Tanzania 2021

Five years ago I saw an Instagram post with a URL to Vrijwillig Wereldwijd, an organisation that organises trips all over the world. This particular post was about volunteering in Tanzania and Zanzibar, together with 19 others. I was interested so I started reading more about Tanzania. I started to tell my parents that I was interested in volunteering in Tanzania (at that time I just turned 16). First my parents thought that I was not serious and that it was just a temporary idea, but it wasn't!

With the agreement of my mom and dad I signed in for a trip to Tanzania to work at IOP (Ilula Orphan Program). In the summer of 2018 I went, together with 19 other girls and one boy to Tanzania. The first day in Tanzania was enough to make me fall in love with all the people and IOP in particular.

Spending one week at IOP was enough for me to promise the people there that I would come back. In that one week I had created friendships that I will cherish the rest of my life. I met my best friend Fabiola, one of the most special persons I have met in my life. At the end of that one week I promised Fabiola that I would come back.

Only half a year after my trip to Tanzania, I booked a flight for my second trip to Tanzania for the summer of 2019. This time I was going to travel alone. In total I stayed 5 weeks in Tanzania. The 4 weeks at IOP were the best weeks in my life. I created a lot of friendships and met more amazing people. Besides the fact that I had the best weeks in my life, I also learned a lot about myself. IOP made me realise that I needed help to find myself back. After spending 5 weeks in Tanzania and a month at IOP I promised them again that I would come back. The people there are so special to me. I have no words for the love they gave me and all the patience. I told them that I planned to travel back to Tanzania but due to COVID-19 I had to cancel my plans.

1.5 years went by and I still had contact with most of the IOP staff. Almost every week I called with Fabiola. Every time she kept saying that I had to come back to my family. When I saw an opportunity to finally travel back to IOP, I took that without any doubt. I booked my flight on the 27th of April 2021. I planned my trip to Tanzania on the 27th of June. This time I would not stay one or five weeks, but 7 weeks. In the beginning I was a bit afraid about the fact that it maybe was too long.

Now 7 weeks later I can say that staying at IOP would never be too long. The past 7 weeks were the most amazing weeks in my life. I met more people and created more friendships that I will cherish forever. Ezra, you are one of those friendships.

Also this time I promised everybody at IOP that I will come back. Saying goodbye to them is hard but easy at the same time. This because I know that it's never a goodbye , I will always try to come back every year.

5 years ago I did not imagine that IOP and Tanzania would become my second home. IOP gave me a family who loves me. The schools from IOP will always be a place where I can work.