Teens Helping Teens

The story of how a group of Toronto students went to a Precious Blood Fathers mission in Tanzania, helped on building a windmill and digging for water wells and in return, learned something about the deep faith and courage of the Tanzanians they lived and worked with.

Materials

Videos:

Teens Helping Teens

Website:

Magazine:

  • Missions Today (the magazine published by the Propagation of the Faith/English Canadian Branch. Online version.

 

Study Guide

Goal

The goal of this program is to introduce students to the Catholic Church in Tanzania and through the eyes of some students who actually went there to help out, see how the Church is flourishing and building for its future.

Steps

1. Show this program Teens Helping Teens

2. Ask students to form small groups to describe the following impressions from the video:

  • Name some of the main characters in this DVD and say what it is they are trying to do for the people of Tanzania. Describe the key initiatives of the Toronto students in their efforts to help Tanzanians
  • What have we learned about the Catholic Church in Tanzania?
  • In what ways is the Tanzanian Church building for its future? What did you know after viewing the DVD that you didn’t know before?
  • Give three reasons why Canadian Catholics should support the work of the Church in Tanzania.

3. Option for Take-Home Assignment

Via the Internet find more facts about:

  • The Church in Tanzania, is population, number of priests, religious brothers and sisters.
  • Locate areas in Tanzania where the majority of its Catholics live.
  • Describe the basic economic situation of Tanzanians. Include key statistics: life expectancy, health care issues, educational/ literacy levels, clean water availability.
  • Describe how students can help Propagation of the Faith support Catholics and their work in Tanzania

In groups, make presentations to the class about any or all of the above.