Tanzania: A Beautiful Land with a Heart-Wrenching Reality
Tanzania is a mesmerizing and enchanting country, often referred to as the “soul of the world.” In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, my friends and I embarked on a journey to Zanzibar in search of fresh air and respite from the long lockdown that had kept us confined from December 21, 2020, through the new year.
During our visit, we encountered incredible people, including a driver humorously named “Fantastic.” Tanzania’s beauty, stability, and inclusive democracy left me in awe. Yet, one question loomed large in my mind: Why is Tanzania considered a low-income country despite its riches and stability?
After two years of soul-searching, I made a significant decision in the wake of the 2022 new year. I chose to dedicate my free time to exploring how African nations can rise from poverty to prosperity. To start my journey, I enrolled in Sir Paul Collier’s online course, “From Poverty to Prosperity.”
The course’s final assignment tasked us with selecting a country and addressing several key questions:
- Is the country centralized and/or inclusive?
- Are power and identity aligned or misaligned in the country?
- Does the capital city of the country have high connectivity?
My heart led me to choose Tanzania, a country that had left an indelible mark on my soul.
During my travel, I encountered an eye-opening moment when we visited a village called “Ukongoroni” within its school and Madrassa. The school was devoid of essential educational resources, with only chairs and wooden boards. However, as a group of curious children approached us, the room suddenly filled with joy. They asked us to carry them, and I eagerly embraced the opportunity to share happiness and hope with each child.
This experience opened my eyes to a different kind of poverty, far removed from what I had seen in my home country of Morocco. The profound misery of Tanzanian children left me deeply moved. Determined to make a meaningful impact, my friends and I resolved to return to the village with educational supplies.
The number of children in need was overwhelming, and we couldn’t provide each child with even a simple item like a pencil or an English notebook. This left me feeling frustrated and questioning the extent of our impact.
Two years later, I found a way to address this frustration. I decided to focus on studying Tanzania, starting with comprehensive research to diagnose the country’s challenges before attempting to offer solutions.
