Enactus Students Create Eye-Opening Memories in Tanzania

Earlier this year, from Jan. 13-23, as part of the Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries (STEMM), a non-profit organization, three Enactus students from Briar Cliff University embarked on a life-changing journey to Mbuguni, Tanzania.

The group built up a classroom for local children, played soccer and served locals during their trip. While they had fun serving and getting to know the locals, the trip offered them a new perspective on life and about themselves.

Student Perspectives

Milorad Rajovic, a senior business administration student from Belgrade, Serbia, reflected on how the trip shaped his perspective on global issues.

“I remember one moment vividly; we were painting school blackboards in a classroom in a small village, and a group of children came by to watch us work,” Rajovic said. “They were so excited, asking questions, laughing and even helping in small ways. It struck me how much hope and possibility a single classroom could bring to their lives.”

Rajovic also noted that the people he met on the trip taught him so much about resilience. Seeing the challenges they face daily while still radiating positivity and strength made a lasting impression on him.

Teagan Slaughter, a senior double majoring in business administration and marketing from Cherokee, Iowa, noted that a key takeaway from the trip was the privilege to serve others.

“It was amazing how an act of service that seems so small can change someone’s life,” Slaughter said. “This trip also helped me realize the joy of having a servant heart. The trip also opened my eyes to how lucky we really are and to not take what we have for granted.”

She also urges other students at BCU to join Enactus, because if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to experience a trip like this.

Helene Bergmo, a senior double majoring in international business and business administration from Moelv, Norway, noted how eye-opening the trip was.

“Some of my key takeaways are to appreciate how easy it is for us to get a basic education and to appreciate everything we have available to us here,” Bergmo said. “My favorite moment of the trip was when we helped feed some of the schoolchildren lunch and seeing how much they appreciated the food and milk they were given.”

An Unforgettable Experience

Beyond the impact they made, their journey serves as a constant reminder of the blessings they have in life that are often overlooked. While they implore other students at The Cliff to experience the trip for themselves, they know the experience will have the same eye-opening effect.