Banjika Day 8 (Day 15: June 3)

Today we arrived at school at the regular 7:45 to start off our last world leadership school activity. We arranged all of our NGO’s that we visited and connected them with the greater issues we’ve seen in Tanzania to complete a closing mind map activity. We then started to practice a dance and song to perform at the closing school ceremony. The Banjika students taught us a local dance in accordance to a local song called “Shugar Daddy” and then all of the Menlo students came together to decide what song we wanted to sing as a Menlo group. We listened to many songs but decided on Riptide by Vance Joy. After we got the song and dance down, we ate lunch with the Banjika students and parents. We ate the classic Tanzanian stew, rice, and vegetables while enjoying the presence of our buddies and their parents, as our time together was coming to an end. With our stomachs full of good food we moved over to the assembly area for the start of our goodbye ceremony. It began with a farewell speech from the head of school followed by a Banjika School dance, then our Menlo song and a joint school dance. Charlie and Becca then delivered speeches to the Banjika School, teachers and the homestay parents in attendance. Then Ms. Gilmartiin and Mr. Mitchel delivered final thanks and we began a gift exchange. All Menlo students were given costum bracelets from the Hands of Hope NGO as well as Masai shahuka for the boys and kanga skirts for the girls. In return we presented the teachers with American presents. As the ceremony wrapped up we headed off to our home-stays for our final night together. While very sad to leave their families many students shared feelings of excitement too return home.

Danny & Alex 





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