Tanzania - Maasai School & Women’s Empowerment (1-13 December 2025)
Project Overview:
We were here with an agency called Projects Abroad (which also set us up with Where Rainbows Meet in South Africa). Projects Abroad have four different volunteer programs in Tanzania – Maasai School; Women’s Empowerment; Medical Aid; and Human Rights. Sia, Anaya and I spent two weeks with the Maasai School, and Div spent the first week with us and the second week with the Women’s Empowerment group.
The Maasai School is approximately 90 minutes out of the nearest city of Arusha and into the Maasai lands. The school was started and built by Projects Abroad 13 years ago – and it is truly remarkable what they have accomplished in that time. The school provides a high quality and vibrant educational environment for over 100 children – who walk many miles from small tribal villages to attend each day.
We were assisting the teachers with teaching English and Maths, engaging with the children and creating educational resources and displays for them. We did a homestay for this project - staying with a local family in Arusha which was an amazing experience.
Key Insights:
In this project we felt really independent and that we were very quickly having to adapt to live like a local. Our commute is a good example – we would start by taking a tuk-tuk (three-wheeled auto-rickshaw) to a bus station. We would then board the “dalla-dalla” – which is essentially a minivan that crams as many people (and livestock) in as possible – and once that had reached critical mass, ride that for about an hour to a small truck stop. Then we would wait for a jeep to come and take us to school – often picking up children and teachers who were commuting on our way. The journey was often exhausting and uncomfortable, but also great fun and led to many random encounters (including a herd of goats being tucked under our seats on the dalla-dalla!) and our Swahili improved quickly. It was really grounding to be able to pierce beneath the surface-level of the tourist experience, and I felt we were able to better appreciate the heart and soul of the culture and the lived reality of the people.
We forged deep relationships with the teachers, students and other volunteers whilst we were here. We visited their local tribes, and witnessed so many rites of passage – visiting Teacher Richard’s new-born baby son; helping prepare for Joceyln’s confirmation (graduation) ceremony; and going to console one of the student’s whose mother had passed away. We are deeply grateful for being allowed in and given the opportunity to experience the way in which the Maasai and local people honour these events.
My biggest highlight of our time in Tanzania (and probably of our entire time in Africa) was seeing the transformation in Div as she worked with the Women’s Empowerment group. It was as though the last four months had prepared her to really step into her power and provide support, guidance and inspiration to the group. Whilst we were at school she was leading sessions and workshops with local women that encompassed a wide array of subjects from physical health, stigmatism, business management, mental health, finances, relationships and education. She would come back from each day exhausted and fulfilled. It was wonderful to see her shred her self-limiting beliefs and give as unconditionally as possible – and the results and connections she created are still with her today.
What our day looked like
From Monday to Friday we would wake up and have breakfast by 7:30am. We would then begin our commute – taking the tuk-tuk to the dalla-dalla to the jeep to the school – which would take around 2 hours.
We would teach from 10am-1pm, and then prepare lessons and create resources from 2pm-4pm, before beginning the commute back home.
On the weekend, we went to go to the Tanzanite Experience because we wanted to look at some of the artwork. We ended up in conversation with the owners of the chain, who were curious about our trip, and who then showed us their philanthropic efforts – which included building an incredible structure to house the Jane Goodall Education Centre in Arusha. They were gracious enough to allow us to have a tour of the construction by the lead architect, and it will be so impressive when complete.
We also took a day trip to the nearby town of Moshi – and visited the Chaga people (who live on Mt Kilimanjaro), made some coffee with them, swam in some waterfalls and visited a gorgeous natural hot spring for more wild swimming. It was a magic day, and great to experience some of the natural beauty of Tanzania.
Who we met
Teacher Richard – I have never seen a teacher with so much energy in the classroom. The singing was almost deafening at times – but the children in his class had a better grasp of fundamentals of maths and English than I had seen elsewhere in Africa. It was really special going to his village and meeting his family.
Teacher Tereza – been with the school since its foundation, joined with Teacher Happy. Tereza is a funny and kind teacher who teaches the oldest children in the school. The school gets amazing outcomes for the pupils – who go on to good secondary schools. During our visit to one of the villages we bumped into a former pupil who went to Maasai school when it first opened, and is now 18 and going to college – which was previously unheard of for a girl from a Maasai village.
Teacher Happy – A founding teacher, and so calm and thoughtful. Always welcomed us each day with a big smile and helped us learn Swahili, and would always help us understand local culture and customs. A great teacher, Div and the girls were volunteering in her class throughout and she was great at embracing new methods – including morning Yoga!
Mama Chilalla – the matriarch of our host family. We felt so lucky to be in her house, she was so hospitable and cooked for us every day. She was excited to engage in conversation with the volunteers, and the way she opened up her home and her family to us was really special. She has two daughters who are the same age as Sia and Anaya, and they would look forward to playing together in the evenings. We will really miss the family.
Michael Bell – A fellow volunteer who was at Mama Chilalla’s house with us. Michael is an impressive 19 year-old, who had come to Africa for the first time (solo) as part of his gap year before pursuing his undergraduate degree. He also climbed Mt Kilimanjaro whilst here with seemingly little training beforehand - a testament to his mindset. A gentle giant, Michael has a really positive attitude and is humble, fun, intelligent and open minded.
Mahsa - We met Mahsa at Mama Chilalla’s house. She had volunteered at the Masaai school a year before, and had fallen in love with the people and Tanzania that she is now moving here! Mahsa is bright and bubbly, and it was vey cool to see how she was settling in moving from Italy. I’m fascinated by people who feel a calling so strongly that they are willing to uproot their life to follow it.
