Tanzania Working Their Way Up

8.23.15

On the way to the boma of the Enguruka Maasai, we passed by many other bomas. Some bomas were small and had a couple huts. Some bomas were huge and had thousands of livestock. There was a huge variety but I saw that many of these communities were not stuck. These communities had the opportunity to grow. I thought to myself, “Tanzania is not a bottom billion country.”

In Bottom Billion, Collier says, “With hard work, thrift, and intelligence a society can climb out of poverty unless it gets trapped.  The four big traps are 1) conflict, 2) natural resources, 3) being landlocked (with bad neighbors), and 4) bad governance” (5).  The people of Tanzania are so hard working. This value is evident in the younger generations who tend to the livestock. Every time we commuted to our next destination, we saw children as young as 7 years old caring for their cattle and goat. Tanzania is building up their agriculture. Many more kids are going to school. They have a great trade in livestock. They are not suffering from any of the traps. I just imagine this country growing and pulling out of poverty.

This day has taught me that as I shouldn’t hold the stereotype that all the people of Tanzania are suffering and starving. The people of Tanzania are working their way up just like I am. It’s easy to think about Africa as the starving continent, but not all countries of Africa are in that struggle. It's easy to believe the stereotypes. I learned that before believing these things, we should make sure we research the true facts.