This March break, 10 students and three faculty members are traveling to Tanzania to learn about sustainable development and educational opportunities in rural Tanzania. Please enjoy the blog post below from Abby ’27 shares how the Tanzania trip fosters a true sense of community through shared meals, prayer, and games with Mainsprings girls and fellow students.
If I were to give you a one-word reason why I think anyone should apply to the Understanding Sustainable Development and Education trip in Tanzania, it would be community. Generally, I think the word community is overused to the point that it loses its meaning, and changes into simply a group. When the word community describes a friendly, inviting, and kind group, community truthfully describes my experience in Tanzania, both with the girls at Mainsprings and with the group of fellow Deerfield students.
After our day of sunscreen, deet, meals at Papa’s, activity rotations – mine was teaching preschoolers shapes and colors, preparing soil and manure mixtures, and playing a basketball game – we headed to nightly prayer with the Mainsprings girls. Separated by the occasional prayer, this time mainly consists of singing. Despite our trouble understanding the Swahili verses, the melodies and rhythmic clapping of the girls drew us into the group. Our physical closeness and the girls’ naturally warm and kind demeanor made it feel easy to interact and gave us a sense of belonging.
Following prayer, we shared a meal with the girls consisting of rice, beans, and cabbage. This simple, nourishing meal was an opportunity for each Deerfield student to find a seat surrounded by new faces and personalities. I joined Amelia ‘27, Stella ‘27, Winnie and Anna. The Mainspring girls shared their favorite colors, foods, and hopes for the future. After we all finished eating and talking, we taught them the classic elementary school game: concentration. Their eagerness to learn made us feel welcomed. Then, Winnie and Anna enticed us to try their favorite game. We all slapped the table while one of us repeated our name twice, and then someone else’s name at the table, who then repeated the ritual. Playing Winnie and Anna’s name game made all of or social anxieties melt away.
When it was time to leave the Girl’s Home and return to our lodge named “Twiga” (Swahili for giraffe), everyone hugged each other goodbye and goodnight. At home, hugging people I just met would feel awkward, but their kind and inviting group demeanor made it feel right. As described by a fellow Deerfield student, hugging the Mainsprings girls made you “feel like you instantly knew them”. For myself and my roommates – Natalia ’29 and Hannah ‘25, we ended our day with a late-night roommate chat. Spending constant time with one another – even the simple shared reapplication of sunscreen and deet – allowed us to feel connected and begin to build a closer relationship as Deerfield students. I am glad to have this opportunity to feel closer to my classmates who I am now eager to know better. I know I am grateful for the privilege to build these relationships with both my fellow Deerfield students and the Mainsprings girls. Everyone should have the chance to find a real community – a friendly, kind, and inviting group – like I have found on this CSGC adventure.
