Submitted by Niki Ganjeizadeh on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Kenya and Tanzania sponsored by the School of Nursing…
After a morning of working in the hospital, I traveled to Shanga to have lunch and shop. Little did I know the incredible history behind it. Shanga is a workshop where disabled individuals are given the opportunity to get trained in a skill, such as glass blowing, or painting. They work alongside other members of the Arusha community.
Shanga was started by a woman who had two disabled boys, who wanted to give them the opportunity to sustain a job. They started out just making headbands, out of beautiful fabrics I must add! From just headbands, Shanga has continued to expand into what it is today. There is blanket making, jewelry making, glass blowing, “tinga tinga” painting, and so much more! After a tour of these departments, I learned some Swahili sign language. I learned the motion for “thank you”, “asante” in Swahili, and then browsed the shop. I bought an elephant pillow made out of recycled t-shirts, which were donated to the workshop.
It was incredible to see how far Tanzania has come with something as simple as Shanga. In the past, disabled individuals were not only unemployed, but they were also hidden from the rest of society. I was happy to be able to support this incredible organization and understand the history behind it. If anyone is in Arusha, Tanzania, I encourage them to stop by this workshop to learn more!
