2010 Tanzania: Working with mentally handicapped children and youth

Host Country & Organisation: Tanzania, Mentally Handicapped Youth Centre (MEHAYO)

Participant: Dominika Pomorska

GLEN Member Organisation: PAH, Poland

Time Frame: July – October 2010

“Working with handicapped youth and children” was an internship taken in Tanzanian town Morogoro. During 3 moths volunteers cooperated on educating workers and children leaving in a Mehayo center for disable (www.mehayo.org). The main effort was focused on improving the hygiene level and organizing activities to the group of 45 children from the center.

Several projects took place simultaneously and were run by international NGO’s workers and volunteers. Building water pump, showering-rooms, renovating bedrooms and school were the practical part of work. Regular swimming, cartoon night, reading evenings, volleyball games were support by local volunteers. Small activities like helping in washing, teeth brushing, shower training were most needed in everyday life.

90 days in exotic country, where many things are new, goes very fast. That’s why it is important to get active. Every initiative was accepted by owners enthusiastically. The director Miss Linda Ngido is an open minded, generous and modern leader of Mehayo center. She is experienced in international exchange programs, had visited European countries, took part in Tanzanian training and events connected with education filed and NGO’s institutions. Her knowledge was contributing to an idea of Northern-South experience exchange.

Read the full report here: GLEN FINAL REPORT Dominika TAN 2010