What began in May with the construction of the new workshop space at Valita soon grew into an adventure full of energy and special encounters. By the end of July, a brand-new building—funded by us—was standing tall: still bare, but brimming with potential. And that’s where we got to work!
Preparation
On August 5, Nicole and Monique traveled ahead to Dar es Salaam. Their mission: to prepare everything down to the last detail before the group arrived on August 13. A lot already happened in that first week. The workshop space was inspected—though it turned out not to be quite finished yet. Paint and materials were purchased, the sleeping location was checked, and existing contacts were refreshed. They also met Sadam, a Tanzanian volunteer introduced to us through a Dutch connection.
Because one thing is certain: in Tanzania, everything revolves around connecting—and that’s exactly where our strength lies!
The Projects
This year, two wonderful projects were on the agenda, which even expanded along the way:
- Bringing the workshop space at Valita to life—from painting and furnishing to giving workshops.
- Sports and music at Kituo Cha Baba Oreste—with football activities, support in daily tasks, and setting up and painting a brand-new music studio.
On August 13, the rest of the group—Branko, José, Camiel, Rens, Matthijs, Wouter, Twieb, Robert-Paul, and Shannon—joined in Dar es Salaam. After visiting Valita and Kituo to familiarize everyone with the locations, there was time to adjust to the environment. On Saturday we visited the local Maasai market, and on Sunday we attended church, an important gathering place.
Getting to Work
The volunteers were divided between the two projects.
At Valita, tremendous progress was made in just over a week:
- The entire workshop space was painted and decorated.
- The ceiling was covered with fabric, Changamoto’s workstations were set up and furnished, and stools were added.
- The children’s home on the grounds also received attention: rooms were cleaned, the porch was painted, and the children received new mattresses.
At Kituo, sports and daily support were the main focus:
- Matthijs, Wouter, and Rens gave football lessons in preparation for the tournament at the end of the week.
- Help was provided with physiotherapy, lunch, and cleaning.
- Robert-Paul created an impressive mural on the new music studio, whose furnishings had been funded by us.
Extra Activities
In addition to the work at Valita and Kituo, we also visited other organizations:
- Baby and children’s clothing was donated to young mothers via Young Life in Bunju.
- We visited Inuka Bakery, where young people with disabilities are taught a trade.
- We also revisited the Kontena School, where we dropped off donated items.
The highlight was the football tournament at the Changamoto grounds. Teams from Yourright, Kituo, Young Life, and Changamoto played in donated kits from Only Friends Amsterdam, OFC Oostzaan, and ZVV’56 Apeldoorn. It was a festive afternoon where everyone felt like a winner.
Wrapping Up
We said our goodbyes at Kituo and celebrated Branko’s birthday there. We also left behind lots of toys and educational materials. At Valita, the workshop space was officially opened, and we were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation.
After that, it was time for relaxation:
- Nicole, Monique, José, Camiel, Rens, Robert-Paul, and Shannon enjoyed a few days in Zanzibar.
- Branko, Twieb, Matthijs, and Wouter went on safari to Mikumi and visited an impressive waterfall.
And that’s how we concluded our 2025 volunteer trip—an experience full of teamwork, friendship, and unforgettable moments.
Want to follow our adventures day by day? Check out our Polarsteps!