Nightmare experience for Tanzanian exchange student in the United States

[n00b]

THISDAY REPORTER & AGENCIES
Dar es Salaam

A GROUP of exchange students from Tanzania and other countries have been placed in deplorable conditions in Pennsylvania, United States, with some becoming malnourished or living in buildings strewn with dog faeces, it has been revealed.

Prosecutors in the US say the amount of neglect inflicted upon the high school students merits criminal charges being brought against those responsible.

The Deputy District Attorney for Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania, Michelle Olshefski, said an investigation has confirmed that foreign exchange students from Tanzania and elsewhere were placed in unsuitable homes by a former employee of Aspect Foundation, a San Francisco, California-based non-profit organisation that brings about 1,000 exchange students into the US each year.

’’The DA’s (district attorney’s) office is convinced that criminal activity occurred, that there was a pattern of criminal neglect and a pattern of placing these children in danger, not only of physical harm but emotional and psychological harm,’’ said Olshefski, who heads the special victims unit.

’’We believe that criminal charges are warranted,’’ she added.

The former area coordinator with Aspect Foundation, Edna Burgette, was fired after allegations surfaced in May this year of the malnourished students living in houses in Scranton, Pennsylvania whose floors were covered with dog faeces.

Burgette was paid $400 for each student she placed under the exchange programme.

The scandal involves as many as 12 exchange students from Tanzania, Vietnam, Nigeria, Denmark, Colombia, Norway and France.

It could not be immediately established how many Tanzanian students are currently taking part in the exchange programme organised by Aspect Foundation.

The US State Department, which regulates private student-exchange organisations like Aspect, is reported to have now imposed a range of penalties on the non-profit organisation, including a 15 per cent reduction in the number of visas it will be allowed to distribute next school year.

’’Aspect Foundation fully acknowledges that what happened in Scranton was deplorable and in complete violation of their own strict standards and those of the Department of State’s exchange visitor programme,’’ Aspect spokeswoman Karen Walsh wrote in an email.

She said the foundation has corrected the problems, fired or accepted resignations of those responsible, and established procedures ’’to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.’’

Olshefski declined to say if or when charges will be filed, or who could be charged. But she said an investigation continues into whether others knew or should have known that the students were being mistreated.

’’We have our suspicions that others, in a way, played a part in Edna’s ability to do what she did. Our investigation continues into whether their conduct rises to be criminal,’’ she said.

A US grand jury has been investigating the scandal. Because grand jury proceedings in Pennsylvania are secret, Olshefski stressed that her comments are based on a criminal probe that took place outside the grand jury.

In May this year, 17-year-old exchange student Nicklas Schreyer from Denmark - who was sent to Pennsylvania to spend a school year at a local high school - explained how he quickly discovered things weren’t the way Aspect Foundation had promised.

He shared a small bedroom with an exchange student from Tanzania. He was threatened with being sent back to Denmark when he broke a house rule, such as leaning on the dinner table.

He couldn’t attend field trips to places like New York City and Washington DC, because he said the area programme coordinator, Edna Burgette, never told him about these trips. He also said whenever he called her for help, she hung up, and his pleas were ignored.

’’I tried to tell Edna I couldn’t live like that because there were some crazy rules in the house,’’ Schreyer said. ’’She kept telling me to just be happy I had a family and a roof over my head, and then she would just hang up on me.’’

After about a month, Schreyer called his mother in Denmark, who reached out to the authorities for help.

The treatment of Schreyer and his Tanzanian roommate, along with at least 10 other exchange students in various parts of Pennsylvania, has become the subject of an official investigation by local officials and the US Department of State.

The Tanzanian exchange student (name withheld for now) who had been living with Schreyer could not be reached for comment.

The Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Ms Mwantumu Mahiza, who is currently in Dodoma attending the annual parliamentary budget session, said she did not have an immediate comment on the matter, instead referring THISDAY to the ministry’s permanent secretary in Dar es Salaam.

According to the Aspect Foundation website, it was founded in 1985 as a small non-profit organisation offering affordable, study-abroad opportunities to students from more than 50 countries, including Tanzania.

The exchange students live with volunteer host families in more than 350 communities throughout the United States.

’’We adhere to strict standards for student and host family selection, and we provide all participants with solid preparation for this once-in-a-lifetime experience,’’ Aspect claims on its website.

 

[Kibunango]

A TANZANIAN student who was part of a group of foreign exchange students subjected to nightmare conditions in the United States has narrated how he was mistreated by his host and left malnourished.

Secondary school student Musa Mpulki, who recently returned home, spent nine months in the US under a controversial student exchange programme.

In an interview with CNN before he left the US for home, Musa said he did not want to upset his mother, so he never told her that he had little to eat during his stay in the home of a 72-year-old American man who had put up signs on his refrigerator saying some food was only for family.

More: ThisDay

 

[Edson]

pole zake huku kijana

 

[Mponjoli]

Rudi nyumbani,si kila mzungu ni padre

 

[BelindaJacob]

Amejutaaa kwenda marekani..pole yake

 

[Kitoto Akisa]

Musa hawa jamaa ndivyo walivyo ubaguzi kwao ni dini. pole sana hii iwe fundisho kwa wengine wanao fikiri USA ni pepo!

 

[Fidel80]

Wengi wanajua ukiwa majuu ni rahaa kumbe kuna karaha zake raha kama unapesa ya kifisadi

 

[Malyamungu]

This people are criminal msiwaone na hii ngozi mkijua ni wasamaria wema. Africa ndo kuna usamaria mwema tena bongo pekee yake.

Musa waeleze wenzio mdogo wangu. Huku si mchezo.

 

[Mama Joe]

mzazi alimchangia kitu gani huyo mtoto wake anayetaka kufungua friji za watu!
unajua nyie bongo mnafikiri kila kitu bure, wenzenu wana budget maalum, nadhani kunaukikajia wa namna ambayo angeenda kuishi kule kwa hao waliompeleka, ndo maana wenyeji wamestick kwenye budget yao. pole sana

 

[Kekuye]

Mama Joe suala siyo bajeti wala ufikiri wa Bongo, ni ubaguzi wa rangi na roho mbaya tu. Ukarimu hautengenezwi kwa bajeti ya kutosheleza. Kwa nini huyo Mzee alikubali kukaa naye kama alijua bajeti yake haitamtosheleza? Ninaamini hakulazimishwa kukaa na huyo mwanafunzi. Vile vile wale Watanzania waliopo kule vijijini huwa siyo matajiri ila ni wakarimu. Mgeni akija hata kama chakula hakitatosha mtakula wote kilichopo. Ndiyo maana halisi ya kuwa binadamu na wala siyo bajeti na kuwa Bongo...

 

[Mama Joe]

Mama Joe suala siyo bajeti wala ufikiri wa Bongo, ni ubaguzi wa rangi na roho mbaya tu. Ukarimu hautengenezwi kwa bajeti ya kutosheleza. Kwa nini huyo Mzee alikubali kukaa naye kama alijua bajeti yake haitamtosheleza? Ninaamini hakulazimishwa kukaa na huyo mwanafunzi. Vile vile wale Watanzania waliopo kule vijijini huwa siyo matajiri ila ni wakarimu. Mgeni akija hata kama chakula hakitatosha mtakula wote kilichopo. Ndiyo maana halisi ya kuwa binadamu na wala siyo bajeti na kuwa Bongo...

Kekuye ndo maana nikasema wenzenu, na sio sisi, suala hapo ni budget tu, kama ni ubaguzi asingempokea kabisa, unajuaje alikuwa anaishi nae akijaribu kuona kama atapata msaada.
Hata hapa bongo tumeishaanza hizi tabia, mbona yule mama na watoto wa Lindi wapo Kkoo kuna mtu anawakaribisha? kuwaleta watu tu nyumbani kwetu ngumu, itakuwa kuwaingiza kwenye budget ya mwezi mzima?
Jamani tuwe wakweli

 

[Black Jesus]

A TANZANIAN student who was part of a group of foreign exchange students subjected to nightmare conditions in the United States has narrated how he was mistreated by his host and left malnourished.

Secondary school student Musa Mpulki, who recently returned home, spent nine months in the US under a controversial student exchange programme.

In an interview with CNN before he left the US for home, Musa said he did not want to upset his mother, so he never told her that he had little to eat during his stay in the home of a 72-year-old American man who had put up signs on his refrigerator saying some food was only for family.

More: ThisDay

Hiyo imetokea kama ni bahati mbaya ,nasio kweli kama wazungu wapo hivyo leo tuangalie misada wanayoitowa kwa Tanzania .

 

[Sikonge]

Nyie watu vipi,
Hamkawii kuita watu WABAGUZI. Nyie mmeshakaribisha hata watoto wa shangazi zenu. ROho zenu KOROSHO kama nini. Ona akina Lowassa wanaiba hadi MBEGU za Taifa na tena ni weusi wenzetu. Na tukizidiwa inabidi tuende kwa hao hao Wazungu waje watusaidie. Mmesikia habari ya pande moja bila kujua upande wa pili na tayari mmeshaanza kusema WAZUNGU ni WABAGUZI, nyie siyo WABAGUZI?

Ninaamini Wazungu wangelikuwa MASIKINI na siye ni MATAJIRI, wangelikuwa wameshauliwa wote. Siye MIPINGO ndiyo tuna roho KOROSHO kama nini. Ona tunavyonyanyasana wenyewe kwa wenyewe. Mzungu sijui ingelikuwaje....

Acheni Vi-complex vya kipuuzi. Wazungu ni binadamu kama sisi. Kuna akina Hitler na kuna watu wa roho nzuri kwelikweli. Wanglikuwa Wabaguzi wangelimchagua OBAMA? Wangelikuwa wabaguzi wangesikiliza miziki yetu? Wangeliangalia michezu tunayoshiriki? Hawa wote akina Tupac, 50Cents, Kobe, nk wanapata hela nyingi kwa sababu tu WAZUNGU wananunua product zao.
Leo hii Hasheem Thabeet kasajiliwa NBA, unafikiri waliotoa RUHUSA ni akina Kikwete? Si ni Wazungu hao hao? Jana mlikuwa mwashangilia, na leo machungu....

Hiki kitoto unaweza kukuta kilikuwa kinajifungulia kila kitu bila heshima. Fungua maziwa nusu anakunywa na akija anafungua tena, baadhi ya vyakula vilikuwa labda vya member wa familia ambaye ki-afya ni lazima ale hivyo. Yeye akajua tayarii wamemtenga. Msihukumu milele bila ya kusikiliza upande wa pili wa shilingi. Naungana na MAMA JOE kwa maneno yake kuwa "kama wangelikuwa WABAGUZI, wasingelimleta KABISAAA..." Kwani si ilikuwa hiari? THINK TWICE.

 

[Mama Joe]

Kweli kabisa Sikonge, mtoto huyo katia aibu, malezi bora, chakula mezani, kwenye friji ni mpishi tu, hii ni kwa budget na afya pia.
Niambieni nyie bongo wale wageni wenu mnawakaribisha ndani? friji zetu nyingi zina lock! kabati lock! Tv na music system lock! servant quarter ndo wageni wanafikia na choo ya nje, lol

 

[Sikonge]

Kweli kabisa Sikonge, mtoto huyo katia aibu, malezi bora, chakula mezani, kwenye friji ni mpishi tu, hii ni kwa budget na afya pia.
Niambieni nyie bongo wale wageni wenu mnawakaribisha ndani? friji zetu nyingi zina lock! kabati lock! Tv na music system lock! servant quarter ndo wageni wanafikia na choo ya nje, lol

Heheheee Mama Joe,
Tena nasikia Wageni kama sisi (Wanyamwezi/Wasukuma) ndiyo tunaambiwa tuishie mbali maana TWAJAZA VYOO!!!

 

[Wandugu Masanja]

tuzitazame pande mbili tumesikia mtoto amesemaje lakini mzee aliulizwa? unajuwa majuu huendi sokoni kila leo, mlo wa majuu sio wa kwetu unaweka mlima wa sembe humuoni wa pande ya pili,

Tunapopeleka watoto majuu pia nasi tuwape darasa la kuishi vipi majuu sio kuwapeleka tu, kwani tayari aibu kwa Tanzania, kuzungumza CNN pekee umepaka ndugu

 

[Kibunango]

Nyie watu vipi,
Hamkawii kuita watu WABAGUZI. Nyie mmeshakaribisha hata watoto wa shangazi zenu. ROho zenu KOROSHO kama nini. Ona akina Lowassa wanaiba hadi MBEGU za Taifa na tena ni weusi wenzetu. Na tukizidiwa inabidi tuende kwa hao hao Wazungu waje watusaidie. Mmesikia habari ya pande moja bila kujua upande wa pili na tayari mmeshaanza kusema WAZUNGU ni WABAGUZI, nyie siyo WABAGUZI?

Kweli kabisa Sikonge, mtoto huyo katia aibu, malezi bora, chakula mezani, kwenye friji ni mpishi tu, hii ni kwa budget na afya pia.
Niambieni nyie bongo wale wageni wenu mnawakaribisha ndani? friji zetu nyingi zina lock! kabati lock! Tv na music system lock! servant quarter ndo wageni wanafikia na choo ya nje, lol

Mkuu Sikonge na Mama Joe,
Ninahisi hamkusoma habari yote, hapa chini ni baadhi ya nukuu ya habari hiyo.

The Deputy District Attorney for Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania, Michelle Olshefski, said an investigation has confirmed that foreign exchange students from Tanzania and elsewhere were placed in unsuitable homes by a former employee of Aspect Foundation, a San Francisco, California-based non-profit organisation that brings about 1,000 exchange students into the US each year.

Hatua zaidi zilichukuliwa kama inavyosomeka hapa chini

The former area coordinator with Aspect Foundation, Edna Burgette, was fired after allegations surfaced in May this year of the malnourished students living in houses in Scranton, Pennsylvania whose floors were covered with dog faeces.

Tena walikuwa na masharti magumu kwa wanafunzi hao, kuliko ya yale ya nyumba za kupanga...

In May this year, 17-year-old exchange student Nicklas Schreyer from Denmark - who was sent to Pennsylvania to spend a school year at a local high school - explained how he quickly discovered things weren't the way Aspect Foundation had promised.

He shared a small bedroom with the exchange student from Tanzania. He was threatened with being sent back to Denmark when he broke a house rule, such as leaning on the dinner table.

Pamoja na manyanyasiko yote, mwanafunzi huyo wa Tanzania alionyesha uungwana wake wakati alipomaliza program yake kwa maneno haya

’I guess I like to say, ’Thank you very much the Government of the United States for bringing me here to get a good experience at the school and a good education,’ ’’he told CNN.

According to media reports from the US, Musa and the other foreign students found themselves caught up in a nightmare of neglect, malnourishment and abandonment by those supposed to protect them.

 

[Mama Joe]

Kibunango, sorry bado issue ni kwamba wazazi hawakuambiwa hali watakoyoikuta watoto huko, chumba kichafu - mzee wa miaka 72, hapo hao vijana si wanawajibika kufanya usafi? malnuorished for 9 months - not possible! sasa ahsante ya nini? na je kwanini asiripoti kwa waliompeleka - anajua angerudishwa kama anavosema huyo mdanish, so ni kwamba mtoto pia alicompromise na situation ilivyo, otherwise angetokea kwenye CNN kupitia ubalozi wa Tz next day! Siku ya mwisho kwanini ndo anasema?
Unajua hiyo Foundation labda ndo tapeli, mzazi alitakiwa kumpa kiasi fulani mtoto ili anunue vitu atavyoona anakosa huko, kitu ambacho nadhani kilifichwa au ndo ninavyosema kwa kufikiri kwetu hakukitarajia!

 

[Eqlypz]

Kwa haraka haraka mwenye kosa ni foundation na vile vile hatuwezi kutoa huku kabla hatujajua au kuona contract kati ya hosting family na foundation/wazazi wa kijana.

 

[mfianchi]

Na usisahau mswahili kwa kula anakula kama hakuna kesho.