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U.S. Ambassador Mark Green with a group of 20 Secondary school students who spent the past year in the U.S. to take part in a unique one-year exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government
20 Tanzanian students return from the U.S. after their one-year exchange program
June 10, 2008
Twenty Secondary School students who spent the past year in the U.S. to take part in a unique one-year exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government successfully completed their program and returned home this week. Their program is part of a United States exchange called "Youth Exchange and Study (YES)" coordinated by Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS), an American-based nonprofit organization.
While in the U.S., the students lived with host families in the state of Iowa, attended public schools, and engaged in activities to learn about American society and values, acquired leadership skills, and helped educate Americans about their countries and cultures. In addition, two teachers were selected to chaperone the students on their international flights and each spent approximately one month in the U.S.
Upon the students’ return, they met with U.S. Ambassador Mark Green. He gave them encouragement to take their leadership and English skills back and improve their home communities, telling them, “You are the future of Tanzania.” During the briefing session Sylvester Chigwala from Kibaha Secondary School in Pwani Region said, “This program helped me broaden my view. Now I think more world-wide. I also really liked the education system, because it gives students more of a chance to participate.”
Eliatosha Yessaya Mamuya Kiboriloni Secondary School in Moshi Region explained one of the most important skills he learned in the U.S.: “Be specific and be on time because none of the people will wait for you. They expect you to be there on time.”
Annastazia Rutatina from Tumbi Secondary School in Pwani Region said, “The best part is when you meet friends, they really value who you are and where you come from.” Whereas Swalehe M. Saidi from J.K. Nyerere Secondary School in Moshi said he really liked playing sports in the U.S. “I played soccer and I was like the best one in my school,” he said.
As for Janeth M. Simon from Kibacha Secondary School in Same Region, she offered, “Make sure you ask a lot of questions. That really helped me a lot.” And Fadya Suleiman Hamad from Utaani Secondary School in Pemba remarked, “My favorite part was when I went to Disney World. That was awesome.”
According to U.S. Embassy spokesperson, hundreds of Form III candidates from twenty-eight schools in Zanzibar, Pemba, Kibaha, Same, and Moshi participated in the selection process for the program. IRIS staff selected the twenty finalists based on their performance in essay writing, a one- on-one interview, leadership and teamwork, and public presentation of their essay in English.
The YES program is only one of many programs in Tanzania sponsored by the American people, and is part of overall U.S. Government direct and multilateral assistance to Tanzania of more than 750 billion Tanzanian shillings this fiscal year.