Give & Take: Lessons from Tanzania

This summer, I had the incredible privilege of joining GIVE Volunteers in Tanzania for over three weeks on an adventure that blended cultural immersion and community led service. We spent time across the country, first spending two weeks in Zanzibar in the village of Kairo, next in the south of the country on safari in Nyerere National Park, and finally, in the north summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro.

What made this trip truly unforgettable wasn’t just standing on the roof of Africa at Uhuru Peak, but also, the chance to work hand in hand with the people of Kairo on projects designed to create a lasting impact. The Kairo community are some of the warmest and happiest people I’ve ever met, greeting you like old friends and living each day with a true ‘Hakuna Matata’ spirit. Their deep sense of community and the way they welcomed us in was nothing short of inspiring.

One of the most rewarding parts of my trip was at Skuli ya Kairo GIVE, a school serving more than 300 students and ranked #1 in its region. There, I taught computer literacy to community members, each of whom was coming to class on their own accord, and working hard to build on their knowledge and presentation skills. Despite finding it challenging to teach and lesson plan something that I learned so long ago, this was an incredible way to push myself; and I was continually inspired by the students’ tenacity and excitement to learn.

On the last day, we did final presentations. In these, each student shared who they are,  what they want to be when they grow up, and took the opportunity to showcase the computer skills they learned—all while speaking in front of all their classmates and volunteers. Seeing them succeed and be proud of themselves made me feel so proud of them, and honored that I got to be one of the volunteers who was helping them become even better versions of themselves through this class.   And now, they’re better positioned than ever to unlock more options for life-changing jobs and careers paths.

After our volunteering, the idea of hiking for six straight days was daunting for me, an average hiker at best. But on Kilimanjaro, we had a mantra: pole pole, meaning “slowly, slowly” or “one step at a time.” With each step, I was determined to reach the summit.

That resolve was tested on day three, when we climbed to 15,000 feet to acclimatize, only to descend for hours back down to 13,000 feet to camp. It felt completely wrong, weren’t we supposed to be climbing up the mountain? Exhausted and discouraged, I broke down, unsure if I could go any further. In that moment, I allowed myself an hour to doubt, to cry, and to feel overwhelmed; and then I promised myself I’d get up the next day and keep moving. That day taught me just how mentally tough I am, and that sometimes the path forward requires going down before you can climb higher. Every stage of the trek mirrored the resilience and determination I witnessed daily at Skuli ya Kairo GIVE: just as each step brought us closer to the summit, every lesson in the classroom represented a step toward a brighter, more connected future.

Coming back to Prosek, I’m not just bringing home photos of breathtaking landscapes, I’m bringing a renewed perspective on what it truly means to give back and appreciate every part of the journey. My collective experiences on this trip reaffirmed that sustainable change happens when we work with, not for, communities, listening first, learning always, and building together.

This journey was a blend of stunning sights and powerful purpose, and it reminded me that the most meaningful summits are never climbed alone, they’re the ones that we reach by traveling side by side. I hope my experience inspires others to explore ways of giving back that push them beyond their comfort zone. And for those interested in the work GIVE is doing around the world, I encourage you to learn more about their mission and how they’re creating opportunities for lasting change.