Why Tanzania?

And I say why not?

"Work with people who aren't like you, especially folks who've had fewer opportunities than you. They will enrich your life and put the world in perspective. Most important, never turn down an opportunity. There's always going to be a reason to say no: You don't have the right clothes, the right experience, the right connections. Learn to say yes anyway." 
– Cecile Richards 

And there you have it! I'll be taking a 28 hour flight from San Francisco to Dar es Salaam on May 1, 2013 for the month of May to volunteer with Art in Tanzania. Based primarily in 'Dar', Tanzania's largest seaport city, my days will be divided into pro bono graphic design work for Fiesta Magazine and teaching at a local nursery school. Although weekend trips to Zanzibar and Selous Reserve are on my agenda, I find leaving my options open often invite the most wonderful and unexpected opportunities. I can't wait for my adventure to unfold!

Art in Tanzania (AIT) is a Finnish/Tanzanian NGO registered in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Finland and Ethiopia. The organization started in 2001 to support local artists who did not have the resources to develop their talent. Over the course of a year, AIT receives over 1,000 volunteers and interns from around the world who are placed in community projects such as education (nursery, primary, and secondary), culture (art, music, magazines), and health (HIV awareness, first aid). The organization works across Tanzania, including Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Masai Land. 

In addition, AIT is part of the UNICEF Children Agenda and utilizes volunteers to assist with the program management and implementation. The Children Agenda (CA) is a coalition of organizations, government and other partners who are committed to child rights in Tanzania. 

The Top Ten Investments include:

1. Invest to Save the Lives of the Children and Women
2. Invest in Good Nutrition
3. Invest in Better Hygiene and Sanitation in Schools and Health Facilities
4. Invest in Early Childhood Development
5. Invest in Quality Education for All Children
6. Invest to Make Schools Safe
7. Invest to Protect Infants and Adolescent Girls from HIV
8. Invest to Reduce Teenage Pregnancy
9. Invest to Protect Children from Violence, Abuse, and Exploitation
10. Invest to Children Disabilities

And... a small treat for the kids, 

some custom Kim stickers!

Jungle Amigos by Bebe Bilingual and whimsical California fairies who traveled all the way from San Francisco to bring good luck and happiness.

What's an NGO? 

A non-governmental organization (NGO), such as The International Red Cross, is an organization that is not part of a government and was not founded by states. NGOs are usually non-profit organizations that gain a portion or all of their funding from private sources. Art in Tanzania gets all its funds from volunteers, interns and private sources. These fees fund the organization’s long term projects which include for example the building of the Bagamoyo Youth Centre, Madala HIV/Aids Clinic and a nursery and primary school in Masai Land.