My first experience as a volunteer

In the two weeks I spent in Dar es Salaam, I volunteered for a small NGO called Bright Future run by Jovin, where I was staying. It is a day care center for underprivileged children in the rather poor district of Mbagala.

The first day I spent with them, I offered them the class material collected in Barcelona before my departure. Thanks again to those who participated! I spent the morning making them discover their new games while getting to know each other. They are used to receiving volunteers, and their class is already filled with donations from others who came before me.

There is a class of about 20 children, girls and boys mixed together. They have a uniform, but don't wear it every day. Sometimes they don't come because their parents need them.

Thanks to the NGO they have two meals a day, breakfast and then lunch. They learn Swahili, English and basic subjects like math. They also have access to educational and creative games. At the end of the morning, they can enjoy some peace and quiet to have a good nap. Usna, the mistress, is always there to take care of them.

I usually gave them English classes, always accompanied by Jovin for the Swahili translation. I also gave them a course on body hygiene, did a bracelet workshop and even an initiation course in yoga by teaching them how to make the sun salutation.

I was able to connect with the children and do productive classes from the second week. Before that, I had a hard time getting their attention, it took me a little bit of adaptation.

At the moment, they eat, sleep and study in the same small room. There are holes in the roof, when it rains children have fun catching drops that fall and the ground stays wet all day. They share the toilet with other people in the house.

By raising funds, Jovin hopes to provide them with an environment more suited to their education.

Different spaces depending on the activity: a classroom for students only, a dining room, a room where you can sleep peacefully, toilets for students only and even a garden where you can practice sports, games and a vegetable garden. And all this, safely.

He has already found the house suitable, but needs money for renting and renovating it. The project is on its way, it is only lacking the means! To illustrate this, I made some pretty pictures of the children and a video that you can see by clicking on the following link: https://youtu.be/ZehPgUV_w_w

If you feel strongly about the project, you can participate by making a donation via the link below, as well as by sharing it with your loved ones: https://gofund.me/903a5bcb

Asante Sana!

(Thanks a lot in Swahili)