Volunteering Experience in Tanzanya

Week 1

During my first days here, we started by preparing bags together. We worked efficiently as a team and finished quite quickly. These bags were prepared for an orphan camp, and the children there were incredibly sweet and heartwarming. In the following days, my counseling process at the school officially began. We started by helping with cleaning duties. Here, tasks such as pre-school cleaning, organizing the library, and arranging the storage room were usually handled by the teachers. Noticing this, my friends and I also got involved, started contributing, and became part of the process. After that, we began working on organizing our annual plans.

In between, we also went out to explore. We visited Paje and a few other places. The locals were extremely kind, welcoming, and always smiling. At the same time, there were various activities on campus as well. We had performances and farewell programs, which created a very lively and emotional atmosphere.

We spent quality time with visiting guests, and in the evenings, we played games and had long, enjoyable conversations. From the very first week, I met genuinely wonderful people, and these connections made the entire experience even more meaningful.

Week 2

The second week went much better than I had expected. We started attending classes, and during the first few days we joined as assistant teachers. Spending time with the students was extremely enjoyable and fun. Especially the Nursery 1–2 classes were very pleasant, as working with younger age groups was incredibly engaging.

All of the students constantly expressed their affection. This surprised me a lot at first, because I think that in city life the respect and affection shown toward teachers has decreased to some extent. Receiving so much love from the children made me very happy. They would constantly come to hug and kiss me. In addition to this, because they value teachers so much, they try to show their respect in many ways: after meals, they attempt to collect the teacher’s plate; when entering the classroom, they try to bring my slippers; and when leaving, they even tried to help me put my slippers on. This level of care truly shocked me on the first day.

On the following days, playing games with them and accompanying them during lessons made me feel very good. They are very intelligent and eager to learn. They are also highly talented: some of them dance very well, some have beautiful voices, and some are very skilled in certain areas. I am sure that with proper guidance, they can develop their abilities much further.

Over the weekend, I had different responsibilities. On Saturday, we visited children in their homes. Their families were very hospitable and kind-hearted.

On Sunday, we went to an orphanage to distribute sanitary bags. We prepared these bags together every evening, and in total we distributed them to 500 children. Afterwards, we organized a meeting to discuss how local women could develop their businesses. Some local women try to earn a living by selling products to tourists. We held a discussion on how they could grow their businesses further and how they could manage marketing and budgeting more effectively.

Overall, this week was full, intense, and deeply fulfilling. Being part of the classes, spending time with the children, and providing counseling sessions for them felt both meaningful and rewarding. It was a week that strengthened my motivation and reminded me why I value this work so deeply.

Week 3

This week, we started learning Swahili lessons with Tina teacher. At the beginning, I found it quite challenging, as most of the people in the class had already been here for a few months and were more familiar with the language, especially in terms of understanding and pronunciation. However, over time, these lessons became much more enjoyable for me. Being able to practice with locals has helped me improve quickly, and since people here are very warm and friendly, I also get to learn new words naturally while communicating with them.

At the same time, I continued attending classes at school. The lessons are always very enjoyable, and the students are incredibly kind and positive, which makes the teaching experience even more meaningful. This week, I also joined madrasa classes. I was truly impressed by the students’ memorization skills; they were able to recite the Qur’an beautifully and in harmony as a group, which was a very special experience to witness.

Outside of my responsibilities at school, I try to make the most of my weekends. This weekend, we went on a safari, and it was truly one of the most unique and unforgettable experiences of my life. It was full of excitement and awe. Seeing animals like elephants, zebras, and giraffes, animals we usually only watch in documentaries, so closely was absolutely incredible.

But more than anything, being so close to lions was an extraordinary moment. At one point, lions walked right next to our safari vehicle. During that first encounter, we all held our breath and watched them in complete silence. It was both thrilling and surreal. After some time, we became more comfortable and realized that as long as we remained calm and respectful, they would not harm us.

Experiencing a safari in such an authentic way was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me, one of the most unforgettable and fascinating experiences I have ever had.

Week 4

During this week, I continued teaching additional classes, including English, Mathematics, and Turkish. In addition to these, I also took part in Science and Technology, as well as Counseling lessons. Throughout the week, I was actively involved in English, Science, Library, and Counseling sessions.

In the Science class, we covered key topics and encouraged students to think critically and participate actively. In English lessons, we focused on learning comparative structures, helping students practice and apply them in different contexts.

In Counseling sessions, we addressed the topics of adolescence and bullying. After discussing bullying, we observed a very positive change in the classroom environment. Students who previously engaged in bullying behaviors began to recognize that such actions are disrespectful and started reminding each other to behave more kindly. This shift was very meaningful and encouraging for us.

Regarding adolescence, students gained a deeper understanding of this developmental stage. We discussed common misconceptions and provided accurate information, while also offering emotional support. We held separate discussions with girls and boys, focusing on the challenges they may face during this period. These sessions created a safe space where students could express themselves openly, and together we worked on possible solutions to their concerns.

In addition to our school program, we also took part in organizing a large-scale orphan iftar event for around 1,000 children. We prepared holiday clothes to distribute to them. The iftar day was incredibly joyful and meaningful. There were many activities organized throughout the event. The children were very happy to receive their holiday clothes, and witnessing their happiness was truly priceless. We played games, organized performances, and shared the iftar meal together, creating a memorable and heartwarming experience for everyone involved.

Week 5

This week, schools were closed due to the Eid holiday, so our students were at home. During this period, teachers focused on organizing and attending workshops, as well as taking responsibility for cleaning and organizing the school environment. At the beginning of the week, we dedicated our time to cleaning the school and arranging the classrooms, ensuring that everything was well-organized and ready for the upcoming term.

In the following days, we participated in several workshops. One of the main workshops was focused on the use of AI in education. We explored how AI can be used to improve lesson content, create exams, and increase student engagement. In addition, we attended workshops related to teaching English and the effective use of a specialized educational platform.

While we spent our days at school engaged in these activities, our evenings were equally active. Every evening, we went to Kanga Village to distribute iftar meals to the local community. The atmosphere during these events was incredibly warm and meaningful. Before the meal distribution, we spent time playing games with the children, creating a joyful environment. On some evenings, the Sufi band prepared performances, and we had the chance to listen to their beautiful musical presentations. Afterward, we helped with the preparation and distribution of the meals.

At night, we continued working by organizing and packaging supplies. This included both food packaging and preparing holiday clothing packages. As Eid approached, we also prepared special gift boxes for the children. These boxes included sweets, cookies, toys, stationery items, balloons, and various small gifts.

Finally, the day of Eid arrived. It was a very lively and joyful day from morning until evening. We started the day with a festive breakfast, and then our celebration activities began. The Sufi band performed the music they had prepared for us, adding a special atmosphere to the day. Throughout the day, we danced, sang songs, and celebrated together with everyone. We also distributed all the prepared gifts to the children, which made the day even more meaningful. Overall, it was a very full, active, and heartwarming week, filled with meaningful experiences, collaboration, and joy.

Week 12

This week, schools were closed, so teachers participated in a variety of workshops. For volunteers, it was also a week full of learning, as we had training sessions with different departments within the NGO. In the mornings, we learned about the SIRI department, and in the afternoons, we received training in social media and digital communication.

Before this week, I had never heard of SIRI. I learned that SIRI is a department that focuses on sustainability, innovation, research, and impact within an NGO. Its role includes ensuring the long-term sustainability of projects, developing new project ideas, conducting needs assessments and research, preparing project proposals and grant applications, and measuring and reporting the social impact of projects. In short, I discovered how important this department is in supporting project development, strategic planning, research, and impact assessment, helping an organization create more effective and sustainable initiatives.

Throughout the week, we worked on a project that the SIRI team is currently focusing on. The organization would like to recruit new volunteer teachers for the school programme and plans to establish partnerships with universities to achieve this goal. To support this initiative, we conducted a needs assessment to identify the most effective way to build these collaborations. We interviewed local teachers, identified the areas of need, and then began our research. We created a list of potential partner universities and established selection criteria. Afterwards, we prepared detailed documents and spreadsheets that included information about university departments, internship programmes, and the support opportunities offered to students. This work will provide the team with a solid foundation for developing future partnerships and recruiting motivated volunteers.

In the social media department, we first learned about the importance of using social media effectively and strategically. We received training on topics such as colour theory, increasing engagement and views, and using hooks to capture the audience's attention. Later, we explored how to create effective reels and design successful campaigns for an NGO.

Throughout the week, we also produced different types of content for the NGO's social media platforms, putting our new knowledge into practice. Overall, it was a very productive and inspiring week. It gave me the opportunity to learn about areas of NGO work that I had never explored before and allowed me to contribute to projects that can have a long-term impact on the organisation and its community.

Week 6

This week, schools reopened after the holiday break, and we were all feeling very happy and energetic. I had really missed the children, so we spent the first days catching up and reconnecting. We shared what we did during the holiday and organized our lesson plans.

In my Leap Learning and counseling lessons, I focused on emotions and exam anxiety this week. During the emotions lessons, we mainly explored where students feel their emotions in their bodies, when they should start managing them, and how they can cope effectively. With the younger age groups, we played games to help them understand how they react emotionally in different situations. I aimed to support them in recognizing their feelings better and accepting all emotions as natural and valid.

Later in the week, one of my students invited me to her older sister’s wedding, and of course, I attended. It was quite different from the culture I am used to. The bride seemed very serious, but I learned that this is actually normal in their culture. After a while, the other women invited me to join them, and we danced together. It was such a joyful experience to witness the wedding. We also had various activities with the students. For example, this week we played games at the beach, and later I even went swimming in the sea with some of them. Spending time together outside of school really helps strengthen our bond.

After that, it was the Easter holiday. I went to Jambiani with my friends here for a short break. It was a wonderful experience, and I returned to campus feeling well-rested. Overall, it was a very full and enjoyable week for me.

Week 7

This week, we took part in another tree-planting activity as part of the sustainability initiatives. We visited different schools and continued planting tree seedlings to help create greener and more sustainable environments. Before beginning the activity, we introduced ourselves and talked to the students about the importance of protecting nature and caring for the environment. We then demonstrated how to plant the seedlings properly, explained how to take care of them, and discussed the conditions they need to grow healthy and strong. It was encouraging to see how interested and enthusiastic the students were, and I hope these small efforts will inspire them to develop lifelong environmental awareness.

Alongside these activities, I continued creating content for the school's social media platforms. Throughout the week, I produced and edited several reels highlighting school life, student activities, and ongoing projects. It has been rewarding to contribute to increasing the school's visibility while also sharing our daily experiences with supporters and the wider community.

I also continued preparing our volleyball team for upcoming tournaments. Working with this group is always one of the highlights of my week. The students are incredibly motivated, hardworking, and talented. What impresses me most is not only their athletic ability but also their teamwork, resilience, and willingness to solve problems together. They approach every training session with enthusiasm, encourage one another, and never give up when faced with challenges. Watching them grow both as players and as a team continues to inspire me.

This week, I also had the opportunity to spend time again with the Nursery One class. It had been a while since I had last joined their lessons, and I was surprised by how much they had grown and developed. It was wonderful to see the progress they had made, both academically and socially. Their increasing confidence, independence, and communication skills reminded me how quickly young children develop when they are supported in a nurturing learning environment.

Alongside all of these activities, I continued teaching my regular English, Mathematics, and counselling lessons as usual. Every week brings a different combination of learning, teaching, and community engagement, making this volunteering experience both meaningful and continually enriching.

Week 8

This week, I continued conducting play therapy sessions with one of my students. Each session allows me to observe the child's emotional world a little more closely, and it is fascinating to see how new themes gradually emerge through play and creative expression. During one session, a drawing created by my student particularly caught my attention. Rather than focusing on the drawing itself, I found it meaningful to observe the emotions, recurring themes, and symbolic expressions that naturally appeared throughout the activity. Experiences like these remind me that children often communicate thoughts and feelings through play and art in ways they cannot yet express verbally. At the same time, I am constantly reminded of the importance of remaining patient, observing carefully, and avoiding premature interpretations. Building a trusting therapeutic relationship takes time, and every session provides another opportunity to better understand the child's needs while offering a safe and supportive environment for emotional expression.

I also spent a great deal of time with the Nursery class this week. I have to admit that this was one of the most challenging weeks with them. Since their regular teacher was away, establishing routines and maintaining classroom management with such young children required a great deal of energy, flexibility, and creativity. I quickly realised that working with early childhood students means constantly adapting to their attention span and developmental needs. Every few minutes, I needed to introduce a new activity, movement game, or interactive task to keep them engaged. Even simple transitions, such as gathering everyone together or moving from one activity to another, often required songs, rhythm games, or playful routines to regain their attention. It was certainly demanding, but it also gave me valuable experience in early childhood classroom management and reminded me how important creativity is when working with young learners.

In my Turkish lessons, I have also been experimenting with new teaching techniques. My goal is to make every lesson enjoyable, interactive, and memorable rather than relying on traditional instruction. I try to incorporate educational games, team competitions, movement-based activities, and plenty of humour into each lesson. The students especially enjoy friendly competitions, and laughter has become a regular part of our classroom.

Seeing them actively participate, encourage one another, and become more confident in using a new language motivates me to continue designing lessons that are both educational and engaging. Overall, this week challenged me in different ways, both as a counsellor and as a teacher. From observing meaningful moments during play therapy to discovering creative ways to engage young learners, each experience reminded me that working with children requires patience, adaptability, and continuous learning. These small everyday moments continue to shape me both personally and professionally.

Week 9

This week was quite different from the others because I became ill and had to spend two days in the hospital. When I returned to Assalam, I received the warmest welcome. It made me realise even more that Assalam has truly become my second family. Everyone was checking on me, asking how I was feeling, and trying to help in any way they could. People sent food to my room and constantly made sure that I was resting and recovering well. Their genuine care, kindness, and sincerity were more healing than anything else. In that moment, I realised how deeply connected I have become to this place and the people here.

One of the best parts of this week was the volleyball tournament. We had so much fun together. We practised regularly with the children, celebrated our hard work with ice cream, and enjoyed every moment of the experience. I had been preparing the volleyball team for this tournament for quite a long time, so seeing their progress firsthand brought me immense joy. They worked with remarkable discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Watching their confidence grow both on and off the court was incredibly rewarding. Being their volleyball coach has become one of the most meaningful and memorable parts of my volunteering journey.

Another significant experience this week was conducting a play therapy session with one of the Nursery One students. The student has been experiencing difficulties with classroom adjustment and has displayed behaviours such as aggression, emotional dysregulation, and challenges in peer interactions. The child is also noticeably smaller and physically weaker than their peers, which may contribute to some of the difficulties experienced in the classroom environment.

During the play therapy session, one behaviour particularly stood out to me. The child repeatedly handed me a baby doll and insisted that I feed and take care of it. In play therapy, symbolic play often provides valuable insights into a child's inner world, emotional needs, and relational experiences. However, one of the most important principles of this therapeutic approach is to avoid making assumptions or interpretations without understanding the child's life story and broader context. Children's play can have many different meanings, and careful observation, patience, and consistency are essential.

Throughout the session, the child also demonstrated several recurring behavioural patterns that may offer important information over time. At this stage, my focus is on building a trusting therapeutic relationship, providing a safe and accepting environment, and observing the child's themes in play without judgment. I hope that, through continued support and therapeutic intervention, this process will gradually help the child feel more secure, understood, and emotionally regulated.

Although this week began with illness, it ended with moments that reminded me why this experience is so meaningful to me, the kindness of my Assalam family, the joy of celebrating my students' achievements, and the privilege of supporting children through both education and emotional development.

Week 10

This week, I continued teaching my regular classes while also preparing our students for the upcoming chess tournament. Alongside our lessons, we spent time practising different strategies, solving chess puzzles, and improving their decision-making skills. It was exciting to watch their confidence grow with every practice session. One of the things I enjoy most about working with the children here is how eager they are to learn. Whenever I teach them something new, I can see the results almost immediately. Their curiosity, motivation, and willingness to improve make every lesson both enjoyable and rewarding.

In addition to our academic activities, we spent much of the week preparing for African Child Day, one of the most exciting celebrations at the school. The students had been practising for weeks, and it was wonderful to see all of their hard work come together. The event celebrated not only children but also their creativity, confidence, and unique talents. The performances were incredibly diverse, and every child had the opportunity to shine in their own way. Some students amazed the audience with impressive gymnastics performances that reflected their strength, flexibility, and dedication. Others performed beautiful pieces on the piano, while some confidently played the electric guitar. We also enjoyed drama performances, cultural presentations, dance shows, poetry, and many other creative acts. It was inspiring to see how each student expressed themselves differently and how proud they were to share their talents with the community.

I was also fortunate to take part in the celebration by singing a song together with my students. Standing on the stage with them was a memorable experience. Seeing their excitement, hearing the audience's encouragement, and sharing that special moment together reminded me that education is about much more than academic learning. It is also about helping children build confidence, discover their strengths, and create lasting memories.

Events like African Child Day highlight the importance of providing children with opportunities to express themselves beyond the classroom. Watching them support one another, celebrate each other's achievements, and perform with such enthusiasm was truly inspiring. It was a joyful week filled with learning, teamwork, creativity, and unforgettable moments that I will always remember.

Week 11

This week was exam week at school, and it was also the last week before the students' holiday. The children were both excited and stressed at the same time. I spent a lot of time preparing different exams and activities for my classes. Seeing my students achieve such good results made me incredibly happy and proud of them. They worked very hard and truly deserved their success.

We also had students preparing for their national examinations, and they were studying even harder than everyone else. I wanted to do something small to encourage them, so I brought apples for them as a little treat and a reminder to take care of themselves during this stressful period. Their smiles and appreciation made me very happy. Our students are genuinely hardworking, determined, and incredibly intelligent, and it is inspiring to watch them pursue their goals with such dedication.

Outside of school, this week I also attended another wedding, and it was a wonderful experience. Every wedding I have been to here has been completely different from the others. Each one has its own traditions, music, and atmosphere. With every celebration, I learn new traditional dances, songs, and customs, which makes me feel even more connected to the local culture and community.

At the same time, I have continued my work in the school's social media team. I regularly try to create content to share what is happening at the school, what the children are learning, and the new developments taking place. My goal is both to keep our donors informed and to increase the visibility of the school on social media. This week's task was to prepare a music video and create reels for different competitions and activities. I spent time filming different moments, editing videos, and creating engaging content that could capture the spirit of our school and the energy of our students.

I also continued teaching English and Mathematics throughout the week. During our counselling lessons, we focused on topics such as self-confidence and coping with stress, which felt especially relevant during exam week. We discussed different ways of dealing with pressure and anxiety and played a variety of games and interactive activities to help students express their feelings and build confidence in themselves. It was wonderful to see them participate actively, support one another, and realise that they are capable of overcoming challenges.

Although it was a busy and demanding week, it was also full of meaningful moments. Watching my students work hard, celebrate their achievements, and support each other reminded me once again why I enjoy being here so much. Every week brings new experiences, new lessons, and new reasons to be grateful for this journey.

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Fatma Sümeyye Şahin

Çengelköy, Kalantor Sk. No:6 Üsküdar/İstanbul

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