Click here to view our Picture GalleryDaylight in Tanzania
Wednesday, Jan. 11
Allison Graham
Board of Directors
One World Youth Project
I awoke in a world new to me. Jess and I were to meet The Perfect Brothers in the lobby of our hotel, The Royal Court, at 10 a.m. We walked through the calm quiet courtyard into the hustle and bustle of daily life in Arusha, Tanzania. The rhythmic sound of Swahili, so foreign to my ears, was delightful. The colors of the place were spectacular: women wrapped in Khangas with intricate patterns in reds, oranges, purples, and all colors of the spectrum, walked along the road. The movement was like a kaleidoscope. Masai, dressed in their traditional Rubega, also moved among the crowds. Abdu and Joseph arrived in the taxi to bring us to the center.
The sights as we drove continued to amaze and excite me. Color, color everywhere set against a backdrop of earthy tans and browns -- it was beautiful. We finally arrived at the Doctor Herman Wrice Community Center where students of The Perfect Youth Group waited with a banner welcoming Jess and me. Here we met Gloria, and Joachim, both teachers at the center. Inside the courtyard a table covered in a white cloth embroidered with scarlet flowers stood at one end. The students sat along the walls, waiting for us to take our places, like guests of honor, at the table.
Allison Graham
Board of Directors
One World Youth Project
I awoke in a world new to me. Jess and I were to meet The Perfect Brothers in the lobby of our hotel, The Royal Court, at 10 a.m. We walked through the calm quiet courtyard into the hustle and bustle of daily life in Arusha, Tanzania. The rhythmic sound of Swahili, so foreign to my ears, was delightful. The colors of the place were spectacular: women wrapped in Khangas with intricate patterns in reds, oranges, purples, and all colors of the spectrum, walked along the road. The movement was like a kaleidoscope. Masai, dressed in their traditional Rubega, also moved among the crowds. Abdu and Joseph arrived in the taxi to bring us to the center.
The sights as we drove continued to amaze and excite me. Color, color everywhere set against a backdrop of earthy tans and browns -- it was beautiful. We finally arrived at the Doctor Herman Wrice Community Center where students of The Perfect Youth Group waited with a banner welcoming Jess and me. Here we met Gloria, and Joachim, both teachers at the center. Inside the courtyard a table covered in a white cloth embroidered with scarlet flowers stood at one end. The students sat along the walls, waiting for us to take our places, like guests of honor, at the table.
We were formally welcomed by a speech, given by Joseph, describing the progress the center had made since joining the One World Youth Project (OWYP) and the hopes and dreams for the center's future. Every smile, every word, every touch was warm and welcoming and I thank everyone at the center for this amazing reception. After Jess spoke and described our plans for the stay, I passed on the greetings from the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School's (CCLCS) community. It was time to get to work.
Through writing and drama workshops we hoped to produce a declaration for the OWYP congressional reception, being held in April, describing the students ideas on how the US government could try to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), personal articles written by youth journalists for 3 publications, a dramatic presentation to be used to educate people about poverty and other issues that the center's community faces, and footage for a collaborative documentary (with CCLCS students) based on our assigned UN MDG, to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty. We started by doing a team-building exercise that I also use at home with the charter school students. It was extremely exciting to be doing this with students from a different culture. Abdu and Joseph's translations made the language barriers disappear and we were soon talking, laughing and working together. Next we moved into a classroom where Jessica led a discussion that culminated in a list of topics to be used for the rest of our workshops. These topics included poverty, hunger and drug abuse, as well as other topics specific to Tanzania. Our first drama workshop began with two exercises called "The Machine" and "Freeze and Justify." Both exercises went extremely well, and in the latter, students yelled out "ganda" with as much enthusiasm as students at CCLCS yell "freeze." Students then broke into groups and created and performed skits based on the topics they’d listed earlier. While I couldn't understand the dialogue, the skits were so well done that their messages were clear. I was so impressed with the passion and sincerity underlying these young people's work.
We ended the day with the first of many experiences I would call the best in my life: Students performed traditional dances, songs, and drumming for Jess, me, and an audience of children from the surrounding community. It is difficult to express how this performance made me feel, but let me try: honored, emotional, alive, excited, hopeful, and so thankful to have met these people.
Through writing and drama workshops we hoped to produce a declaration for the OWYP congressional reception, being held in April, describing the students ideas on how the US government could try to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), personal articles written by youth journalists for 3 publications, a dramatic presentation to be used to educate people about poverty and other issues that the center's community faces, and footage for a collaborative documentary (with CCLCS students) based on our assigned UN MDG, to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty. We started by doing a team-building exercise that I also use at home with the charter school students. It was extremely exciting to be doing this with students from a different culture. Abdu and Joseph's translations made the language barriers disappear and we were soon talking, laughing and working together. Next we moved into a classroom where Jessica led a discussion that culminated in a list of topics to be used for the rest of our workshops. These topics included poverty, hunger and drug abuse, as well as other topics specific to Tanzania. Our first drama workshop began with two exercises called "The Machine" and "Freeze and Justify." Both exercises went extremely well, and in the latter, students yelled out "ganda" with as much enthusiasm as students at CCLCS yell "freeze." Students then broke into groups and created and performed skits based on the topics they’d listed earlier. While I couldn't understand the dialogue, the skits were so well done that their messages were clear. I was so impressed with the passion and sincerity underlying these young people's work.
We ended the day with the first of many experiences I would call the best in my life: Students performed traditional dances, songs, and drumming for Jess, me, and an audience of children from the surrounding community. It is difficult to express how this performance made me feel, but let me try: honored, emotional, alive, excited, hopeful, and so thankful to have met these people.
We rode in my first Dalla-Dalla to get back to the hotel and after a quick meal in the room, Jess and I went to bed, looking forward to the next day.
- Allison
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