed very interested, and all of them joined. At that time, I was the one who led the session. Although at first, we all laughed a little at the situation, in the end, it turned out to be a very relaxing and entertaining practice; they even asked me to please do it again the next time that I go to visit them!
The next few times I went to their school, I started to become a bit more relaxed. I liked walking next to them and asking questions about their lives. I remember once I spent a long time with two girls. They told me about some very interesting experiences they had in the places they used to live in, which was very emotional for me. We also had moments when we talked about very funny things and laughed for a long time. I remember that before I left that day, one of the girls gave me her necklace: it was a very beautiful blue rosary, made in the style of Masai jewelry. Although I am not religious, it is a gift that I always carry with me.
If you ask me what my favorite day was at the institute, I would say it was that day when we decided to have a debate about abortion with all the girls. I remember clearly how nervous everyone was; they thought that perhaps they were not prepared to have that kind of talk, but, after a couple of discussions, we decided to do it, and I was very surprised. I was in charge of leading the team that was pro-choice. We had to prepare the different premises and arguments that would be expanded on in the debate by the students. It was a very fun and educational activity. After the exchange happened, all of the spectators were surprised and excited by the conversation that was generated. The girls put immense passion in defending their positions and expressed their ideas in an excellent way.
Unfortunately, due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, I have not been able to continue going to the institute, which completely disheartens me since I had begun to create friendship ties with some of them. This service was very special to me, and it made me realize the different situations that some people must go through, but that there are always ways to get ahead, and of course, there are always people who will be willing to help you.
Before coming to live in Tanzania, I heard many stories of the differences and gender issues that are experienced here. So, when I came, I found it very interesting to develop an activity that was related to this social problem. When the organisers gave us the talk about the different services we could apply to, none of them caught my attention more than the one in which we would educate young girls about their menstrual periods, while teaching them English and learning from the difficult times they had to go through in their lives.
I remember the first day we attended the institute where these girls study. I was very nervous and excited and did not know what to expect. I did not know what level of English they would have, and I was unsure they would be open to interacting with me. Well, I'm not going to lie, the first few times were a bit awkward, since, of course, they were all quite shy. I remember that they separated us into groups, and we had to create different games to improve their English and get to know them better. It was a very fun first experience, however, when I realized that practically every time we went to this high school we did the same thing, I got a little depressed. I thought that we really were not generating any substantial change in them, and I realized that in all that time, I still had not had the opportunity to get to know them well.
One week, I decided to prepare for the meeting with the girls, and when we arrived at the institute, I asked them if they would like to do a yoga practice with me. They seemed very interested, and all of them joined. At that time, I was the one who led the session. Although at first, we all laughed a little at the situation, in the end, it turned out to be a very relaxing and entertaining practice; they even asked me to please do it again the next time that I go to visit them!
The next few times I went to their school, I started to become a bit more relaxed. I liked walking next to them and asking questions about their lives. I remember once I spent a long time with two girls. They told me about some very interesting experiences they had in the places they used to live in, which was very emotional for me. We also had moments when we talked about very funny things and laughed for a long time. I remember that before I left that day, one of the girls gave me her necklace: it was a very beautiful blue rosary, made in the style of Masai jewelry. Although I am not religious, it is a gift that I always carry with me.
If you ask me what my favorite day was at the institute, I would say it was that day when we decided to have a debate about abortion with all the girls. I remember clearly how nervous everyone was; they thought that perhaps they were not prepared to have that kind of talk, but, after a couple of discussions, we decided to do it, and I was very surprised. I was in charge of leading the team that was pro-choice. We had to prepare the different premises and arguments that would be expanded on in the debate by the students. It was a very fun and educational activity. After the exchange happened, all of the spectators were surprised and excited by the conversation that was generated. The girls put immense passion in defending their positions and expressed their ideas in an excellent way.
Unfortunately, due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, I have not been able to continue going to the institute, which completely disheartens me since I had begun to create friendship ties with some of them. This service was very special to me, and it made me realize the different situations that some people must go through, but that there are always ways to get ahead, and of course, there are always people who will be willing to help you.
www.unitedworldwide.co