UVIKIUTA - Youth Development Program in Tanzania

This program was an excellent way to meet work camp participants from all over the world. It provided a very intense experience for participants because most of us were experiencing Africa for the first time so we were navigating through that as well as learning about how people from different cultures react to the experience. I would highly recommend UVIKIUTA to anyone, but it is important that they are mentally prepared for constant schedule changes. This is a cultural thing and I was glad that I was warned about it prior to my trip. The participants who were respectful to the organization and prepared for anything had a much better experience than those who were not. UVIKIUTA does an excellent job emphasizing that we are participating in an exchange, not coming to save those in poverty in a couple of weeks. I did feel like my work was worthwhile for the amount of time I was there, but some volunteers were frustrated with the cultural restrictions and did not feel useful. I believe that a short amount of time in a foreign country should be spent respecting the host organization, participating in everything they ask of you, and soaking up as much information as possible. With that attitude, you will have the time of your life. I truly felt like my volunteer experience was a microcosm of the world. Many of our group discussions were very intense and I felt like every minute of my trip was worthwhile, even though many parts of it were challenging.

In regards to living conditions, UVIKIUTA does a fantastic job. It was a communal living experience. There is some solar powered electricity, but not much. I always had access to clean water and I was well fed, even though there is not much variety in the food. I felt completely safe on the UVIKIUTA site.

My one issue with safety was that my ride did not meet me at the airport. I was a female traveling alone and arrived late at night. I was able to navigate my way to the site, but it was definitely a problem. I informed the organization and I hope that they have made that change. They are very good about collecting feedback at the end of the stay.

Also, do not expect easy internet access. I had to wait to let my friends and family know that I arrived safely. I wish I would have known this earlier.

Overall I had a fantastic experience at UVIKIUTA. The staff was helpful and I learned more than I could have ever expected.