We were lucky to catch up with Dagmara Ikiert recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dagmara , thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
I don’t really see myself as a generous person. I simply don’t believe in accumulation of material goods. It doesn’t make me happy, but rather frustrated. However sharing, gifting, providing opportunities to those who were not lucky enough to be born with them gives me a joy that is incomparable to any other feeling. Being present, for the past few years in the educational development in Tanzania made it clear that supporting education isn’t Aid or charity, it’s simply implementing a basic right of every child.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a 35-year-old graduate of Middle Eastern studies at the Jagiellonian University in Poland and the University of Bordeaux in France. Originally from Kraków, Poland I have linked my life with Africa for years, first with Morocco for 9 years, and since 2019 with Tanzania. On a daily basis, I run Uvi House & Restaurant in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania (@uvihouseandrestaurant) opening since summer 2023 after a general renovation. In 2020 due to COVID-caused stagnation in tourism I got firstly involved in educational projects for children from public primary schools from the area. I coordinate all our projects within the Sisterhood Land initiative that gave birth to a fully registered NGO – Uvi Foundation for Education chaired by my friend and co-founder of Uvi House Abdul KANIKI (@uvi.foundation.for.education www.uvifoundation.com)
I also run a personal blog on Instagram (@autentyczna_tanzania) showing every day life of a Polish girl in rural Tanzania, as well as updates on our development projects, traveling and safari tips. I have 6 adopted stray puppies from Morocco and Tanzania. I am a feminist, a businesswoman, an activist for sustainable and responsible Aid.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
An ability to adapt. To not judge different ways of life. To observe and try to get the best out of both worlds. Self confidence. No business, not développement project can succeed without you strongly believing in yourself.
Ability to seize the moment, enjoy the little things, small pleasures, because in the world of chaos and regular disappointments that’s the only thing that can keep your spirits up and your motivation thrive.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Our foundation is constantly looking for sponsors for our scholarships program. This year we already sent 72 gifted students to private schools providing them with way better educational opportunities than the public institutions. We are also looking for other NGOs to support our on ground projects like the tutoring program, sewing workshop and Sister’s Factory (mango jam and mango pickle). Photographers and teachers are always welcome to volunteer as mentors and tutors in our photography and tutoring classes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.uvifoundation.com
- Instagram: Autentyczna_tanzania
- Facebook: Uvi Foundation for Education
- Linkedin: Uvi Foundation for Education
- Other: @uvi.foundation.for.education @uvihouseandrestaurant @picha.na.dada
