St. Christopher’s very first community service trip to Tanzania took place in July 2009, where thirty six students had the opportunity to aid the local community as well as experience the beauty and culture of Africa.

We arrived in Tanzania exhausted and worn-out, but after a glimpse of the stunning foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, we couldn’t wait to get started.

The following day we travelled to the outskirts of Moshi, to a small village called Mabogini, where we were greeted by the beaming faces of the local children. During the four days that we spent there, we completed the foundations and peripheral cement work of a new primary school. This involved digging the foundations for the toilet block and loading this dug-up earth into hand-carts which we transported to the site of the main building. This was then used to fill the foundations before we were able to add a layer of rocks followed by a layer of cement. By the end of these four days, the foundations were complete, and ready for the building of the walls. The remaining work will be completed by adults and children from the village, as well as other schools.

During the time we spent in Mabogini, we were able to play with and talk to the children who will eventually benefit from the school. On the last day, as we walked around the village, set against the stunning backdrop of paddy fields and distant mountains, we gained a greater appreciation of the children’s lifestyles and what a large difference the school will make to their lives.

The school is to be called Juhudi, a Swahili word that reflects the immense efforts of both the local and international community in making this project possible. We recently received an email from Anthony Gikuri, who is part of the community development department of Moshi, who thanked us for our input into the project, and notified us that the construction of the school will soon be completed.

Another highlight of the trip was visiting an orphanage in Moshi, where we donated school shoes and clothing. During this touching visit, many of us were heartbroken and reluctant to leave after spending time playing with these adorable children.

To take a break from the manual labour of constructing the foundations of the school, we spent a day visiting the Marangu gate (the start of the track to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro) and a nearby waterfall which those of us who were brave enough jumped off. We also got a glimpse of the Tanzanian culture and lifestyle by enjoying a cultural evening at a local lodge and visiting a Massai village, where we had the opportunity to ask the Massai questions about their lifestyle, traditions and history.

During our ten day visit to Tanzania, we also found time to go on a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater National Park. Our difficulty with waking at 5am to set off on the safari was soon forgotten once we descended into the stunning crater; over the course of two days we managed to see a wide variety of exotic animals in the grasslands of the National Park.

The community service to Tanzania was an amazing opportunity to contribute to the wider community and experience a completely different culture, as well as witness the sheer happiness and warmth of a community who is less privileged than we are. This trip opened my eyes to a culture that I was previously completely ignorant of, and it has given me hundreds of memories that I will never forget.


By Andrea Sequeira