Tanzania up close: Lecture about life and challenges in East Africa

Tanzania up close: Lecture about life and challenges in East Africa

On May 15, 2025, Kerstin Guttmann will give a lecture at KUKUNA Bad Tabarz based on her fourth trip to Tanzania. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. and promises to present new stories, personal encounters and impressive images of the African country. This talk follows a highly successful talk in February 2025 and focuses in particular on the lives of people in the provinces of Tanzania from the perspective of a nurse. A central theme will be the “typically German” work ethic in East Africa, with the connection to Rot-Weiß-Erfurt also being addressed. As part of the lecture, a fair trade stand with products from Tanzania will be offered, allowing visitors to take a piece of the culture with them.

The diverse challenges associated with life in Tanzania are also clear in the stories of immigrants like Janine Hundt. About two years ago, the 44-year-old decided to make a new start in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. Her goal was to enter the music business and begin a collaboration with local singer Berdon. But the reality turned out to be difficult: the original business idea failed and the resulting challenges put a considerable strain on Janine's financial flexibility.

Cultural adjustment and personal challenges

In the midst of her efforts to succeed, Janine experienced a major setback when she had €1,700 stolen by her housekeeper. Despite confessing in court, the chances of getting a refund were slim, leaving Janine frustrated and angry. The challenges that come with cultural differences and setbacks taught her a lot about adaptability and perseverance. These experiences are not uncommon in Tanzania's immigrant community and illustrate that the road to success is often rocky.

Fate changed for Janine when she found her true love, 35-year-old local man Attu. The two married and became parents to little Inaya. Janine is now planning to move to the bushland with her family, which brings with it new adventures and challenges. Life away from the big city will present the two of them with a whole new set of adjustment problems. But the experiences she has had so far in Tanzania have shown her that in a foreign country you often have to be flexible and resilient in order to meet the demands of everyday life.

The stories by Kerstin Guttmann and Janine Hundt offer a deep insight into life in Tanzania, which is characterized by cultural differences, challenges, but also love and hope. Such stories invite you to reflect on your own perspective on other cultures and raise awareness of the diversity of human experiences. Further information about the event can be found at Oscar on Friday and Foreign perspective.