Volunteer Teaching in Tanzania

Hello friends!

My name is Maggie Henning, I am a full time student enrolled in Ball State University's Honors College in Muncie, IN and am a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success. I am pursuing a major in Speech Pathology and a minor in Special Ed: Hearing Impaired. I work part time at Chili's as a host, and in ToGo which helps pay the bills but isn't quite enough to pay my out-of-state tuition. I have never done a fundraiser like this before and I though it was worth a shot to help pay for my flight and housing for my trip.

My goal is to go on a 4 week volunteer trip to Tanzania, Africa to teach children. I will be going through PlanMyGapYear and plan on going at the beginning of May or August. I will either be working in an orphanage with toddlers and infants or in a school with children aged between 3-6. I want to travel the world but I want to help people as I see it so when I came across this program I knew I had to go.

For those of you who don't know me, I have a passion for working with young children. After working in a level 4 daycare for one of my classes last semester, I fell in love with young children. My dream job is stuck between working with premature babies and assessing their swallowing abilities and working with preschool aged children with special needs to help them become their best selves and become strong students and members of society.

When I was growing up, I was fortunate enough to be able to travel with my family around the United States camping and hiking from the Smoky Mountains to the Sawtooth. The only experience I have out of the country was a trip to Mexico where i was lucky enough to visit a mayan ruin. Although I have enjoyed these experiences and treasure these memories, I want to make an impact on this trip. I do not just want to be a tourist, I want to work and experience Tanzania through the eyes of those who live there. On this trip, I want to make more than memories, I want to make a difference.

This trip is something I have dreamed of doing for years and I have finally decided to make it a reality. I have always wanted to travel and have decided there is no time like the present. This trip is not for school credit, it is purely for the experience of traveling to a new place and giving my time to children who are not as privileged.

All of that being said, I created this to help make my dream become a reality. If you are able to donate, whether big or small, I am sincerely grateful for your generosity. But regardless of your donation, I appreciate that you took the time to read this all the way to the end.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I look forward to all of you being a part of this trip with me!