Joslyn’s First Week Volunteering in Zanzibar with ReCoding Africa 2026
One week into her volunteering experience in Zanzibar, Joslyn Knaap has already stepped into many roles: teacher, learner, mentor, and member of a new community.
After arriving in Nungwi to begin her journey with R.O.S.A.’s ReCoding Africa Program, Joslyn spent her first week teaching, observing, connecting with students, and discovering what service learning looks like both inside and outside the classroom.
Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom
During the school day, Joslyn has been teaching English, Mathematics, and Digital Literacy at R.O.S.A.’s partner school in Nungwi. In the evenings, she has also supported English classes for adults developing language skills for opportunities in business and tourism.
But her first week has been about much more than teaching. By observing the school’s curriculum and classroom practices, Joslyn has been learning about the educational environment she has joined and how the ReCoding Africa Program can complement students’ existing learning through practical digital skills and learner-centered activities.
Between lessons, she has also been experiencing Zanzibar one step at a time, from the rhythms of daily life around the school to the quiet streets and sunsets that are becoming part of her new surroundings.
A First-Day Reflection on Hope
After only her first day teaching, Joslyn shared a reflection that captured the enthusiasm she saw in her students:
“I recently read a quote: ‘And sometimes, against all odds, we hope.’ I think this perfectly captures what the Kweto School embodies. The students are so excited to learn and so happy to be in the classroom. I’ve only taught for one day… but they’ve already given me hope for their future…”
Every small moment can make a difference.
Her reflection is also a reminder that international volunteering is a two-way learning experience. Volunteers arrive ready to share their knowledge, but they also listen, adapt, and grow alongside the students and communities they meet.
ReCoding Africa in Action
Through digital literacy, youth leadership, and cultural exchange, ReCoding Africa aims to help young people build practical skills, confidence, creativity, and critical thinking while helping bridge the digital divide.
For college students and recent graduates like Joslyn, volunteering in Zanzibar also offers the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a completely new environment while experiencing another culture through meaningful service.
Before arriving, Joslyn described the experience she hoped to have in three words:
Meaningful. Impactful. Transformative.
After her first week, that journey is already beginning to take shape. We look forward to sharing more of Joslyn’s experiences from Zanzibar in the weeks ahead.