Oct. 3, 2014: Tanzanian student offers perspective on world hunger, by Tutty Mwankusye

As a student at Cloud County Community College, I am privileged to be a part of this community.

I am majoring in counseling psychology. I would like to work with young people one day, those who need somebody to talk to; to give direction and educate in areas parents and teacher cannot give details about.

I became interested in this career because of my adolescence experiences and the youth groups I worked for in the past. While volunteering my time with children at church and primary schools, I realized that there is need and I took the step to go to college. My goal is to help young people in my country and make a difference in the lives of people around me.

I am so grateful for being awarded different scholarships through the CCCC Foundation. Without these scholarships, I would not able to reach my dreams. When I received this support I felt like a heavy weight was lifted off my shoulders and it inspired me to help others by giving back to the community. I hope that one day I will be able to help some students to achieve their education.

Living with Sisters at the Manna House of Prayer, being part of Victory Faith Assembly of God Church, volunteering at Neighbor to Neighbor, and at the Catholic Thrift Shop — all of these have allowed me to gain skills and character values essential to be a competent counselor. I am very blessed to be a part of this great community.

I’m from Tanzania, located in East Africa. I was raised in a middle-class family in the capital city of Dar-es-Salaam, with a population of more than 4 million people.

My country is categorized as a low-income country. We have people living on less than $1 a day.

According to the United Nations’ World Food Programme, “Tanzania is among the African countries with the highest levels of malnutrition. Some 42 percent of children aged under 5 years of age are stunted, eight out of 10 children under 1 year old are anemic, and about a third of children aged 6 months to 5 years are Vitamin A deficient. Poor nutrition is also a serious problem among women of reproductive age, with more than half of pregnant women anemic and one in 10 women undernourished.”

I witnessed some children in my neighborhood having only supper as their one meal of the day. They go to school in the morning without breakfast and not sure of lunch when they return home. They only eat before going to bed, and that food does not have enough nutrients to support their body growth.

I can say peace for me is the day that the countries around me will be able to discuss their issues and work for the good of their people. That peace would be when people can respect the differences of those around them even if they do not share those views. There is little hope for peace until the continent as a whole achieves peace.

I would like everyone to know that there is hunger out in the world and just because they are not facing the issue they should not forget those who are suffering every day.

— Tutty Mwankusye has been living at Manna House of Prayer and attending Cloud County Community College for two years. She will be returning to Tanzania in December.