It’s poetic- almost as
if four years ago I knew Tanzania would be the place where I would begin and
end my journey with Children’s Global Alliance. But let me tell you I had no
expectation to be where I am today. Then, I didn’t have nearly enough self-confidence
to believe that I could accomplish all this. Looking back now, however, it
makes perfect sense. Each step I took may not have been with the intent to get
me back here, but they led me here anyway.
Trip by trip I grew;
there wasn’t a stark difference between the person I was before and after each
trip. Sometimes it was almost obscure. So obscure that often I was the only
person who understood how travelling and serving in Tanzania, Cambodia,
Morocco, and Nepal impacted my being. But self-awareness was all I needed; it
allowed me to continuously pursue my passions. Through each trip I have been
able to further develop myself which in turn allows me to give more to the kids
who deserve it most.
Being back where it all
started has allowed me to see how I am more confident, humbled, open, and eager
to see more of the world. But, Tanzania isn’t only a beginning and an ending.
It’s alive and full of people with stories worth sharing.
When I first came to
Tanzania I felt as if I could live here. This still holds true today. The
people here are genuine. They present their best selves daily; time and time
again I am taken aback when I see the homes that the students and staff come
from. You would never guess based on how they present themselves that these
people come from some of the poorest living conditions. Yet they still exude
happiness and greet you with open arms; I admire it.
I felt privileged to be
back at L.O.A.M.O School; tears welled at the corners of my eyes as I saw the
assembly commence on our first day. I had forgotten how beautiful it was to see
all of the students singing and marching in unison across the front lawn. I stood
there taking it all in; quietly smiling as I saw the children run to their
classes eager for the day to start and for the opportunity they have to get an education.
There are many children
in Tanzania without the financial means to attend school: full of potential but
lacking opportunity. At L.O.A.M.O School there is a figure that provides this
opportunity. Our group had the opportunity to meet her: Madame Maria, the
founder of L.O.A.M.O. School. Starting a school with three students out of her
home, today the school is 70 times larger and still resides on that same
property. As the number of Maria’s students gradually grew, her living room
became converted into a classroom. In turn, the kitchen was converted into a
living room and the kitchen was moved outside. Yet with each coming year Maria
and her husband, Loserian, accommodated more students. Student by student,
grade by grade, classroom by classroom, year by year the population of
L.O.A.M.O rose. Buildings were added. Eventually their home was torn down and
L.O.A.M.O. School was built to its full extent. It didn’t happen overnight; it
took hard work. Maria now provides an education for 210 students from Baby
Class to Class 7. Despite all this there are still students who would not be
able to afford L.O.A.M.O.’s tuition. But Maria is equally as compassionate as
she is driven. So, she waives or reduces the tuition of her students so they
can get a primary school education. Without Maria, L.O.A.M.O simply wouldn’t
exist. There are many schools in Arusha, but there is only one Maria who has
the purest intentions to educate deserving children. So thank you Madame Maria.
Not only do you selflessly run L.O.A.M.O., but you are an inspiration to those
who know your story.
Some of you may
remember Benard. Benard was a student in Class 4 when I first volunteered at
L.O.A.M.O. He was at the top of his class and simply at the school because of
Maria’s goodwill. Unknown to many was Benard’s home life situation. Adopted at
a young age by a middle class family Benard was treated as slave. Their excuse:
he owed it to them for his adoption and providing him with an expensive education.
They didn’t treat him like their child and he was attending L.O.A.M.O. for
free. Benard was in charge of all the household duties and slept in a shed
adjacent to the home. Children’s Global Alliance helped Benard escape this
situation in 2014, our first year in Tanzania. Skipping Class 7, Benard is now
being sponsored by many of you to attend Form 1, the name of secondary schools
in Tanzania. He is first in his class and excelling in every subject. Benard is
the perfect example of the harmony between potential and opportunity. For us,
Benard is a reminder. With all the odds stacked against him, Benard was able to
dig himself out of the hole he was born into. From it, he built a mountain.
Compared to these
children, all we Americans have is opportunity. Yet, somehow many of us choose
not to utilize it. We lack the desire. To this day, that is something I
struggle with. I have seen the eagerness kids across the world have to learn
and I have yet to match it. But I aspire to daily because I am aware of the
privilege I have to be able to attend a university with the potential to
continue past a four year degree. When it comes to learning, our opportunities
are limitless. I have a greater appreciation for the global value of education from
being inspired by students I have had the opportunity to teach. Because of them,
I pursue.
It was time to say
goodbye. This was just one of many; I felt fully prepared for what was about to
happen. I had gone through it so many times. It starts out on a high as the
kids arrive, thrilled with the décor and food for the party. As the party draws
out emotions begin to intermingle. A smile rests on your face, while your heart
strings are being plucked in agony: knowing that as each song comes to a close
so is the time with your students. As always, I slowly begin to distance
myself. Close my heart off just a little; convert the finality of goodbye into
an “until next time.” It makes it easier. I can be happy for what we were able
to accomplish, rather than filled with regret of the unknown. And that’s just how it went up until I let go
of one last hand and the buses pulled out of sight. This was goodbye; not just
to the students but to my time Children’s Global Alliance. My heart broke. I
still stood there smiling, but tears were streaming down my face. With so many
intermingled emotions, I could only wrap my head around that it was over. I was
saying goodbye to a journey where I had cultivated my foundation. But I will
carry it all with me: the stories, the lessons, the connections.
All I have left is to
say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to everyone who has
supported me throughout my years volunteering with Children’s Global Alliance.
Your love and support is what makes me feel at home whether it is in Vail or
across the world. Since June 10th, I have been able to share my
heart with people in Nepal, Cambodia, and Tanzania. I am now headed home ready
to share my stories with all of you.
