WEEDO CultureExchange Program
is the new program aimed to help young people to meet, confront, explore, appreciate, and ultimately respecting the DIFFERENCES among us. In one respect, that means everybody other than oneself is here to make meaningful experiences relationships with those who have a different set of values in the form of their nationality, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, etc.
Through this process of self-discovery, we will learn as much about our own culture and discover the different set of cultures we encounter. This cultural exchange will provide the girls and boys with a more profound understanding of foreign cultures and while making international friends. Culture exchange program is not only about education but also about making friends and seeing through a different set of lenses.
The Purpose ofa Youth Exchangeat WEEDO
The aim of WEEDO Youth Exchanges and Cultural Experiences is to enable young people to recognize, appreciate and respect for diversity gained through first-hand experiences. Through personal experiences young people are supported to recognize and challenge injustice and discrimination and make informed decisions as to how they choose to live their lives.
When young people are given opportunities to engage with those from different cultural backgrounds, most especially with peers from different countries, some of that initial distance can be shortened. Through this process, these individuals begin to feel global citizens, whose actions have a relevance in the world.
We believe in a society based on cooperation, tolerance, and respect to difference, which would lead to a sustainable future, with a healthier environment and peace across nations. Youth Exchanges, based on cultural themes, offer young people an opportunity to be enriched by experiences that would enable them to reach these values.
THE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE INVOLVED AT WEEDO
Everyone will be able to participate in all programs that WEEDO offer, as well as participating to all activities in the community, including other local NGOs that WEEDO partners.
TIME
WEEDO will provide a program that requires a short term and long terms. There is no maximum length for your stay if your VISA allows so.
WEEDOPROGRAMS
WEEDO was founded, and is run by young women who come from the same place as the girls they work with. In consequence the WEEDO programme programme provides the most practical training and skills that the girls can use the moment they graduate.
Classes of: Sewing and fashion designs, English, Computer, Swimming, Reproductive health, Entrepreneurship, Environmental awareness, Upcycling and Handcrafting.
Participants of the program will take parts in all the above-mentioned lessons, which both theoretical and practical lessons classes, such as Fashion and Design, English and Computer, Family planning and taboos of family planning. Within these lessons, participants will be able to work in groups, insuring everyone’s full engagement into activities.
Environmental awareness
We believe that relationship between humans and their environment can make a great difference in the world. This is hardly surprising when we realize the dependence that many people have on the environment (for making a living, for their lifestyles, for food and shelter, etc.). Concern and care for the environment are inextricably linked to the creation of a more sustainable future for all of us. In addition to this, young people in most countries have a keen awareness of environmental issues, and through the sharing of experiences and ideas, we could support this human-environment relationship.
Upcycling and hand crafting
Other activities within our community, other than with WEEDO
WEEDO has a good relationship with the local community, local NGOs and both private and public organizations. Participants of the program will also engage in other activities in different local organizations, which will involve traditional practices, acrobatic, arts, and street dance.
LOCAL FOOD
The one thing that all cultures love to do and can share easily is eating! Food and dietary preferences play an immense part in the raise of cultural awareness. It can also be one of the most challenging parts of a cultural exchange for young people, to adapt their food tastes to a different country’s one. However, we believe that food is a fantastic vehicle through which experience and appreciate cultural differences. When carrying out an exchange in another country, considering eating habits will be a vital part of the preparation. Different food cultures will highlight both the local differences, as well as the global ones.
WEEDO will help participants to explore how/what we cook, and how we eat. The most interesting part about food is that we have more than 120 tribes, and each tribe has its own typical food. WEEDO will show to participants most of the food products and how to prepare them, as well as being taught how to cook on their own. In these sessions, participants will be able to learn about table manners, and how to treat old people, men, women, and children in a context regarding food.
Dar Es Salaam Tour
WEEDO will organize local tour around Dar es Salaam and Coast, in order to show to participants, the historical background of Dar es Salaam and Coast. Together, it will be explored why these cities have been given their current names, and it will be taught the history of slave trade, where it started, why, and how they moved slaves from Tanzania to different places in the world.
Fish and karikoo market
These are the most popular markets in Dar are salaam; we will teach how local people do business, marketing, and their negotiation methods. A lot of people do not understand why women are engaged in fish markets by selling only small fish and not big ones. Within the visit to these markets, we are going to explain the reason of this practice, along other customs.
SAFARI
The Important and the Results of the WEEDO Culture Exchange Program Are:
- Identity
The greater a young person is able to develop self-awareness and understanding of their personal identity, the greater their confidence to venture out and to explore different cultures. We believe that a great sense of security of “where I come from” will lead to a healthy and non-judgmental curiosity towards others. Therefore, it becomes clear that exploring the notions of identity in exchange activities is a relevant matter.
- Faith
Building an understanding of the faith, belief, and values of others is important in order to develop a greater open-mindedness to difference and diversity. In all parts of the world, faith plays an incredibly important part in rituals, traditions, and lifestyles of people, as it usually underpins the structures and systems of a culture. If young people are able to learn about faiths, they would have a greater ability to interpret behavior which are very different from their own.
- Challenging perceptions and assumptions
According to one’s own backgrounds and values, these can have an influence on judgments and assumptions about other individuals with different ones. These are not necessarily negative, nor they are necessarily unalterable. However, what we do with them and how we act on them may have a positive impact on our relationships with others. There is nothing wrong with noticing differences and in recognizing our own assumptions, as well as those that others might have of us. This can be a constructive way of promoting a healthy awareness of differences. We consider it a starting point in appreciating different ways to our own every day, which could lead to an important journey to respect and cooperation with others.
WHAT THEY WILL GAIN
- Engaging with the outside world
- Meeting new cultures, ways and traditions
- Realizing own cultures, ways and traditions
- Self-expression
- Respect/care for self/others
- Confidence & motivation
- Communication skills
- Leadership and social skills
- Forming long-lasting relationships
- Fun and enjoyment
- Living, working, and playing with others
- Language awareness and acquisition
- Travelling and practicality skills