Art in Tanzania internship program
Swapping winter coats for t-shirts and shorts, wellies for flip-flops, and roast dinners for barbecues — it’s safe to say Christmas 2017 has been unlike any other for me. Spending Boxing Day at the beach with children from the Glory of Africa Orphanage has been a highlight!
The idea of a day trip to the beach originated from one of our Dutch volunteers, Michel, who, during his stay at AIT, taught English to the children at the orphanage. With donations from himself, Art in Tanzania, and some other volunteers, this idea became a reality. On December 26th at 11:30 am, we arrived at the Glory of Africa to find the children packed and ready for a blue sea and white sand-filled boxing day. After piling into a minibus, we went to Bahari Beach, the local beach, around a 25-minute drive from the orphanage. Within seconds of arriving, the children had already found a spot to put their things and were running around and playing in the sea.
From the budget created for the day trip, we were able to purchase lunch and drinks for the children, which consisted of freshly prepared rice, beans, vegetables, and bananas. Whether they were playing football on the sand or splashing in the sea, I could see smiles for miles as they enjoyed their boxing day in the sun, sand, and sea.
Without the donations from everyone involved in organising, this day would not have been possible, so I’d like to say Asanta sana to Michiel and Art in Tanzania for playing a big part in making this trip possible!
+30-degree heat and sand on my feet is far from the norm of a typical Boxing Day in England, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Through my experience in Tanzania with Art, I have had fantastic new experiences, become accustomed to African culture, and lived in a proper Tanzanian style. Volunteers and interns are always coming up with ideas to help or even simply to treat members of the local community, and with Art in Tanzania, we can make these ideas a reality! If you’d like to be involved or learn more about Art in Tanzania and our mission, please visit our website for details!
Asante sana,
Lily
