alt Hacker NewsThis is of course true, but I see no way around it. Educating the people in developed countries about the realities in Africa is necessary too. And when it comes to the awareness it really depends on the people. You had that awareness when you came here, and we can only hope that anyone else who does come here displays that same awareness.
I do believe however that it is possible to have an influence on what people experience. For one it is not even necessary to travel to remote villages. One can see the reality in the cities and just a few km out. I would introduce them to average people here, meet business owners and give them an insight to what is a typical life here.
This also should not be a short trip. A month minimum. And ideally not in a hotel but some form of homestay or maybe AirBnB where you have to cook for yourself. Go to the market, buy ingredients, realize what is available to the average person. Then maybe visit a village and find the difference. The idea is to get an experience of what is it like to live here, and not just be a tourist.
Any of these visitors can then multiply their impact just like you did. They can motivate their friends to sponsor students and act as ambassadors.
You described my experience almost exactly. The first time I went to Tanzania I stayed for 2 months and part of that time was in Dar es Salaam in an Airbnb with a small family just outside of Kariakoo, the main market of the town. I also spent time with the family's parents in Kigogo, a densely populated area just outside the city limits that would be considered a slum by most people. The rest of the time was in the village.
I'm curious if you think a documentary could have a similar effect. I'm an amateur filmmaker by hobby and I've been thinking of filming a "Cinema Vérité" type documentary showing the humanity of Tanzania and trying to relate it to life in the US. I think it could be powerful but difficult to get right. I'd love to hear what you think about that.