Richard was a volunteer working in Mikindani, Tanzania for a UK based charity, Trade Aid.

It is with mixed feelings that I am about to leave Mikindani, although I would hasten to add that the vast majority of those feelings are positive. The one experience that will definitely stay with me will be home stay; it was an experience that was both extremely valuable and informative. It has certainly changed the way I think, especially about the lives we lead back in England (sorry the “UK” for all you Irish, Scots and Welsh)

There have been many other interesting, frustrating and somewhat bizarre experiences whilst I have been here. Perhaps the most interesting experience has been the teaching, (the little that I did due to all the predictable reasons, i.e. no teachers or pupils). This has certainly provided me with an insight into the village, the good chances it has for the future and also more realistically, many of the problems that need to be overcome. The will is there, it just needs to be taken advantage of and used. Trade Aid has done a lot towards that.

This interesting experience also ties in with one of the most frustrating experiences, there were many exhausting mornings spent cycling to various schools only to find that they were locked up and not a soul was to be seen, (the previous day was usually spent arranging a time to teach that day with the headmaster). A familiar experience I’m sure for many of the volunteers, patience and calm are certainly a virtue here. I do hope that none of the villagers witnessed my minor temper tantrums when this happened! However the best way to chill out after days like these was always the time honoured Trade Aid method of unwinding. Bingwa!

Work here has included continuing staff training; this was certainly an excellent way to get to know them, and yet again another good way to gain an insight into the village. The one thing that impressed me the most was the staffs enthusiasm to learn and their professionalism toward the guests. As patronising as this sounds it is something that has been mentioned by many of the guests at the Boma. I think that my time here in Mikindani has done many things for me, it has certainly opened my eyes to a very different corner of the world, and it has also made me far more aware of the problems facing the third world. However, it has also moved my views away from the slightly candied images and views we hear and see in the West. I do not mean this in a bad way, just that my views have become more realistic as opposed to simplistic. Africa has many problems, and what I have realised that it’s a two man job to help areas like Mikindani, help from the outside is fine, but the people on the receiving end need to be prepared to help themselves. Thankfully this is what’s happening in Mikindani.

The big question I find myself asking now is how will I feel when I get back to the UK. I have been told by some that it is odd getting used to all of the things that you do not find in Mikindani, and that you have adapted to, such as no Tanesco at inconvenient times, and no hot water. However I have no doubt that I will very easily get used to hot baths again and the sweet, sweet smell of bacon. So goodbye Mikindani I certainly shan’t forget you.

For more information about Trade Aid, volunteers and their work, please visit their website www.mikindani.com or e-mail Sherie on tradeaid@netcomuk.co.uk