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Regulus
Teaching and Learning
9
“It was fantastic,” says Kate. “You
never knew where to look from one
moment to the next. There were such
rich landscapes and an absolute
tapestry of colour and life.”
It’s the first time a St Andrew’s
College group has gone to East
Africa, and while the trip had its
serious, study side, including visiting
the UNESCO World Heritage sites of
Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro
Crater, Zanzibar Archipelago and
Mt Kilimanjaro to study natural
processes, the students also got
involved in the local communities.
They visited schools and orphanages
as part of their community service.
The group took with them dozens of
balls of wool - a request from one of
the schools they visited.
They also managed to raise $4,000
($2,000 raised by the students was
matched by Intrepid Journeys) for the
Amani Children’s Home in Moshi.
The home provides a safe and loving
home, nutritious meals, and medical
care to homeless children in the
Kilimanjaro region.
Kate says visiting village schools
and travelling through urban areas
gave the students the opportunity
to understand economic development,
and the disparities between
New Zealand and Tanzania. “Some
classes at the school have 75 children
in one class.
It was enlightening for our students
to actually see and experience
the social, political and economic
environment of Tanzania.” Visiting
Nairobi in Kenya and Dar es Salaam in
Tanzania provided a first-hand look at
the impacts of rapid urbanisation
of major African cities, while the trip
to Zanzibar gave the students a
chance to explore the region’s strong
Islamic history.
Brady Michell (Year 13) says the
trip opened his eyes to how people
in impoverished countries live.
“Seeing the hundreds of children
who are unable to get an education
is something I will never forget. It
really taught me to be grateful for the
opportunity to attend school.”
Maggie Patterson (Year 12) says
she was amazed to see the pride
Tanzanians had in their country.
“They also have a willingness to
share it with anyone who will listen.
They were the friendliest, kindest
people who made every one of us feel
welcome. Wageni Mwakaribishwa
(Visitors you are welcomed)."