Inclusive environment

My name is Mia Bergesen, and I am a student at Western university of Applied Science. Recently I was at a three-month exchange program in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. This exchange was done through the NOREC-project, and our main goal was to implement and exchange knowledge about the human rights of the child and people with disabilities (CRPD and CRC). During this exchange I had the opportunity to participate in a practical internship at an inclusive primary school that catered to children with various disabilities, including visual impairment, hearing loss and developmental disabilities. Working close with the teachers and students I developed a deeper understanding of the unique abilities of each child, and the strategies that are used to promote their education and inclusion. This gave me new perspectives and passion for inclusive education, and I look forward to applying what I have learned to my future work in the field.

The more we were in the environment at the school, I learned different ways of taking use of the resources we have. I think that the school environment can portrait differently in Tanzania, but it also has its similarities. One thing that I noticed as a cultural difference among the students is the way the students use each other as resources. The structure of the school and the school system is different in Tanzania than in Norway. In Norway we are more focused on protecting the children, especially if they have special needs or a disability. This results in the difficulty of students to socialize or be with their peers. In Tanzania, I saw that the students were able to socialize, help each other and especially take responsibility if they saw that their friend needed help. Because of the language barrier between us and the students, there would be times when we tried to help a student, but it was hard because of the barrier. When situations like that occurred, other students would come and help to make the situation understandable for both parts.

Reflecting on this cultural difference, I realized the value of using the resources we have and taking shared responsibility within an educational setting. The Tanzanian approach highlights the importance of nurturing an inclusive environment where students feel both comfortable and empowered to support each other. It was very inspiring to witness. This experience is something I will take with me back to Norway, to enhance the inclusivity and supportiveness of educational environments. The time in Tanzania also provided me with invaluable insights into the resourcefulness of not only the students, but also the teachers and staff at the school.