Laura is a medical student with the ambition of working in international cooperation. Her experience with BTL is the beginning of this dream.
Why did you choose this program?
The time had come when I decided to join an NGO to spend a month of my summer holidays away. I didn't choose Born to Learn because of the destination - I really didn't care about the place, as help is needed in many places around the world.
The reason I chose BTL was the warm atmosphere it transmitted to me from the beginning. I liked the fact that it was a small NGO run mostly by students. I heard the stories of a few volunteers from past years and I couldn't resist. Eventually it felt right to join BTL.
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
I want to use this opportunity to thank our program coordinators (volunteers from past years who were also going this summer) who helped us before going and once we were there. In addition, there were also coordinators within the groups (made up of 4 volunteers per class).
We had meetings before our trip where everything was very clearly explained.
What I had to do was to look for a flight, get a health insurance, get vaccinated and prepare material to take with me (school material, clothes, medical material etc).
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Make the most of the experience. Use up every minute because when you come back you will wish you had more time.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
We wake up at 7-7:30 am and have an amazing breakfast. At 8 we go to the school in dala-dala (always a funny ride). We take turns with the volunteers of our group to go to class or construction.
We eat in the school and in the afternoon we are free to wander though the city of Moshi, go back to the hostel to rest, play volleyball or take a swim in the pool. You can also stay at the school for extracurricular activities such as football or art classes.
In the evening we have group meetings to prepare for the next day (classes, games etc). Many weekends there are organized trips, for example this year we went to Materuni falls, we spent a weekend in the jungle in Chome nature reserve and we went on a safari!!
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?
I think we all have in common the fear of insecurity. I fully trusted BTL and I knew they would take care of us. Once you get to know locals you realize it is a safer place than you thought. None of us had any problem in that sense. I was also afraid of not being strong enough to handle difficult situations.
Working at a school means working with children and children are the most happy and innocent people in the planet, no matter which country you are in.
But then you hear their stories and it is inevitable to suffer for them but this is part of the experience. You learn a lot from them and their strength makes you stronger.
