My trip to Tanzania by Mr Patience
As some of you will know I was lucky enough to visit and work in the beautiful African country of Tanzania for 6 weeks in the summer. I was fortunate to work in many different primary schools, secondary schools, orphanages and special schools. Some of the primary schools there had over 2000 pupils in them and sometimes over 150 in a class!
While I was there I visited Dar Es Salaam and Arusha and met some incredible young people and teachers/leaders/volunteers. One teacher whom I met started her own Special School for three disabled children in her own home. She now has 39 students, 3 other teachers and a sustainable volunteer programme. It shows how much can be achieved with determination, enthusiasm and precious few resources. These children are now far better equipped for adult life and working with them was a true highlight of my trip.
The majority of my time was spent delivering sports sessions to the children and young people and also training teachers and coaches to give them new ideas and activities that they could then deliver to the children. I visited a teachers training college and delivered sports workshops; so hopefully the teachers will use those games and activities in their own lessons in the future. Hopefully the photos capture how much fun it was for them (and me!!).
I received some incredible support from Roseburn (and I include the pupils, staff and parents) in the run up to my departure but special mention must go the parents of Ms Lamond’ s old P2/3, Mrs Simpson’s P1/2 and the PTA for the time, support, expertise (and money!) that they contributed.
We are very lucky in this country although sometimes, we don’t always realise it. We don’t have to walk 5 miles to school, we have clean drinking water, we have enough to eat, we have electricity and we have teachers, parents and carers who love and protect us. It isn’t like that everywhere in the world.
It was humbling to see how much love and respect the children and young people gave me while I was there and I hoped that I made a contribution to their lives in someway, however small.
Please visit the YES! Tanzania website at
www.yestanzania.btck.co.uk for more details on the charity or contact myself at the school.
Thank you,
Mr Patience
