Kisslinger, Tanja. Consciousness, compassion and the “power to change the world.” Host organization: Mkombozi, Moshi, Tanzania, East Africa.

Abstract: Mkombozi (meaning “liberator” or “emancipator” in Swahili) is the leading child-focused agency in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions, using education, research, advocacy, and outreach to help vulnerable children and youth to grow in mind, body and spirit. In 2005, I spent a year living at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Moshi, and volunteering my days at the nearby Mkombozi office. My objective was to establish and define Mkombozi’s first formal “communications department” and overall “brand identity”, while also publishing articles in the local newspapers and accompanying the research teams into the local communities. As this introspective article shows, my overall journey ran much deeper than the accomplishments of my volunteer placement. In the article, I share personal reflection on my experiences of nature, life and wildlife in Tanzania, and how all of this enriched my overall perspective of development work abroad. Notably, since 2006, I have continued my communications work for Tanzanian charitable organizations as a freelance consultant, and I have also volunteered in Romania, Costa Rica, India and Mongolia. Keywords: Tanzania, Serengeti, street child, consciousness, spirit, compassion, communications. Read full paper.