Comments from our visiting groups

From the students... "The trip was the most worthwhile thing I have ever done...The trip wasn't exactly what I expected, then again I didn't know what exactly to expect. It really made me examine my own life, made me appreciate the things I do have and even made me appreciate the amazing education I get. The trip was a huge success and it was truly life changing!" "I couldn't have had a better time on this Tanzania trip. The relationships that were made were great, the kids we met changed my life forever, and some good hard work to help others is always a good thing. You can learn so much from a different culture and seeing the lives of the people in Africa again made me not only realize how lucky I am, but it also made me realize that materialistic things don't make a person happy. This trip helped me decide what I want to do with my life, which is to join the Peace Corps in Africa and try to help as well as learn from as many others as I can. Seeing those little kids' faces light up when we played with them in the rain, singing national anthems with the kids in the school, trying to learn KiSwahili and their way of dancing are experiences I will never forget and will take with me for the rest of my life." "My trip to Tanzania was a week long but a lifetime lesson. It was so extremely amazing and like nothing I had ever experienced before. What made it so fantastic is that it combined important life experiences such as exploring a new place and culture, giving to the most deserving individuals I have ever met and in return finding qualities about myself. Although the purpose of this trip was to be the one giving, I think I received so much more than what can be expressed in words. The trip impacted my life and as cliche as it is, it gave me a new perspective on life. It inspired me, awakened me and has left me in what feels like an eternal state of absolute genuine joy. Seeing the privilege and limitless ability I possess to effect people outside of my sphere has motivated me and given me an inexplicable appreciation for just about anything. I thank Africa and its people for giving me the greatest strength." "The trip was a terrific experience and I am grateful that I was able to participate in it. We made a positive and very real impact during our time at Kirima Secondary School, 'paving the way' for 45 new students and making a brilliant start on a new classroom. This aspect of the trip had several tremendous impacts on me. It made the conditions/poverty of the people in a developing nation so very real. Nothing is correlative to such an experience; it opens your eyes more than any newspaper, television broadcast, or movie can. Following this experience was the tremendous trip to Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge; these events alone made the trip worthwhile. It's hard to know what to expect before such a trip, and although I never knew, it was strikingly better than any experience I could have imagined." "The feeling of accomplishment and pride in our work and the fact that we contributed towards the education of so many children really touches my heart and I am so happy to have been part of this effort." ... and from the teacher... "Taking a group of students to a new place in the world is always a challenge. Having never been to Tanzania before, I am very grateful to the International School of Moshi and its Visiting Schools Program for making our service trip such an organized, pleasant, rewarding experience for everyone. We were well taken care of before and during the trip. Accommodations were first-rate, the students were well-fed, transportation was of very good quality. Having Afzal Paliwala to tailor arrangements to our needs was very much appreciated. The main emphasis of our trip, the service project, was challenging and very worthwhile. The chance to interact with the students at the school where we did our classroom building was a very special time, and being able to work side by side with them and other people of the school community will be an unforgettable experience for all. Thank you." Thanks to Dorothy Adamson and the students from The American School of The Hague for their comments ISM Home Page