“I’ve discovered that there are striking similarities between our country’s practices. The youth center in Steilshoop, which serves as a premier hub for youth development, offers a safe haven for young individuals to commute and acquire valuable skills.”
—Issaya Kasyupa, Program Manager, Project Inspire.
This insightful visit was conducted at the Youth Center Steilshoop where a team member of the Daka Network, Zeyneb, spent his childhood. This community facility is a residential area with a multicultural population where youth plays a key role in mutual support through various social, cultural and recreational activities. Young people receive support and counseling, workshops and skill-building as well as community integration.
Reflecting on her experience of showing the Tanzanian participants her home, Zeyneb now calls the program an emotional exchange. She further explains:
“I took the participants to Steilshoop, the place where I grew up. I showed them the neighborhood, my favorite places there and of course the best place—the House of Youth Steilshoop. Showing the group a part of my identity was such a beautiful feeling because every part of that place had a story attached to it and I was able to share my emotional connection with the group. It was an honor for me. Showing them the House of Youth was beautiful, they were able to see the amazing work it does for the people in the neighborhood and also what it did for me. They were able to understand and see the impact it has on so many children. The group made me appreciate my neighborhood more and not to forget what it does.”
