Teacher to work in Tanzania

Tanzania might not be the most common travel destination but Verdon College teacher Laura Boulton can't wait to get there.

Miss Boulton will leave behind her job at the school, where she has taught science, biology and maths for three years, and will begin as a volunteer teacher in Tanzania's capital city of Dodoma in just over a month.

She planned to remain there for about a year – or until her funds ran out, she said.

The trip will cost about $13,000. So far she has managed to raise about $3500, and will cover the rest of the costs herself. Her fundraising – in the form of baking – has proved popular with students and teachers at the school, as well as at church bake sales.

"I have a great brownie recipe," she said.

The generosity of Southlanders contributing to her fundraising efforts had been heartwarming, she said.

Miss Boulton said Verdon College had been especially helpful, holding a lip synch event that raised about $400. One mother had donated footballs for her African students, as well as organising children to busk outside H&J Smith Ltd to raise money.

"People are really incredibly generous. It's not until you do something like this that you realise. People really want to help others overseas, but sometimes they just don't know how," she said.

Volunteering overseas had been a goal since university, but it was not until a friend, a teacher in Auckland, travelled to Tanzania and decided to go back that Miss Boulton decided to join her. "It's been on my mind for a long time to go somewhere, but Africa didn't come up until about seven months ago. The timing just felt right."

Tanzania was in the middle of a famine and the need for help was great, she said.

"I've stories of people over there who are living on just one banana every two days."

Miss Boulton said the experience would help her as much as her students overseas.

"I want to be a better teacher to my students here. I think it will make me a little less naive, and more aware of how blessed I am here in New Zealand. I think it'll just help me grow as a person."

She said she hoped it would inspire her students here in New Zealand.

"I hope it encourages them to think outside of their normal, everyday world," she said.

In the meantime, Miss Boulton said she was aiming to learn as much Swahili as possible before she arrived.

"At least I've got my hello sorted."

alana.dixon@stl.co.nz

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