Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Mwajabu Mrutu, Business Development Officer, Sahara Tanzania. I am a young lady and a second child in a family of three. I have been working with Sahara for 4 years now and my experience with regards to my duties has been life changing. Losing my parents at an early age taught me a lot about life as I had to learn as a minor how to fend for myself. Going through such situations has made me better understand what it means to be kind and compassionate. I am very passionate about humanitarian works and other services that promote and value the welfare of human life.
What’s your motivation for volunteering?
Every opportunity I have to better the life of another person brings great satisfaction to me. I am greatly fulfilled each time I see other people thrive because of the contribution I am able to add to their lives. Volunteering enables me to connect with people of all walks of life hence building my interpersonal skills. For instance, I have experienced tremendous growth in my communication skills through the various voluntary services I have been involved in. The fact that volunteering also helps with my personal development greatly motivates me as I am aware that it’s not just about helping other people but also my personal growth. The more I am exposed to different environments through voluntary work, the more I also learn how to work with other people who are passionate about volunteering. In a nutshell, I can say Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose and Sahara constantly provides me with this platform.
Describe your volunteering experience in August 2019.
During this year’s International Youth Day, I had an opportunity of visiting Kigamboni Secondary School in Tanzania where I had some interactions with some of the girls there. I held some voluntary counseling sessions with the girls who opened up about various hardships they have been facing with their education. One of the main factors that were highlighted is the lack of school necessities such as books and also finances for their school expenses. One of the girls narrated to me how she had to help her grandparents to sell fish in order to raise money for all the school expenses. Juggling between school and work at such a tender age really hindered her concentration. Some of these girls had to deal with the trauma of being raped, while others had to come to terms with the painful reality of their parents divorcing. Being able to talk and encourage these girls through these various hardships is something I would only describe as life changing.
What contribution or achievement are you most proud?
The achievement that I am most proud of is the fact that I was able to deal with young girls from the age of 13 to 25 in my community based on a program that I have called “Infinity Kindness.” This program helps young girls to recognize their worth and also enable them to believe that they can fulfill their dreams and aspirations by devoting the necessary seriousness to some of the important things in their life. With this initiative, I have managed to help a number of girls to go in the right direction by being serious with their education, work and business. Teaching young girls to stand on their own and focus on their future has greatly helped them to stay away from various bad vices such as alcoholism that has the potential to derail their bright future.
What other organizations or causes do you support or volunteer for?
Asides volunteering for the activities Sahara Foundation, I have also been involved in volunteering services with some of the local NGOs here in Tanzania. The greatest cause that I strongly support is Girl child education. I believe that every girl child must be accorded the same opportunities that their male counterparts enjoy in the educational system. I encourage young girls to pursue programs that are male dominated and make them understand that they too are able to succeed just like their male counterparts. It’s my desire to see young girls grow up into women that will play a major role in the development of our nation. I often refer to myself as Sahara Foundation’s ambassador in East Africa
Do you know about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? If yes, what do you think of them?
Yes, I am knowledgeable about the Sustainable Development Goals and I think attaining the goals will help a country like Tanzania continue to better the quality of life for its citizens. For instance, if the message of inclusiveness in economic growth continues to be promoted, various gender stereotypes will be dealt with and we will now see both men and women work as a collective in the development of our country.
What message would you like to share with others about volunteering?
The message I would like to echo across to other people about volunteering is that people should make deliberate efforts to get involved in various volunteering activities in their communities as it is one of the ways that they are able to play a pivotal role in the development of our nation. Over the last 2 years, more of our colleagues in Tanzania have been involved in volunteering activities across the country both for Sahara Foundation and in their personal capacities. I believe volunteering has enabled them gain first-hand information about the various hardships that other people are facing. Once they witness the realities of others, their perception of how they view life in general becomes enhanced.
