Have you ever wanted to travel the world and help communities? That’s exactly what Maggie Groth 24’ will be doing this summer on her service trip to Tanzania.
After finding out about an organization called Give Volunteers on TikTok, Groth decided to continue researching it and fell in love with the program. Last summer, she went to Hawaii for one week where she helped remove invasive species and built traditional houses out of Hawaiian rocks. The entire experience was extremely formative for her knowledge of our planet and how to be more sustainable.
Going on this service trip last year, inspired Groth to continue to pursue service this summer. She explained how “It really put things into perspective for me about how privileged I am.”
Groth learned so much from her trip to Hawaii, including learning more about the environment.
Groth explained, “We stayed in these netted boxes where we had compostable toilets.”
Because she was working on local farms, Groth stayed in the huts around the farm. Though it was her first time staying in these types of houses, Groth enjoyed it and found it to be a fun experience to share with all the new friends she made during the trip.
This summer, Groth will travel to Tanzania for two weeks: one week on a safari and then the other half she will be teaching kids in the village English and building houses.
Her trip to Tanzania demands preparation in advance as she will be in a community that speaks a new language.
Through online websites and apps, Groth has been practicing and learning Swahili to be able to better communicate with the locals. Since she will also be teaching the people in the village English, it is important for her to learn the language.
Reflecting on her experience last year, Groth said, “I really loved meeting so many new people and coming in not knowing anyone made me more open to getting to know them”
Groth decided to go on this trip alone to be more outgoing and be in a new environment. Though it was scary going on this all alone, she ended up loving it and met so many great people who she is still in contact with.
Though it was a bit of a scary experience coming into such a new environment, Groth fell in love with the program and can’t wait to do it again this sum
