Interviewing has always been something exciting for all of us. Learning about experiences one had is a fantastic feeling for the rest. This interview is with a volunteer working with Art in Tanzania, an NGO known for its significant social impact in the community of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Let’s hear about Sari’s experiences and how she collaborated with AIT to support community growth.
Interviewer: Hey, Sari, how are you doing?
Sari: It’s good. How are you?
Interviewer: I’m great. Let’s start. First, tell me something about yourself.
Sari: I am Sari, currently living in Finland. My first time in Tanzania was two years ago. This is my fifth time with Art In Tanzania since then.
Interviewer: That’s amazing. So, you’ve been volunteering for a long time. Please let me know exactly how you think volunteering impacts the community.
Sari: I can say from my side, as I was in the Construction as well as Environmental conservation project, that even if you do a small thing for a community or teach a few people how to do something, they can spread the word. Even a small help from your side can be a big thing for the natives. You can’t change the whole world, but you can change a community by taking a single ‘step’.
Interviewer: That means a lot! Have you been volunteering before these AIT Volunteers?
Sari: Not really, this is practically the first.
Interviewer: That’s good. How did you end up at Art in Tanzania?
Sari: Yeah, we had a big festival in Finland called ‘World Festival’. I met Marjut at the Art in Tanzania stand there. I was planning to take a sabbatical year from work, and she told me about the volunteering and internship opportunities here. It sounded so good that I almost booked the tickets the next day.
Interviewer: Awesome. So, what project were you working on at AIT?
Sari: Mainly construction and some environmental projects, such as the Tree Plantation and Conservation project in Moshi. In Zanzibar, I learnt how to make Dhow boats, and in Dar es Salaam, we made compost. I also taught local people how to use it for agricultural purposes.
Interviewer: That’s so good. How was your experience with AIT during these two years?
Sari: I’ve been so good that it’s my fifth time here. I love this. I keep coming back & back & back.
Interviewer: Now, Sari, I’d like you to rate Art in Tanzania on the following points on a scale of 1 to 5.
Sari: Yeah, go ahead.
- Community Service that AIT is doing 4
- The closeness to the local community 4
- The kind of projects 4
- The support you get from ait while you are on your project 3
- Accommodation 4
- Food 4
- Overall 4
The interviewer is a volunteer working with Art in Tanzania & has no relation with AIT at all. The interview is devised and conducted by the interviewer itself, with no interference from the AIT team.
