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Cultural Exchange

Over 17 years of face-to-face meetings have built lasting relationships. Exchange is essential to our success. By bringing people here and us going there,  we are better able to understand their needs & help them achieve their dreams.

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Relationships are at the heart of what we do

Our friendships built over the past decade drive our mission to help the people of Pomerini.  When working on projects thousands of miles away, our mutual trust and respect allows us to work more effectively to provide help to their most critical needs.  These continued friendships have changed lives on both sides of the world.

Trip Report September 2025

Learn more about our most recent trip to Tanzania
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History of Face to Face Exchange and Friendship

making lasting change by one to one personal interactions

2025: Group of six AEP board members and spouse traveled to Pomerini in October. They visited Novetha school to see a mushroom growing business inspired by my visit to the US.  They also visited Tumaini’s classroom to see the impact of the computers and internet access that we were able to purchase. Another highlight was seeing our recently purchased ultrasound machine in action at the local health clinic.

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2024:  We sponsored two visitors from Pomerini to tour different facilities to help learn new techniques. Novetha, head of an agricultural school, visited many organic farms and science classrooms.  Tumaini, head of a primary special needs program, visited inclusonary public elementary schools as well as  a school dedicated to students with autism and another school decidated to student with hearing impairments.

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2023: In June of 2023, AEP Board members, Jim Ahern, Greg Morisse, and Rob Schadt along with volunteers Ruth, Molly, and Mattie made the two-week journey. Our recent visit gave us the opportunity to reconnect with Spora and Wingred who visited the US in 2019. We also attended a dedication to the new Science Center we completed at the end of 2022 as well as get updates on our project areas of education, healthcare, and fresh water.

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2019: Sponsored two teachers from the Pomerini Secondary School to visit the Boston area.  Spora and Wingred toured many of the local high schools and colleges to get a better sense of Massachusett’s approach to education. As head of the curriculum, Spora brought back many new ideas.

2018: Group of 11 Board members and supports travelled to Pomerini. While there, the group meets with local community leaders to learn more about the village and to check on the progress of our projects.

2017: Shadrack Nyaulingo, headmaster of the Pomerini Secondary School, visited the United States to learn about our education system as well as help educate us about the needs of his schools. Without proper science labs, his students are forced to leave his schools in order to qualify to pursue a science major.
2015: Group of 13 travelers stayed at the Mission House.  Several young adults were part of the crew. Opening their eyes to the beauty of the land, learning to value their culture and understanding the inherit inequities helps creates youth who are ready to help tackle these world problems.
2014: Barnabas Chavala and Engera Swai came to the Massachusetts to help promote the needs of their village and to describe the hardships of everyday life.  They presented to many high school and middle school students on how the access to clean waters has impacted their lives.
2012: Castor Sanguya, manager of the well drilling operation in Tanzania, came to help educate us on the positive impact of the clean water wells in the community and the difficulties faced when trying to maintain the well.  Castor spoke at many different venues to help people understand.
2008: Songs for Fresh Water Tour.  To help raise awareness of the water insecurity in rural Tanzania, a group of 14 choir members came to spread their story through song. Performing over 30 concerts in a four week period, they were able to raise enough funds to complete 24 wells.

2007: Our first journey of 17 adult and youth travelers visited Pomerini to build relationships and learn more about our “adopted” village. We were eager to see the kindergarten that we helped fund and during this visit the group determined that access to clean water was the villagers’ most critical need.

Bob Ahearn started it all. Over 20 years ago, Bob Ahearn joined a trip to Pomerini organized by Global Volunteers. He instantly fell in love with the warm smiles and easy laughter of the people. Upon returning to the US, he convinced others to join his passion to help and thus planted the seeds of the Africa Exchange Project.