Travelling across Tanzania to cultivate responsible tourism

Reenas Mohamed (right) pictured with Masaai women during a visit to a cultural toursim enterprise. The women showed the students weaving techniques they use to make the different handmade products they sell.
Reenas Mohamed (right) pictured with Masaai women during a visit to a cultural toursim enterprise. The women showed the students weaving techniques they use to make the different handmade products they sell. (Photo courtesy of Reenas Mohamed)

Megan Easton

Reenas Mohamed says her drive to work in the field of international development stems from being born in a developing country, but raised in Canada. “Coming from Sudan to Canada at such a young age has allowed me to build an attachment to being a catalyst for change, not only in my country of origin, but also the world.”

Mohamed, a fourth-year University of Toronto Scarborough student in International Development Studies and Political Science, went back to Sudan in 2015 to volunteer with a local NGO. More recently, she travelled to Arusha, Tanzania, for her placement as a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship recipient. In partnership with the World University Service of Canada, she worked as a communications and documentation officer with the Tanzania Tourist Board, which focuses on providing authentic and responsible tourism.

“Coming from Sudan to Canada at such a young age has allowed me to build an attachment to being a catalyst for change, not only in my country of origin, but also the world," says Mohamed.

One of the highlights of her time there, says Mohamed, was interacting with the Tanzanian people. “I got to travel all over the country to meet amazing, diverse people who work at cultural tourism enterprises. Back at our home office, we had the chance to meet some local children. My roommate and I would always hear amazing music coming form the elementary school next door, so one afternoon we decided to drop by and introduce ourselves.”

Mohamed and other QE scholars during a trip to Babati.
Mohamad (centre) with other Queen Elizabeth scholars during a visit to Babati, Tanzania. (Photo courtesy of Reenas Mohamed)

While communication was the greatest challenge Mohamed faced during her placement, she took steps to overcome the problem. “I took Kiswahili classes to allow the primarily Kiswahili speakers to feel more comfortable when approaching me,” she says. This knowledge helped her in all aspects of her role, including her mandate to help ensure the participation and representation of women and youth in the activities of the Tanzania Tourist Board.

Mohamed says the placement reaffirmed her decision to pursue a career in international development, including furthering her learning at the master’s level. “I hope this placement was the first of many international experiences.”

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) is managed through a unique partnership of Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF), Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) and Canadian universities. This program is made possible with financial support from the Government of Canada, provincial governments and the private sector.