Day 1: Arusha

After breakfast, start with an EDU Africa Orientation. The orientation is designed to give students a brief introduction to their surroundings, contextualize the country setting, and provide information that is pertinent to the group’s safety and overall experience throughout the program. The Program Facilitator will typically provide students with an outline of the program at this stage and clarify the roles, responsibilities, and expectations with the student group while in-country.

You'll then depart for Kilombero Market where you'll have a market challenge. Marketplaces in Arusha are vibrant and colorful spreads of informal vendors selling a staggering variety of fresh produce, clothing items, and household goods. A visit here is an excellent opportunity for community engagement and increasing intercultural competence. Students will be equipped with some key Kiswahili phrases, tips on ethical bartering, and a list of items to find and purchase within a small budget. All market goods purchased will be donated to local community projects.

After your orientation, you'll have Kiswahili Lessons. In the service of increasing students’ intercultural communication skills, they will receive basic Kiswahili language lessons. Kiswahili is a complex Bantu language with Arabic influences. It is the national language in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and is spoken in numerous other countries across eastern and south-eastern Africa. Students will have the opportunity to practice their Kiswahili skills with Tanzanian community members as the program progresses.

Enjoy lunch before having a Cultural Arts Dance Performance and Workshop. Cultural Arts Centre is a center for music and dance, both traditional and contemporary, in the Arusha area. Students will learn a traditional dance from Tanzania and also learn drumming patterns for 1 -2 dances. After your workshop, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Arusha

This morning students will be introduced to Tanzania’s healthcare system and visit two local government hospitals with Sister Jane at Mt. Meru Hospital and Ngarenaro Hospital. Educated in Tanzania, Sister Jane Bararukuliliza holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and Midwifery. She has gathered enormous practical, administrative and leadership experience working in many different facets of the nursing and midwifery branch of the healthcare sector in Tanzania for close to 30 years. Sr. Jane currently holds the title of City Nursing Officer for Arusha City and is responsible for the management and oversight of 650 nurses and 1500 medical attendants across Arusha’s 5 hospitals, 16 health centers and 72 dispensaries. She also serves as a member of the Council Health Management Team, a government structure that oversees healthcare delivery in both the public and private healthcare sectors.

This evening you'll have your first Reflection Session. Reflection sessions encourage students to think through, process, and make meaning of their experiences on the program. Through a combination of formal and informal reflection techniques, students will be asked questions and invited to engage in structured activities that encourage them to articulate their thoughts and feelings, internalize any lessons or moments of growth, and ultimately, to transform, in line with the program learning outcomes.

Day 3: Arusha

Start your day at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center for a visit and lecture. The Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre’s School of Nursing is geared towards training and upskilling local nurses and midwives so as to expand the delivery of quality healthcare to the local population. Students will visit ALMC and engage with the local nursing students.

Enjoy lunch at the Coffee Lodge and then have a Shanga Beading workshop. Shanga was started by Saskia Rechsteiner in 2007 after successfully making and selling necklaces for a Christmas Fair in Arusha. Today, Shanga employs over 30 Tanzanian people with disabilities. Located on one of Tanzania’s oldest and most beautiful coffee estates, Shanga has grown to include a restaurant; the River House Restaurant, and a shop; the Shanga Shop. All income from the Shanga workshop, restaurant and shop sales goes towards employing more people with disabilities. Students will be given a tour of Shanga’s premises. Under the guidance of Shanga’s employees, students will learn how to make unique, fabulous and high-quality products from recycled materials in a positive environment.

Day 4: Arusha

Today you will work at the Kivulini Maternity Hospital and the Faraja Center. Kivulini Hospital was established in 2018 and one of its aims is to have all women have trained, skilled and knowledgeable hospital attendants to support them during pregnancy and labor. However not all women are fortunate to have this service, and many vulnerable and marginalized women and girls are not able to access the maternal healthcare services that they need. Students will have the opportunity to interact with practicing nurses and doctors and have a lecture session with doctors who have been with Kivulini since its inception. Faraja Center offers temporary residence, education and vocational training to young single mothers and girls below the age of eighteen. These young mothers have suffered from early pregnancy, forced child marriage, human trafficking, poverty, abuse and a lack of education. Faraja center was started in 2006 and works with the Tanzania government to identify these victims. Students will interact with the women in their center as they walk the students through their various projects. They will participate in the various vocational projects that the girls undertake such as tailoring, cooking, hairdressing and much more. Students can also volunteer in teaching basic English to some of the girls in the center.

Day 5: Arusha & Karatu

In the morning, you will work at Kikuruma Hospital.

In the afternoon, enjoy an hour or two visiting the Mto wa Mbu village which is home to over 120 different tribes that have mingled with each other and live peacefully. The village is rich in banana plantations and will be an opportunity for students to find out how the banana as a staple food is grown; and discover the different uses of the plant as a whole.

In addition, the students will have an opportunity to visit the Makonde craftsmen who are a tribe in the Mto wa Mbu village known for their excellent sculptor work. Students will walk through the bustling farming community this afternoon and have a mid-point reflection session.

Day 6: Karatu & Ngorongoro

Have an early morning breakfast and depart to the Ngorongoro crater for a full-day game drive with packed lunch. The remainder of the day is free.

Day 7: Arusha

Start your day with a Women's Empowerment session.

Then, this afternoon, have a Maasai Boma visit followed by a Maasai Medicine Walk. Visit the traditional home of the Maasai and discover how the Maasai people value family, livestock and each other. Inside the home students will have an opportunity to compare and contrast between their homes and those of the Maasai people. Students are also encouraged to bring photos of their homes and describe their homes to those of the Maasai families. Journey back to Arusha this afternoon and have a final reflection session.

Day 8: Arusha

Start your day with Senior Palliative care community engagement.

In the afternoon, you can select an optional activity such as canoeing at Lake Duluti and bike riding. Later, you will have a final reflection session.

Day 9:  Arusha & Return Home

This morning you'll be heading to the Cultural Heritage Center and Art Museum. The center was founded in 1994 by Mr. Saifuddin Khanbhai has grown to a large complex with over several antique departments, an art gallery and much more. The center is a privately owned collection of shops and galleries that showcase arts from renowned artists around the African continent. The center is not limited to art; students can sample jewelry, traditional clothes, spices and wood craft that have been made by local artisans. Next visit a Maasai Market before a Farewell Lunch at Smileys before transferring to the airport for your flight home.