The Maji Safi Project

Going into my trip this summer, I was hesitant to be put in a situation that was so unfamiliar to me. I had only been out of the country once before, and as excited and passionate I was about the volunteer work and cultural immersion I knew would be on my Rustic trip, I was nervous to fly to another country and spend almost three weeks there. As soon as I got to JFK and met the other people on my program and the Rustic travel leaders, all my fears went away. Everyone was kind and welcoming, and the other kids were just as passionate as I was about our Critical Issues program.

Once in Tanzania we worked with a local organization, The Maji Safi Group, to build arborloo toilets and learn about the global water crisis. Beyond this volunteer work, the trip completely immersed us in the culture in Tanzania. We got the chance to do a homestay with one of the workers at The Maji Safi Group, and I loved spending the day helping with chores, cooking, playing games and dancing, and just getting to know the family. Our afternoons were filled with fun after a morning of service, and we went to several different schools where we played with the kids. I gained a basic understanding of the complex water crisis in Tanzania, what was being done to combat it, and more specifics about WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and disease prevention.

This trip motivated me to continue learning and taking action once I got home. All the proceeds I make from selling clothes and other items on an app called Depop go to The Maji Safi Group, and I also hope to continue fundraising at my school. I’ve already brought my experience back to my school, where as the president of a popular club I’m planning discussions around the water crisis, and specifically what The Maji Safi Group is working on.

My trip would not have been as amazing as it was without the people I met along the way. The Maji Safi Group and other organizations we got a chance to work with were so welcoming and inspired me to continue my learning and work when I got home. By the end of the trip, I felt as close to our program leaders as I did to the other kids on the trip, and they were always there to make the trip as amazing of an experience as possible for us and make sure we were safe. Most importantly, the other people on the program were hardworking and it was obvious how much they cared about the work and learning we were doing. I keep in touch with them, and consider some of them to be some of my best friends. As cheesy as it sounds, this trip was truly life changing.