After 4 long years of the COVID pandemic halting travels to Tanzania, an OMPACO team of five educators traveled to Arusha on July 9th, arriving at the lovely accommodations of the Medical Missionary of Mary Ngaramtoni (MMM) with views of beautiful Mount Meru and to the kind hospitality of the sisters of MMM. Our agenda: Teaching and Learning on Autism to educators of Arusha.

 

Our clinical team included Amanda Martinage, OTR/L, M.Ed, and Special Education Principal, Dr. Marth Collins, MD, MPH, Founder of OMPACO,  Megan Ricci, MA, School Psychologist, Wendy Ryder, MA, OTR/L, Special Education Administrator, and Kara Vetrano, MS, CCC-SLP. These educators worked closely with the Ministry of Education Director of Special Needs in Arusha, Dr. Eunice Tondi, for these trainings and future planning for students with disabilities. The team also included OMPACO member Veronika Sarwatt who served as our wonderful interpreter and guide throughout the trip, assuring we had all the amenities necessary for a 2+ week journey in Tanzania.

 

This team worked with 45 educators from 10 various schools in Arusha for training on Autism, July 11-13. The first workshop was a dynamic, interactive training on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Awareness and Knowledge, focusing on the etiology of Autism, Assessment, Communication, Teaching Strategies, Behavioral Interventions, and IEP (Individualized Educational Program). The training included slide decks, short instructional videos, discourse and hands on learning opportunities. Educators were eager participants with a thirst for knowledge and sharing of their own experiences with neurodiverse students.

 

Hosted by the Meru Primary School, these full days of learning included chai and many resources for addressing ASD. While trainings were underway, Dr. Martha Collins and Vero offered consultation to 30 families and their students with disabilities.  Among the children seen were a variety of conditions including chronic epilepsy, intellectual disability (ID), hearing loss, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, results of cerebral malaria in early childhood (intellectual disability, and problems resembling autism). Many of the children had already been seen and treated for these conditions and remain in the care hospitals or dispensaries in the area.

 

On Thursday evening at the completion of this 3 day training, three of the educators ventured out during this first trip to Tanzania on a safari, visiting three national parks/conservation land and meeting 22 lions, a leopard, cheetah, and countless other wildlife in their natural habitat over 3 days/evenings. In Serengti they stayed in a tent in the national park with the sounds of nocturnal animals resonating throughout the night.

 

During this time, Amanda, Dr. Collins and Vero traveled to Dareda to visit many friends in the area. 

 

On Sunday evening, the clinical team reunited at MMM from their travels and diligently worked on the following 2 day training: Autism in the Classroom. This workshop, July 17-18, was presented to 30 educators at Meru Primary School, and included the application of strategies/interventions for autism in the classroom as well as IEP development and writing for many of the attendees’ students in their classrooms. This training proved to be successful case studies of current students, providing hands-on interventions the educators could immediately implement in their classrooms the very next day!

 

After completing this training, the OMPACO team sorted through 4 extra large suitcases that accompanied them from the USA with donations of school supplies and games/toys compiled by OMPACO member Gwen Bertrand, educator and colleague of the clinical team. These donations were delivered to students in 4 schools in Arusha on Wednesday morning. The students and their teachers were excited and appreciative to receive these supplies and materials to use throughout the school year.

 

The following day the team toured the location and construction site of the future Cevahir School, a fabulous location near the development of Safari City. This will be a special education residential school for up to 20 students with disabilities, lead by Eunice, family and staff. It was exciting to imagine what will be a wonderful life experience for these students, offering opportunities for all aspects of growth and well being as the students develop into adulthood.

 

On the final day/evening for the OMPACO team, we visited the existing residential school site, Gateway. This visit was followed by a delicious dinner at the beautiful home of Eunice and her family. Having enjoyed the cuisine of Arusha throughout the trip, this was a wonderful sendoff for the OMPACO USA group.

 

However, education and consultation will not end here for this group of educators and the attendees of the trainings. A WhatsApp Group has been created and offers a platform for sharing, questions, and resources that will be ongoing. In addition, this training involved research and data collection for advanced studies in Autism that will be conducted by OMPACO.

 

On July 21, this OMPACO USA team arrived at the Kilimanjaro Airport, with a viewing of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro along the way, for their journey back to the states. It was a busy and productive visit, one with many lasting memories for this group as well as attendees. We look forward to future work in Tanzania next year!!