Lougein Metwally is part of AKFC’s 2025-26 cohort of International Youth Fellows. She was placed in Dar es Salaam, working as a Climate Resilience Programs and Partnerships Fellow at Aga Khan Foundation, Tanzania.
Having previously worked in Zanzibar before securing my International Youth Fellowship in Dar es Salaam, I was excited to return to what felt like a new familiar.
I already felt a sense of connection to Tanzania. During my first experience here, I noticed so many parallels between the culture and my own Egyptian background; from the warmth and sense of hospitality to the welcoming curiosity for strangers. I arrived with a determination to nurture my Swahili speaking skills, and a commitment to maintaining my openness for the culture throughout my entire fellowship. I connected quickly and settled into daily life easily — from navigating crowded roads to stopping by roadside dukanis [shops] or hopping into tuk-tuks [auto rickshaws] that weave through the city.
