Living in Tanzania: How an IST Family Made Dar es Salaam Feel Like Home

Originally from Kingston upon Thames in England, Naomi, her husband and two boys - aged 11 and 6 - moved to Tanzania a year ago.

“My husband got a job with an NGO called PSI, and we decided to make the move,” Naomi said. “The kids were at a good age, and we were ready for an adventure.”

Though this was not their first time in the country, as her sister-in-law lived here and got married on Mbudya Island, living in Tanzania permanently was different. Naomi wanted to make sure everything - the home, the community, and the school - made the transition more comfortable for her family.

They decided to live on the peninsula in Masaki, a decision that Naomi is quite happy with. 

“I like the community very much, I have made some amazing friends here particularly when I have a problem, many people are willing to help and support. The whole family has a very active social life!”

As for choosing the right school for her two children, Naomi and her husband - after some research and some time at another school - knew the International School of Tanganyika (IST) was the perfect option.

“When we moved to Tanzania, IST was full, so we weren’t able to enroll and decided to go to another international school. However, my son suffered academically and emotionally, so we decided to switch schools to IST.”

Naomi also quoted the exceptional learning IST provides as a reason she wanted to enroll her children there. 

“We chose IST because of its track record of results, student-centered learning, quality of teachers and facilities. The school grounds are well-maintained, very welcoming and the children on campus are respectful and polite,” Naomi said. “It is heads and shoulders above other schools in Dar es Salaam.”

Once the children were in a great school and the family had its home set up in a way that made it feel like a home, the family started their process of settling in. 

The family sourced local furniture and fabrics and worked on making the home their own. They traveled a lot during the holidays to experience the surreal geography, history, and culture of Tanzania. They also worked on establishing friendships within their community. 

“There is a brilliant community here, and it’s very easy to get involved.”

Naomi also quoted the school community as aiding the family in their transition into the Dar es Salaam way of life. 

According to Naomi, the parent transition workshop the school hosted was beneficial and was a way to establish connections of her own.

“The parents at IST are also very welcoming and helpful; drop off, pickups and assemblies are very sociable times, and I have met many new people at school this way.”

Her children were instantly welcomed into all activities at IST and well looked after. Naomi quickly witnessed how the school went above and beyond to make each student feel special. 

“The HOS knows the name of every student, so after the first week he would greet my boys by name which really helped!”

A year later, Naomi and her family are doing exceptionally well. She said it took around a year for the family to truly settle in, but after receiving her children’s reports recently, she is proud and encouraged by their achievements and can see they feel at home.

“IST has helped with their confidence and exposure to so many things that we wouldn’t have had in England,” Naomi said. “We’ve made some lifelong friends and had many adventures.”

Looking back on that original decision between her and her husband to make the big move across international waters, she does not doubt it was the right one. 

“Moving to IST was the best decision we made for our entire family,” Naomi said. “The children are engaged academically and socially, I have made many friends and have been actively encouraged to be involved with my children’s learning.”

When asked to give a piece of advice to other families making the move to Dar es Salaam, she responded eagerly. 

“Don’t expect to get it right the first time and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Naomi said. “The community here is more than happy to offer advice, support or a ride home for your child when you get stuck in traffic!”

Is your family looking for a school in Dar es Salaam? Find out what sets IST apart from other schools by clicking here.