This past summer six dynamic youth from across Canada visited Tanzania as the first step in their year long role as World Vision Youth Ambassadors (YA). The experience was tremendous for all, with many significant activities.

Youth Leadership Forum
Early in the trip was a four day Youth Leadership Forum that brought together about 60 students from Tanzania, eight from Rwanda and six from Canada, plus World Vision staff from each country. Tanzanian students came from high schools all over the Singida region where the training was held. During sessions exploring leadership, social challenges, individual gifts and talents, and cultural sharing participants discovered each other’s gifts and passions. Two students who participated in the Forum share their experience:

“I’m building my confidence to be a politician in the future.”

“I was not able to share what I have in front of others but now it is possible because I tried.”

Canadian students learned as well. Anna, Youth Ambassador from Nova Scotia, said:

“I believe strongly in the power of youth. I've witnessed the creativity, passion and determination of Canadian, Tanzanian, and Rwandan young people who share a vision for a better world and a burning desire to make that vision a reality.”

Family Visits
After emotional goodbyes from the Youth Leadership Forum, we visited families in rural areas outside Singida. It was difficult to accept that some of these families only had enough food to last them until September or October. Help from World Vision, which included seeds, tools, and training made a big difference though. In every circumstance, it was inspiring to see how people used their talents and gifts to do so much with limited financial or material resources.

A Special Visit
One great moment was a visit to the home of Baraka, a Tanzanian YA who came to Canada for our Youth Empowered conferences last February. It was humbling to sit in his home and eat a wonderful meal that no doubt was costly for his family. Youth Ambassadors got to try some of the daily activities normal to his family, such as threshing grain, preparing ugali (a staple of Tanzanian meals), and fetching water from a well. It was a very special day that ended with the YAs receiving a chicken in thanks for their visit!

There is much more to share. Check out the YA blog and photos . Or send us an email (youth@worldvision.ca) to see if a YA can come speak at your school.

To learn more about the YA trip to Tanzania, check out their trip blogs!
To see a great set of pictures from the trip, check out our flickr page!
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