Hope: An Ever-Lasting Flame

Growing up, we are told that the sky is the limit and that we can be anything we want to be in life. Our society provides everything we need from food to entertainment to opportunities. The chances are endless and the resources are unlimited. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many people, especially those in less affluent countries.

The Creative Inquiry project, Tigers in Tanzania, led by Dr. Skye Arthur-Banning, associate professor in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, helps orphanages, schools, and villages in Tanzania, a country located on the east coast of Africa. Arthur-Banning and his students work with orphanages and middle schools in Dar Es Salaam and Koshi, a small village at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Dr. Mori, a professor at the University of Dar Es Salaam, Arthur-Banning, and his team work to improve the lives of the children in these territories by bringing health and recreational equipment.

The Tigers in Tanzania project has three main purposes: to help orphanages and schools; share cultural knowledge with students at the University of Dar Es Salaam; and visit the small town of Uru East near Moshi. Each year, Clemson students visit Tanzania for two weeks to interact with children, villagers, and other students to grow cultural awareness to worlds outside of their own. Junior, Kelly Alexander, had this to say about her experience, “It was a lot of work to travel around to the schools and orphanages, but the kids were so excited when you got there, that you just forgot about how tired you were and the fact that you had already worked since seven that morning.”

Although it is exciting, a trip to Tanzania requires a lot of preparation throughout the school year. The team met weekly to research the cultural norms and other information about Tanzania to aid in planning the trip. The students prepared presentations about education, monetary expenses, and health laws. By doing this, the students gained an understanding of what the people of Tanzania encounter on a daily basis.

Arthur-Banning and his team also work on expanding cultural awareness in South Carolina. For example, Clemson students taught middle schools in Charleston, S.C. about the lifestyle and history of Tanzania. The students interacted through booths that showcased Tanzanian activities, arts, and crafts. With this fair, the students were able to learn how children their own age in Tanzania live. One of the games involved racing with a bucket full of water, which is something the children in Tanzania do on a daily basis to bring water back to their family.

This Creative Inquiry also raises money to purchase first aid kits, soccer balls, and other recreational equipment to take to Tanzania. Arthur-Banning gets coffee from Tanzania that is then roasted in Charleston and sold, with all of the money sent back to the farms in Tanzania. The Creative Inquiry group also sells jewelry, with 50% of the profit going to coffee farmers and jewelry makers and 50% going to buy recreational and health equipment for the orphanage.

This Creative Inquiry has a lasting impact on Clemson students as well as the people of Tanzania. In the summer of 2013, students brought chickens to the village of Koshi and gave one to each child. The eggs from these chickens pay for their education. The team also raised $2500 to send to an orphanage, which was used to buy a plot of land for more living facilities.

Students in this continuing CI team plan to return to Tanzania each summer to continue their service to these communities.