a project visit!

Greetings from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania!

I am visiting the Tanzania Country Office, and today I had the opportunity to go and visit one of our projects in Dar, near the airport. There were two schools in the same courtyard, one serving 2,000 students, and the other 1,600 students.

We were present for a junior leader training. The junior leaders were approximately 10 to 12 years in age, and were chosen by their teachers to participate in this two day training that happens after school between 2 and 5 pm each day. During this time, the students discussed the characteristics of a good leader, what was important to be a good junior leader, how to lead opening and closing discussions, and the various parts of Red Ball Child Play, one of Right To Play's core programs. Leading the training program were four "coaches" - teachers trained in the leadership of Right To Play programming, with one of Right To Play's supervisors overseeing the training.

It was so great to see Right To Play programming in action, and to hear the children speak aloud with authority, share their ideas on good leadership, and play together in such a collaborative manner. It really makes me hope that all that we do while sitting in our cubicles at Headquarters really can help others impact children both in this project site and all around the world where Right To Play operates.

Look! Right To Play activities are a part of the school day.

A warm-up game, the beginning of what I know as "Petunia, Petunia..."

Playing one of the games

Answering questions after the game during the Reflect-Connect-Apply discussion.

Some final stretches before heading back to the classroom.