Women's Empowerment Project - Volunteer in Tanzania

In terms of advice, there is really only one. After a very short while in Africa, you hear the expression ‘TIA’, meaning, “This Is Africa” – things do not happen to any western schedule, time is a moveable feast and anything can and regularly does happen in its own timeframe, so flexibility and enjoying all the new experiences is key.

A typical morning for me at GHTA would involve teaching a group of 15-20 women some very simple and basic business skills. How to set-up and run a small business, and the challenges, rewards and problems they may typically encounter.

The afternoon would often be taken up with coaching and helping students with their homework or the assignments set during the morning.

An evening meal was often followed by preparation for the next day. A beer or two in town would sometimes follow.

My biggest shock was one afternoon when we were involved in a vocation class and we asked the women to paint some pieces of wood. Not one of the women had ever held a paintbrush and they had no idea of how to apply and paint on a piece of wood. The event was incredibly humbling and it made me realise how much we take for granted.

In terms of what people might like to know about volunteering and the project at GHTA, I would say most emphatically that you will leave Africa with the knowledge you have been given and experienced more than you were possibly able to give to the students.

They arrive every morning, full of enthusiasm and determination to learn and improve their lives and very little dampens their spirit. During visits to the homes of our students, we were treated with a welcome that you rarely experience at home.

The best stories that I have heard from return students are that most of the women have gotten new skills and the improvement of their English level is great, and also self-confidence that makes them achieve and grow their small business through the subject that they learn from our Organisation.

The students get a chance to meet different culture through our volunteers who have professional skills in different things, which most of the women benefit from.

Graduate program. Give A Heart to Africa offers a chance to the graduates to come back to school to share and learn through each other, though sometimes we get teachers and volunteers to teach the women and learn what they wish to learn more in their improvement of business, language or any other skill.

Give A Heart to Africa offer free education to women who are in need of help through four subjects: English, Business, Vocational skills and Math for one year.

Upon completion, students receive a certificate. The Organisation offers women to come with their young children to school and take care of the children until their mother finishes the study hours - that makes my company unique because, when the student gets to class, they don't have to worry about their kids.

The school hours are very convenient for the women because it's only three hours and 4 days of the week that need the student to be in the class for the study.

I believe that, through the hard-working team, management and volunteers that Give A Heart to Africa has, my Organisation is successful because of its quality and unique education to society is bringing the change and perspective to the women in Tanzania.

Most of the women who have been through our program have changed their lives because of the knowledge, skills, and confidence that the organisation builds into their small business.