UWindsor students on a past Teach Tanzania trip (FILE/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
When Bachelor of Education students Jillian Wawrow and Jessica Mladenoski pack their suitcases this April for their trip to Tanzania, they’ll also be loading up bags of school supplies, toiletries and menstrual products.
Wawrow and Mladenoski are two of the 16 participants in this year’s Teach Tanzania trip, which has allowed students to make the three-week trip to Tanzania each spring since 2008.
Established in the Faculty of Education by Dr. Clinton Beckford, professor and vice-president, people, equity and inclusion, Teach Tanzania has expanded in recent years to include interdepartmental collaboration, inviting students from other faculties to participate, including the Faculty of Nursing.
Alongside Beckford, students make the journey to Tanzania to learn about healthcare and education from professionals in that country as well as to donate their time and critical supplies that can be scarce to local communities.
“Teach Tanzania is part of our Global Community Engagement Program (GCEP) in the Faculty of Education,” explains Beckford.
“GCEP provides opportunities for our students at all levels to have an international service-learning experience. Students who participate will be involved in humanitarian and social justice projects in Tanzania.”
As fifth-year students in the concurrent BEd program focused on child psychology and early childhood education (ECE), Wawrow and Mladenoski were only in second year when they learned about Teach Tanzania.
Both students immediately knew they wanted to go.
“We’ve been thinking about it ever since,” says Wawrow.
“As future educators, we understand how the learning environment is impactful in creating a positive space for children,” adds Mladenoski.
“It will be interesting to see how across the world with a different culture and resources they are able to create that environment and for us to learn new teaching strategies to bring back as well.”
Meeting students who participated in the course last year and hearing about their experiences solidified Wawrow and Mladenoski’s drive to attend.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to go across the world, to grow as a person and as an educator,” says Mladenoski.
Beckford echoes this sentiment.
“The goal is to provide uncommon experiences for students that contribute to their personal and professional development,” he says.
“They will never forget this experience and when they leave the University of Windsor, this is what they will talk about.”
The group will visit several communities, such as Singida and Moshi, and engage in different initiatives in each.
Beckford emphasizes the impact the course has on both communities in Tanzania and the UWindsor students.
“Our students engage in activities that make a huge difference in the lives of children and communities and that have generational impact,” he says.
“At the end of the day, what they gain make them better versions of their personal and professional selves.”
Wawrow and Mladenoski are particularly excited about delivering programming that supports empowerment and leadership skills in girls and young women.
“We’re doing a menstrual pad drive right now at the University,” Wawrow says, explaining that menstrual equity can be a major barrier for girls in Tanzania.
She encourages campus community members to drop off menstrual products in either the Leonard and Dorothy Neal Education Building or Toldo Health Education Centre in advance of the trip.
Wawrow was able to help collect additional donations, including clothing, toiletries and menstrual products, through a holiday giving drive via a family member’s chiropractic clinic.
“In our school placements, we’ll also hopefully do a school supply drive,” she adds, noting that school supplies can be scarce for Tanzanian students and educators.
In addition to collecting donations, the students are also organizing events where campus community members can contribute financially to the trip.
“In the past, with the money they have raised, they’ve built new buildings or a kitchen for a school,” Wawrow explains, stressing that all funds collected support communities in Tanzania as UWindsor students pay for their own travel.
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, sweet treats will be available in the CAW Student Centre Commons as the students host a bake sale in support of supplies for the Tanzania trip.
A pasta fundraiser will also be held Saturday, Apr. 11 with tickets available soon online. Local businesses can also donate raffle prizes in support of the dinner. To stay up to date on when tickets become available, follow Teach Tanzania at @uwintanzania on Instagram.