Lessons from Tanzania

Jonathan Taitt, a young adult from Enfield, North London, has just come back from Dodoma, Tanzania, where he was volunteering with Jesuit Missions Volunteering. We caught up with him to find out what life was like.

LS: Hi Jon - how's life?

JT: It's great, thanks. It's nice to be back in some familiar surroundings, although I miss where I've been.

Which is where?

In Dodoma, Tanzania. It's like the political capital of Tanzania, as opposed to Dar es sallam, which is much bigger. I really liked Dodoma - it was small enough to get around by bike, but there was a lot to do. It's a semi-arid desert region.

And what kinds of things did you get up to?

Well, I was really busy! I taught in a primary school, St Ignatius, where I taught English to 8-9 year olds and computers to 11-12 year olds. I also taught English at a local Adult Education centre. The dominant language is Swahili, and English isn't spoken so widely, but they're keen to learn! I also helped out at the local parish with their youth group which was fun!

And I heard something about a library?

Yes, when I arrived they made me librarian, but there wasn't a library! There was just a massive empty room with tables in it that belonged to some other classrooms. I got the hint, so I asked my old college (another St Ignatius!) to help out and they were brilliant - they sent in 4,000 books over the time I was there.

Had you always wanted to go to Africa?

Not at all! The last year I was at sixth form the Jesuit Mission Volunteers people came and advertised what they do, and I thought even if I just help a bit that it would be a good thing. My teachers really supported me, so I applied and went.

What kinds of things did you do to prepare?

We had a week's worth of preparation where we did sessions about how to survive and adapt to new cultures, and what to expect. I went out with one other volunteer, so it wasn't as if I was on my own.

And what are your abiding memories of your time away?

It really struck me that when you meet people they really want to know about you. They ask about any mutual friends you have and take a real interest. They were also really kind - very different from my experiences of North London!

So what's life like now you're back?

It's good - my parents say I'm much more helpful around the house than before when I was Class A lazy! We had to clean the house top to bottom twice a week there because there was a layer of desert dust on everything, and if you didn't wash up straight away there'd be ants all over it. I had to spend lots of time doing basic things like washing clothes and now I'm at home I don't have to do any of that - I'm at a loss for things to do! Life's a lot easier here.

 And what's next?

I really got on with the teaching, so I'm looking for some classroom assistant jobs near my house and I'm applying to the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) to do Swahili and History - I'm fluent in Swahili now, and have a big interest in African history - a change from the Irish history I grew up with!

Thanks, Jon.

No worries.

Jesuit Missions Volunteering can be found online here