As part of the Community College of Qatar’s (CCQ) continued efforts to be a shining example of Civic Engagement and Community Service development in the region and beyond, a group of female students and staff members recently went on a philanthropic visit to the small town of Makunduchi, in the south of Zanzibar Island, Tanzania.
CCQ students travelled to Tanzania between April 27 and May 4, 2019, as part of the ‘CCQ-Makunduchi Partnership’; a one-of-its-kind exchange that does good to the community, while giving students the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, by experiencing life in a community and environment very different from their own in Qatar.
During their journey, the students and staff members visited local secondary, primary and nursery schools, met local teachers and students to discuss their needs, donated thousands of vital stationary items, taught English and Arabic classes, and even painted some classrooms.
CCQ English Language Teacher and Project Leader Thomas Hodgson said:
“This was a real eye-opener for our students who witnessed first-hand what it is like to live in a developing country. In terms of an all-round learning and enrichment experience, it doesn’t get much better than this. They did fantastically well, engaging the local population, coping well with different circumstances and putting themselves into situations they would never normally get to experience. I think they benefitted personally, educationally and emotionally from their time in Zanzibar, and I am extremely proud of the whole team.”
Initially, the partnership focussed on developing the village’s secondary school, but, due its success, the College has broadened its link, and now assists in the development of other schools in the community, as well as the local village hospital – donating items to help save lives. On the final day of the visit, the CCQ team purchased and donated Makunduchi Secondary School’s first-ever photocopy machine, as well as a laptop for teachers and other invaluable teaching materials.
Student Aisha Al-Obaidly, who volunteered on the trip, said: “Visiting Makunduchi was a highly emotional, life-changing experience for me. The seven days I spent there will never be forgotten and I’m looking forward to visiting the community once again to help students in need.”
CCQ’s charitable project began 3 years ago and has developed rapidly into one of the most unique in the region, considering the direct link CCQ successfully established with educational institutions in rural Tanzania.
Mr. Bakari Mohammed Ali, headteacher of Makunduchi Secondary School, thanked the visiting delegation for their kindness, support and generosity, and reinstated his commitment to finding further ways to enhance ties in areas of mutual benefit. On the back of this successful trip, Thomas aims to strengthen the partnership further, with the hope of taking more students from Qatar on this experience in the years to come.
