In August 2023, through a scholarship, I was offered the unique opportunity to enrol at a private school in my country, Tanzania. I was 14 at the time and had been studying at a state-run primary school in my village.

Without this assistance, I would have continued my education in the same village and attended a secondary school and potentially a university, which would have limited my future prospects much more than the opportunities I can now access.

Joining the international school has opened up many doors for me that I had never even thought about before. Among the things this community has provided me with is the ability to dream big, such as envisioning a new career path – being a biologist.

Previously I just thought about being a nurse, which doesn’t require a high level of education in my country. The people I have also met have shared their cultures and experiences with me, allowing me to adopt a new way of looking at the world. Now I also want to travel and work in other countries, I didn’t give this much thought before.

Although these things have broadened my horizons, attending this international school hasn’t always been easy. I’ve also been met with mixed emotions and different customs and practices which I have had to adapt to.

Differences between my old and new school

Another difference that stood out to me was the punishment. The government school used physical punishment, and it affected me quite badly. I was scared, but there’s nothing I could do – my parents made me go to school regardless as it was the same for them growing up.

Corporal punishment is the norm in most Tanzanian schools, as it is legal in the country. A lack of education in many communities in Tanzania has also impacted people’s ability to speak up to oppose traditional systems and rules. A school teacher remains an important authority figure, despite their potential subpar ability to educate.

But after experiencing ‘punishment’ at the international school, I was surprised and confused. It is not physical. Instead, punishments involve doing tests or being suspended from school for a certain length of time. I found this challenging to understand at first; I questioned why physical punishment was not happening as I had been led to believe it benefits learning. But I realised later this was not a good solution at all.

The school dress code is also very different. Previously, I would wear a school uniform (‘sare ya shule’), which consisted of a sweater with the Tanzanian national flag or just a plain blue sweater with a white shirt and a blue skirt. Now, I can wear my own clothes, in compliance with a dress code.

Sometimes I wish I could have my school uniform as it’s hard to constantly feel the pressure of finding something cool to wear. But it’s more comfortable wearing your own clothes and you don’t need to spend money every year buying a new school uniform.

As for the food, at the government school, we used to eat one type of food for lunch every day: rice porridge. It was disgusting and we were made to eat it. In my new school, the menu is drastically different. I can choose from so many options – vegetables, chicken, fresh beans, french fries, pancakes, sausages, eggs, and so much more. I didn’t even know about them before and it was hard to adapt at first, but now I’m so grateful for the variety.

Enriching experiences

Diversity and culture has been one of the biggest benefits of attending the international school because students and workers come from different parts of the world, which creates a vibrant community. As a result, I have also learnt about their cultures and perspectives.

I have made friends with people from Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, India, China, Spain, Korea, the UK, Croatia, the Netherlands and many more. Some have inspired me to travel more and to visit their countries.

Challenges

I attend as a boarding student. My first day experiencing boarding was overwhelming, as I did not know anyone and was away from everything I was familiar with. I missed my family and friends.

Strict rules on timetables and sleeping also didn’t help. I had to be in my room by 9pm and lights out at 9.30pm, which meant I was unable to call anyone at night as we are not allowed to keep devices at night time. This was also hard, as I couldn’t watch things on YouTube or Netflix.

Added to this is the lack of privacy, as I share my room with another roommate. Although it is something I am more used to now, I would go to common areas in the school such as a football or basketball pitch or the swimming pool to get some personal space.

Costs at the private school, as you can imagine, are very high. The annual school fee of $25,400 – which is already unaffordable for most Tanzanians – doesn’t include extra fees. Things like school trips or playing an instrument all cost extra. Although the offerings in comparison to the free state-run schools are much better, the cost puts those who cannot afford extras at a disadvantage.

Future ambitions

Since joining this international community and being inspired by the school’s emphasis on different cultures and additional academic opportunities, my goals have evolved. My desire to pursue a career in biology has grown stronger.

The transition to a new school has shown me the importance of accepting changes and trying opportunities, no matter how difficult or different they seem. And these changes made me grateful for the chances of learning, growing and connecting with other people around the world and I look forward to continuing my learning journey.

To read more about the organisation – Uvi Foundation for Education – that gave me the opportunity to access better education and to follow my dreams, you can visit its website.

As my guardian Dagmara Ikiert, founder of Uvi Foundation, says: “supporting education isn’t aid or charity but implementing a basic right of every child”.