Youth trip 2019

In 2019 we organized another youth trip to Tanzania. The following participants have been on this impressive journey:

  • Cindy Tilleman
  • Evy ten Broeke
  • Fleur van Dinteren
  • Kelsey Knuiman
  • Mayke Penraat
  • Leanne Beerkens
  • Nienke Latta
  • Selena Peters
  • Svea van der Lienden
  • Marjolijn van Dinteren

Selena Peters

Jambo, my name is Selena Peters, Technical Medicine student, and in 2019 I went on an adventure to Tanzania. Every year at primary school I collected money for MOV through a sponsored walk and heard the impressive stories about the youth trips to Tanzania. It was a dream for me to one day be able to join this youth trip and see all the beautiful and impressive things of Tanzania. In 2019 this dream came true, and it is the most impressive journey I have ever made. We saw and did a lot during the trip, but the most important thing is that I was able to learn a lot from the Tanzanian culture and Tanzanian students. We have visited a number of primary and secondary schools. What struck me is that there is a lot of structure and that the students treat the teachers with respect. Where in the Netherlands we all have our own table with chair and our own books and notebooks, the students in Tanzania have to share everything with each other. We were allowed to join the lessons at a secondary school for a morning, and even here the students made sure to hand over notebooks and pens to us so that we could participate. There is an enormous contrast between hospitals in the Netherlands and in Tanzania. Patients must provide their own food, drink and sheets. We were shown around a hospital by medical students from Nijmegen and they told a story about how they only had one bag of blood left for a blood transfusion, but two sick children who both desperately needed this blood. This situation would never occur in the Netherlands. It is difficult for the attending physician to make a choice at such a time. Despite the fact that hospitals often have little money, we were always welcomed openly and something to drink was always arranged for us. This shows how hospitable the people in Tanzania are. My favorite moment of the trip was fetching water together with Tanzanian students in Chabalisa. We started by folding a hat out of banana leaves (something I didn’t do well at all) and then, with an empty bucket on our heads, we went past residents’ huts through the banana tree fields to a stream. During the walking tour you get to see the real Africa. You just fall silent when you see the conditions in which these people have to live. We returned with full buckets. Balancing a full bucket on your head is incredibly awkward and heavy, and it’s just hard to imagine having to do this every day. It is very impressive to see the conditions under which the people in Tanzania have to live, but that they always keep smiling and singing and that they welcome everyone with open arms. I think we in the Netherlands can learn a lot from this. This youth trip is a trip I would never forget. I hope to return to this very beautiful country one day.

Fleur van Dinteren

Habari rafiki! My name is Fleur van Dinteren and I am 21 years old. In 2019 I went on the youth trip to Tanzania, which I would like to tell you about through this article because what impressions this youth trip brought with it. The three weeks in Tanzania have not only provided a very pleasant period, but this trip has also ensured that you appreciate what you own and what you are free to do in the Netherlands. Long car rides in the ‘party bus’, endless game nights, stargazing and of course impressive visits to schools and Tanzanian families will not be forgotten. From an early age, as a student of the St. Willibrordus school, we annually ran the sponsored run led by the MOV. With this money it was possible to build wells and hospitals, among other things. One of the most touching moments on the trip was seeing how much of an impact the sponsored run has had and continues to have in the country. We have been able to see how the money has been realized up to the hospitals and wells and we have also been able to meet many students and families who have received support partly through the MOV. In short, a valued, impressive and well-organized trip that will never be forgotten.

Svea van der Lienden

Habari, What a great and unforgettable experience I experienced in the summer of 2019! The trip from start to finish was super organized and touched me deeply. The locals my traveling companions, the smell, the taste of the food and the scenery was all so different from home. This journey took me to places I would never have been otherwise. The hospitality and gratitude of the local people is so pure, it made me feel very welcome. My best memory of Tanzania is the stay in Chabalisa where there was a lot of play with children, despite the fact that we did not speak the same language, there was enough fun. In Tanzania I saw the most beautiful starry sky that we all watched together. I also saw lions and elephants in real life here for the first time, which was so cool to see! In short, Youth Trip Tanzania is the best trip of my life and I want to thank everyone for this unforgettable experience. Now that I’m writing this again in the fall of 2021 I get goosebumps on my arms again and all the memories come back. Kwaheri, Svea van der Lienden

Nienke Latta

My name is Nienke Latta and I joined the youth trip to Tanzania in 2019. To this day I look back with gratitude and enthusiasm on this special journey. Tanzania’s first impressions were hugely impressive; bumpy red dirt roads and houses like you don’t see them in the Netherlands, I loved it. We traveled in 3 weeks along the northern border, along Lake Victoria. We have visited a lot of places and each place had its own beauty. In the first week we visited a number of schools. The countless welcome dances, songs, speeches and performances have made a great impression on me. We felt more than welcome. The first school we visited was the primary school in Biharamulo. The children were incredibly happy to meet us. I’ve never given so many high-fives and my first moshpit took place there. I got so much energy from their enthusiasm and couldn’t stop laughing, just like the kids! The second week was mainly focused on meeting students, including students sponsored by FOTAS. The students had a great time and were very motivated. I found it very interesting to hear their stories about life in Tanzania, it is so different from the Netherlands. Together with the students we were also allowed to fetch water. We first had to walk a long way on unofficial paths between the banana trees, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Finally we came to a nice stream and then we walked back to Chabalisa house with a bucket of water on our heads. Balancing the bucket was quite an art, so lame arms were guaranteed. I will never forget this experience! In the last days in Tanzania we visited the Serengetti. We had only just entered when the first monkey climbed on the roof of the jeeps! The last evenings we slept in a very nice park with a view of the water. Enjoying all the stars in the evening and playing games with each other while enjoying a nice Tanzanian beer, unforgettable. By being able to experience education in Tanzania, it became clear to me how important good education is, everywhere in the world! It became clear to me that many people in Tanzania can be helped by the sponsored walks of the St.Willibordusschool. With the money that is raised, schools, hospitals and wells can be built. This journey has inspired me to want to discover more places of this world and different cultures. Asante Sana Tanzania!