When people talk about travelling to Africa to volunteer or intern, images of impoverished communities that need help is often an image that is conjured. After spending any amount of time with these communities though, any one will tell you that yes, there are many ways in which we can work with them to enrich and empower them, but what we take away from our time as volunteers and interns is just as valuable.
Interns for the Happy Africa Foundation, situated throughout Africa in Zanzibar, Moshi, Livingstone and Cape Town came together to discuss what they had learned from their local communities. It turns out they will all be taking so much home with them!
Ranging from practical things, like how nothing is wasted and how creative the communities are with recycling and reusing everything, to culture and life lessons, it seems there is not a part of them that will remain unchanged.
Vicky, our Livingstone intern, described how the community she lives in are so proud of their culture that they are always sharing and teaching what they know to the volunteers who arrive and this love of sharing is something that will stay with her. Moshi intern Zoe echoed this, and will hold the sense of community and belonging, with everyone helping each other, close to her heart when she returns home.
Over the coming weeks we will be sharing more of what our interns have learned with you here and on our Facebook page, look out for our updates and let us know what you have gained from your time in Africa.
Topic 1 – Recycle and Reuse
“Nothing will ever go to waste, you will find plant pots made out of tin cans, ropes made out of coconut skins and even bricks made from plastic bottles filled with rubbish which are being used to build walls! Creativity is key, in Livingstone you will find a room full of cables and plastic just waiting to be reused!”
Topic 2 – Community
“Back home everyone sits inside and watches the television, but here, life is their soap opera. People sit outside their homes and interact with each other, saying hello to passers-by and looking out for others. Doing good and helping others is just part of their lives, and this sense of community is something I want to take back with me when I go home.”
Topic 3 – Pace of life/living in present/one day at a time
“If something doesn’t go to plan, rather than stress out or feel disappointed, we have learned to just ‘make a plan’. Live in the present and then a plan can be made to find another way or someone else to help. Also known as the ‘pole pole’ (slowly slowly) lifestyle, there is always time to smile and chat, no time for worries, things will get done in their own time.”
Topic 4 – Everything is a celebration
“From enthusiasm to share their culture and language, to dancing, singing and laughing, it’s almost impossible to walk in to the communities we are working in without learning something new or celebrating life along with them. Things aren’t always easy, but here that is no reason not to smile.”