Tanzania Study-Service Term
Description
Flowers from the ylang ylang tree used for perfume
What does environmental justice look like in a nation that includes 60 million people as well as the prides of lions and herds of wildebeest that East Africa is famous for? This is an important theme for the Tanzania SST unit. Students will have many opportunities to witness the interplay between people and natural areas in this East African country where 38% of the land is protected. During a visit to the Serengeti National Park, students not only view wildlife; they also meet the park’s human neighbors and learn about community conservation efforts that take the needs of both humans and wildlife into consideration.
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Study
During these six weeks, students attend lectures at the University of Dar es Salaam and study Tanzanian culture and the language of Swahili at the Swahili and Culture Institute in Dar es Salaam. A look at the history of Tanzania highlights how the nation was developed with a focus on unity and peace in the culture. Students also study Tanzanian art and literature, especially concerning issues of nationalism and tourism, and natural science with a focus on Tanzania’s diverse wildlife population and issues of conservation and development.
A field trip to Serengeti National Park is a highlight, as are visits to Bagamoyo, an important slaving port in years past, and Zanzibar, an island off the east coast with a long history of spice trade. At Serengeti, the group looks at the ways communities around the park are affected by wildlife areas and eco-tourism.
Service
Assignments may include teaching at elementary and secondary schools, medical assistance, AIDS work, orphanages and agriculture or water development.