Four months after the start of our project ‘Watoto from the street to care: family reintegration for minors’ for the year 2023/24 we share the first thoughts of our UCS (universal civil services).
DAVIDE: 4/02/2024, 4 months have already passed since the beginning of our UCS experience.
Looking back, it seems as though we left yesterday, but at the same time it feels like so much time has passed, thanks to the amount of work, adventures and discoveries made in these first few months in Tanzania. I’ll try to describe to you my experiences in these last few months with the help of these 4 words: In October, DISCOVERY. The first month was certainly one of discovery, of curiosity in this new and fascinating world, getting used to the more peaceful routines of life but at the same time living each day to the fullest, getting to know new colleagues and fellow travel squad, who will be my team mates and emotional support for a year. In November, ADAPTATION. This characteristic is certainly needed in Dodoma. During the second month, we became aware of the reality here, we adapted to the language, food, work and committed ourselves as
much as possible to Kisedet and Grtz. In December, GRATITUDE. The last month of the year was certainly one of the happiest. I remembered how grateful I was for having ended the year in another country for the first time, how grateful I am to the association for selecting me, to all the people I met during this ‘journey’ and to the children for their smile which, despite their difficult past, they have rediscovered it thanks to KISEDET and it warms our hearts every day. In January, MOTIVATION. The first month of 2024 was the start of many new projects and challenges. I continue to feel motivated and determined to continue this experience to the full extent of my ability and continue to support the projects that Kisedet manages; not only the shelters but also the microcredit, classes for disabled children, professional schools and much more.
I carry with me this determination and positive energy that the people around me transmit to me so that I
can continue to enrich myself emotionally and professionally.
AGNESE: My universal civil service experience with Kisedet ngo began on the 4th of October 2023.
When I landed in Dodoma, together with my fellows, I was overwhelmed by a thousand thoughts and sensations that are difficult to explain. I kept telling myself “This isn’t just a trip; it’s going to be my home for the next eleven months.” I felt great joy at finally arriving, the fear that characterizes every great beginning and above all the desire to discover what awaited me. Four months have now passed, and I feel welcomed and followed by our LPO (local project operator) Giovanna, by all the local operators and by the children of the Kisedet centers.
The activities that we civilists carry out vary a lot and this allows us to come in contact with all the association’s projects. Furthermore, they always take place in collaboration and in support of the local staff. This permits an exchange of ideas and opinions. If I am in the short-term shelter “Shukurani ” the activities I carry out range from creating posts for social media, organizing files or documents, labeling the products of the solidarity shop, preparing
activities and games for children of the center. In the “Chigongwe Family” long-term shelter, I also have theopportunity to do various jobs outside, as there is a large amount of land that includes a vegetable garden, orchard, nursery and chicken coop.
However, there is no shortage of challenges and barriers, such as the language, but this is also stimulating and allows me to get involved. I am grateful to live this experience because I am having the opportunity to come into contact with a different culture, with different habits and above all with different glances that I simply want to try to understand.
If I had to describe these first months, I would use the expression “exchange of glances” which perhaps at the end of the service will change into “exchange of knowledge”. I don’t feel “I’m a good person”, I certainly don’t want to change the world, Tanzania, Kisedet or
anyone’s life here; I want to observe, assimilate and contribute which I believe is the most
useful thing.
SIMONE: I applied for the United Civil Service (UCS) for my personal growth and to be part of a project that reflected my ideas and values. After a long search I found the KISEDET project which amazed me for the variety of activities and the ideals carried out by the association with which I fully coincided with.
I entered Tanzania on my tiptoes, trying to observe as much as possible without judgement and letting myself be carried away by what was happening to me.
The initial impact was intense and stimulating at the same time, everything was new, the eyes never stopped observing and the mind never stopped processing the information.
Right from the start, our colleagues and the children welcomed us warmly, we were involved in the various work activities. They also let us explore the city and explained Tanzanian habits and customs to us.
I believe it is very important for us to collaborate daily with the local staff because it allows us to combine different ideas and experiences and learn from each other. Our tasks here are various (gardening, activities with the children and office work) and this is very stimulating for me.
After these first 4 months I can say that I have learned a lot and I hope I have also given my small contribution. There are things that I still don’t understand and that maybe I will never understand and others that I want to carry with me.
ELISA: I chose UCS (Universal Civil Service) instinctively, almost impulsively and I am grateful for having followed through with that because after three months, I couldn’t be happier. I left Italy without expectations, with the desire to be acquainted with a new culture without prejudices and with a great desire to learn: I felt the need to discover a different way of living and to carry this knowledge with me back to Italy. I discovered UCS thanks to a friend. I then looked for an association that was well rooted in the area and respected the local culture and that’s when I found KISEDET: an association that seemed small, but actually has a positive impact on many children and families in fragile conditions. The fears came as soon as I got off the plane:
“Will this be my home? Really? For one year? But how will I learn the language? Will I be able to integrate?”
I felt disoriented, but this feeling quickly dissipated as soon as I discovered the warmth and the hospitality of KISEDET and Tanzania. The UCS experience began in ‘Shukurani’, the short-term shelter which also hosts the Drop-in Center and is located in the city of Dodoma. The staff helped us to gradually enter this reality by supporting and assisting us in our daily work: I think that this approach was fundamental to begin with so that we could understand the environment, before starting to actively operate there. After two months, we moved to Chigongwe village (which is around 30km from Dodoma), and it’s where the ‘Chigongwe Family’ long-term shelter is found: here we re-discovered a slower lifestyle which is in closer contact with nature and in a short time this became our home.
It is now four months later, and I feel like I have found serenity and harmony in this place, but I know that there is still so much to discover and that this time we have here will probably be insufficient. I think that to fully enjoy this kind of experience, it is fundamental to open ourselves and listen,to strip away any kind of prejudice: it is also important to understand what differentiates and contradicts with our way of life. I thank the UCS and Tanzania because they allowed me to discover a new culture and to better know myself.