Schools

Tanzania Calling South Elementary School Students

A retired school social worker uses Skype to teach her former students in Windsor Locks about her activities in Tanzania.

Barb Carman may have retired as an educator at in Windsor Locks last year, but this week she reached across the globe to teach some students.

Carman, a former social worker, has been living in Moshi, Tanzania for the past few months where she and her husband Richard work for Mosaic, an international non-profit organization that helps people with disabilities.

South School Spanish Teacher Manuela Canales had been exchanging emails with Carman and the two friends decided it would be a good experience for her to communicate with students using Skype, computer-based teleconferencing software.

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“I was excited,” Carman said “I thought, sure I’d love to do it,” Carman said.

During Friday’s session, Carman described to fifth grade students what Tanzania is like, its climate, national animal and some details about its culture. She told the students that many Tanzanians live in small homes with one room, no windows or doors, no running water or electricity.

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“Tanzanians are extremely kind, caring and friendly people,” Carman said.

She told them about how the country formed, how the Massai is the only independent tribe in Tanzania, and how the large Indian population has had a significant influence on cooking in the country.

While it was 2 p.m. for students here in Connecticut when they spoke to Carman, it was 9 p.m. in Tanzania.

When asked by a student, which she likes most the United States or Tanzania, Carman said she likes her stay in the African country but is looking forward to coming home to Connecticut.

Carman said there are two things she loves in Tanzania.

“One, the mix of different religions,” Carman said. “We have all kinds of sounds around us. We hear church bells, we hear the call to prayer at the mosques and Hindus going to temple.  And what’s cool is everyone gets along.”

Aran Gillette, 11, said he enjoyed the session with Carman.

“I think its real cool that we get to talk to someone in Tanzania who used to be our social worker,” Gillette said.

Fellow fifth-grader Kevin Smalley said speaking with Carman through Skype was great opportunity.

“Because she retired last year, we’re just learning about Tanzania and she’s there now,” Smalley said.

South Elementary Principal James Morarity asked Carman what schools are like over there. She answered that school is half a day, they’re small and overcrowded, and not everyone can go to school.

All of the students must wear uniforms, but there are a lot of families that can’t afford to buy uniforms, so they can’t go to school, Carman said.

“The government says no matter what they should be receiving an education,” Carman said.

Carman, who worked for 20 years at South Elementary School, said she enjoyed the sessions with students on Thursday and Friday.


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