GIVE Tanzania Program Review!

This past July I travelled to Tanzania with GIVE and it was nothing short of life-changing. Every moment of the trip was full of laughs, smiles, adventure, surprises, and purpose. From volunteering at the school in Kairo, to swimming with wild dolphins, to going on a two day safari in Nyerere National Park, to the nights spent playing games with guides and volunteers into the early hours of the morning – every moment of this trip was packed full of adventure and intention.

The GIVE staff are truly like no other. Every single moment of my trip to Tanzania I felt safe and cared for by each and every one of my incredible guides. GIVE prioritizes safety and goes above and beyond with ensuring that each volunteer’s needs are met. My guides made every single volunteer feel like a valued and crucial member of our team, which made it easy to build a sense of belonging within our group. I was particularly impressed with GIVE’s ironclad organization. Every one of our many activities ran completely smoothly and timely. From each meal being on time, to our rides and accommodations always being properly scheduled, to each of our individual flights being monitored by our guides – every piece of the very complex puzzle was perfectly planned out by GIVE.

Overall, I learned so much from this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I gained perspective, knowledge, self-confidence, and so many memories. I was inspired each and every day by the people of Kairo – their zest for life, thirst for knowledge, love and acceptance of all people, and their indestructible perseverance. I met the absolute best people on this trip – from the locals in Kairo, to all of my amazing guides, to my fellow volunteers, each and every person has impacted my life for the better. I am certain that I have made some life-long friends through GIVE. I have taken away so many lessons from this trip – to live each day with a purpose; to vote with my dollar; to get to know as many people as I can, whether we speak the same language or not; to simply say Hakuna Matata when life gets challenging – just to name a few. The biggest lesson I have taken with me is the traditional Tanzanian motto “pole pole,” with its incredible meaning to take life slowly, appreciate the in-between moments, and not be in such a rush all the time – a lesson that I truly needed to learn.

I will be recommending going on a volunteer trip with GIVE to anyone who is interested. Travelling with a purpose is one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, and with GIVE, you can ensure that this experience is safe, well-organized, and jam-packed full of adventure!

ASANTE SANA GIVE!