I may have been born and raised in Rockford, but I’m an African at heart. I guess to be more specific, a Tanzanian. Most people would not be able to find Tanzania on a world map. “Um, isn’t that near Australia?” is a common response.
Mark Boreen
Throughout my education at Holy Family and Boylan, service was always a part of our curriculum. I’ve volunteered countless hours through Key Club and National Honor Society in the Rockford area. Honestly, at first, I did it to add more activities to my resume. It didn’t take long for me to discover that volunteering made me feel good. I actually enjoyed it and looked forward to visiting different soup kitchens and nursing homes around Rockford. That was it, I was hooked!
My family has been members of Holy Family Church for years and it was through Holy Family, that I was able to have my first international volunteering experience. On two different occasions (2006 and 2007) I went to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to volunteer at schools and orphanages. I wanted more! It was at that point that I wanted to visit the place in the world that I knew the least about, but I knew needed the most help: Africa.
Tanzania is located in East Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean and is between Kenya and Mozambique. It is home to countless safari parks, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and culture that accepts and welcomes travelers from all walks of life. Despite the amount of tourist attractions, Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. Access to basic healthcare, clean water, food, and education is a daily struggle for most Tanzanians.
My love affair with Tanzania started in 2009 with a volunteer trip to Arusha, Tanzania with Tanzania Volunteer Experience (TVE). I was intoxicated by the land, the culture, and the people from the first day I set foot on Tanzanian soil. After my six month teaching commitment was up, I didn’t want to leave. I ended up being hired by TVE and currently work to recruit volunteers to come through the program and have the same amazing experience that I had.
TVE is based in Arusha, Tanzania and is locally run and operated by two amazing Tanzanian women (Angella Mhiro and Nelly Leng’ete). TVE hosts volunteers from countries across the globe, provides accommodation and meals for them, supports them as they transition into a new culture, and arranges placements for them depending on their skills and background. These placements include work in orphanages, schools, and medical placements. Volunteers are welcome anytime of year for 2 weeks up to 3 months.
Since TVE is run by two local women, it a perfect example of how empowering women in developing countries can make a profound impact in their lives and of the local community. The Half the Sky Movement stresses that, “the best way to fight poverty and extremism is to educate and empower women and girls.” Nelly and Angella, being born in poor local villages, are now helping to change the landscape of their community. TVE partners with about 25 different schools/orphanages that are able to help and educate thousands of children a year through the volunteers that enroll in the program.
I was invited to publish an article on this blog to share my story. I am a local guy that has tried to give back to the Midwest community that provided me with all that I have today. But it doesn’t have to stop there. Being a citizen of the world and making an impact on the global community is something that, I believe, is achievable for each and every one of us.
I will be back in Rockford 2 or 3 times a year to speak at different schools and venues in hopes of generating interest in our program. PLEASE check back on this blog for any upcoming events!
Any questions? Contact Mark Boreen at tanzaniavolunteerhq@yahoo.com
For more information please visit us at www.tanzaniavolunteertz.org
