"Frontal teaching is the norm in Tanzania in classes with up to 100 students," says Simona Kühni, a teacher from Graubünden. Since November 2018, she has been teaching office management and hotel management apprentices at the vocational training center of the Moravian Church, a partner church of Mission 21, in the city of Mbeya. "It quickly leads to overwhelm when I set more open-ended tasks," says the 25-year-old. But the learners really appreciate her and her creative teaching methods: "It can be a dry subject - the students are motivated and conjugate irregular verbs out loud in the choir, for example." Improving English is important because the tourism industry offers prospects. Poverty is great in Tanzania and also causes problems in Simona Kühni's lessons: "There are frequent changes in the class, because it is difficult to raise the school fees, so some only join the lessons later in the year." Simona Kühni also wants to boost her students' self-confidence while teaching. After all, girls and women have a hard time in Tanzanian society: they are still discriminated against, have little say and do a lot of unpaid work for the community and family. "I want the students in my class to feel comfortable and valued," says Simona Kühni.
Lively service
Simona Kühni doesn't get bored outside the vocational training center either. During the week, she meets with a Bible study group and goes to game nights. She is also part of an international volleyball group. The lively Tanzanian church service also leaves her in a good mood. One night of prayer remained a special memory for her. People of all ages danced and sang together until the early hours of the morning. Simona enthuses, "As a church, people stick together and support each other financially as well as in prayer." Simona Kühni's assignment ends in November. By then, she would like to have her self-developed teaching material digitized so that it is available to everyone. Meanwhile, she continues to enjoy Tanzanian chai tea and fried sweet pastries called mandazi. "After three lessons without a break, I always look forward to this snack," she says.
Text: Eva Sidler
