UDZUNGWA WATERFALLS TRIP

As a way of motivating students to do their best in their studies, The Sasamani Foundation took high achieving Sasamani scholars for a trip outside of Bagamoyo. The trip served as an incentive for the students to work hard and commit to their studies. The students went to the Morogoro Region for one night and two days. Sasamani scholars spent the night in Mikumi, followed by a day of hiking in the Udzungwa Mountains to see Sanje waterfalls located in the Kilombero district.

Gladness, our education director, did an amazing job organizing the trip and served as one of the adult chaperones. She shares that about half of the Sasamani scholars did not earn high enough scores to participate in the trip. However, the trip showcased how motivated and committed Sasamani students are to their studies. Gladness mentioned that as a result of this trip, "This behavior of studying hard has been conditioned to them." Students who attended the trip were very happy to be able to enjoy a variety of activities like hiking, swimming, and tree lessons. For some students, this trip was the very first time they left the community of Bagamoyo.

Our education director shared, "Some of the students cried for joy and confessed that they didn't know how good it feels to sleep in a self-contained room with AC, swim in the swimming pool and even to see the animals like giraffes, zebras etc. They ate a lot of good food and finally they see the waterfalls and swim in the waterfalls pond." She also reflected on the lessons the trip has taught her, like how everyone is unique and we all have different experiences and expectations. Gladness also learned that students become motivated and inspired in academic settings as their worldview expands. A great take away of the trip was to respect and value each other's uniqueness because it is not easy to survive alone, for example, hiking taught students that they need one another.

Looking forward, the education initiative would like to take Sasamani scholars to other sites like the Amboni Caves in Tanga. School trips not only allow students from Bagamoyo to see the world around them and experience new things, but trips also foster community and build relationships. In the future, Gladness would like to bring all Sasamani scholars to school trips in the future if the funding allows.