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Going The Extra Mile: Miracle Corners of the World Focuses on Youth Development
Nick Gosling
TravelTalkMEDIA

Arusha, Tanzania – On a muddy backstreet of a suburb of Arusha stands the humble Miracle Corners of the World community center, its iron-gated door open to all those who pass by.
Inside, preschool children dressed in dark green sweaters line up for the day’s activities and older students of the center play a pick-up basketball game. It’s still early here in the day but soon young and old will be divided up – and the teaching will begin.

Nick Gosling, TravelTalkMEDIA correspondent

At the Miracle Corners of the World’s Arusha community center, African children, teenagers and young adults are receiving the opportunity of a lifetime – they are learning skills that will help them succeed and pursue a better living.

In the community center’s main building, trained instructors are teaching students English and computer skills. Students like 21-year-old Rashid Simbano, who is working toward his computer and English certifications so he can find a better paying job.

“I took the class because I wanted to improve my life,” says Simbano before his English class begins, a subject he had been studying for five months. “For my thought, I think it can help me to get a job which can help me in my life,” Simbano adds. Penina Kivuyozo, who is working toward her English certificate, says she’s taking the classes to “speak English better” and one day she hopes to have a job as a secretary.

Miracle Corners of the World (MCW) has been working to help youths since the non-profit organization was founded in 1999 by Programs Director Rob Alsbrooks and Executive Director Edward Bergman. Since then, the organization has established three community centers in Arusha, Songea, Tanzania and Kissey, Sierra Leone, and is currently looking at two new community centers in the Bugesera District of Rwanda and in the Sierra Leon Provinces. Both are expected to open in 2009, according to MCW Programs Director Alfred Hanssen. (Listen to Alfred's interview on TravelTalkRADIO on May25, 2008)

“We are also [looking] at developing new community centers in Zambia and Ethiopia, however, these locations are included in our more long term vision,” said Hanssen in an e-mail.

Besides community development and the establishment of community centers, MCW is focused on youth leadership, healthcare development and partner initiatives.

Miracle Corners of the World Community Center in Arusha Tanzania. Where the local children come after their school day.

Miracle Corners of the World was recently given an achievement award from the Africa Travel Assoc. (ATA) 2008

Since 1999, MCW has held 10 youth leadership retreats, focused on dental care outreach and HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention centers in Tanzania through partner organizations, worked with global partners like New York University and on projects like the Container Project, an effort to donate supplies to projects and partners in Africa.
In Arusha, the community center is an integral part of life for many Arushans – and a golden opportunity.

“The center is the only place that offers affordable education in the area, [and is] also found in densely populated area where most of the disadvantaged community live,” said Felix Nyakatale, Program Director the MCW’s Arusha Center, in an e-mail.

“The English as a second language help[s] participants to access computer education and other training offered in Arusha. The computer course give[s] them opportunities to access jobs and self employment. Tradition dancing and music empower the youth to be the positive agencies in the community, [and] also it help[s] them to generate income.”

Besides training in English and computer skills, the Perfect Youth Group has a home at the Arusha’s community center. The youth group study’s performing arts, traditional dance, music, drama, comedy and singing.

“Each center’s programs are developed with community stakeholders and based on a needs assessment,” said Hanssen. “For example, the MCT-A (Miracle Corners Tanzania Arusha) offers English and Spanish language education, preschool education, IT education, and is a home to the Perfect Youth Group. While the center [which is] being developed in Rwanda will likely offer similar programs as well as small business development classes and a forum for dialogue about genocide, human rights and the reconstruction of the Rwandan State.”

For more information on MCW, visit www.miraclecorners.org.

Pictures by Nick Gosling and Alfred Hanssen.

A pickup basketball game at the MCW community center.
The Perfect Youth Group rehearses
a dance.
Students are taught vital computer skills at the Arusha center.

Listen to an interview with TravelTalkMEDIA's Travel Writer and Photographer Nick Gosling HERE on wsRadio.com.
Check out his photos HERE