Volunteering in Tanzania

Voluntary work in Tanzania

The country and history
Tanzania has one of the most varied and unique landscapes in the world. Here you'll find mountains - amongst them, Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, great lakes and numerous wildlife reserves.
Serengeti National Park is famous for its annual migration of millions of wildebeest and also has a large population of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and African Buffaloes.
Near the Park is the Olduvai-Ravine, where many of the oldest hominid fossils and artifacts have been found.

Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. Tanzania is bordered by Burundi, Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. Tanzania’s surface is 886,037 sq km, including the islands of Mafia, Pemba and Zanzibar. Click here for a map. Volunteer projects are located in Arusha and Moshi in the Mount Kilimanjaro area.

Arusha is one of the bigger cities in the north of Tanzania at the base of Mt. Meru, not far from the border with Kenya. It is well known as an African Congress center containing the site for the International Tribunal for the Rwandan Genocide. Tucked at the foot of Mount Meru, the town of Arusha is the first stop on the northern safari circuit and is the undisputed safari capital of East Africa.
Moshi lies one hour and a half drive from Arusha, set on the edge of the plains which ascend toward the huge Kilimanjaro massif.

Climate
The Tanzanian climate is very varied. The coastal regions are tropical, hot and moist - although the average temperature is moderated by the sea breeze, especially on the islands, and ranges between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius.
The central regions are more temperate thanks to their higher elevation. In the mountainous areas of the Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Mara regions the temperature occasionally drops below 15 degrees Celsius at night during the months of June and July.

Tanzania has two rainy seasons, a long and sustained period from mid March through May, and a shorter, lighter period from November to January, where it rains only a few hours during the day.

Population
Life expectancy is only around 52 years, due to the many deaths from AIDS. It is estimated that around 1.4 million are living with the HIV virus. Of those, 160.000 are children under the age of 15.

99% of the mainland population is African; 95% are Bantu from more than 130 tribes. The remaining 1% consists of Asian, European and Arab. Religious beliefs are African Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%.
The island of Zanzibar is mainly Arab and has more than 99% Muslims.

Language
Kiswahili or Swahili is the official language, while English is the official language of commerce, administration and higher education. Arabic is widely spoken in Zanzibar.
The first language of most people is a local language.

The program
Programs start every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, with arrival Sunday prior to the program start at KIA (Kilimanjaro International Airport). Upon arrival you will be picked up at the airport and driven to your accommodation.
During the first 1-3 days, you will get a briefing about Tanzania’s various cultures, religions, and local ways of life, an orientation in town and some Swahili lessons.
This introduction will be held in Arusha.

Volunteer work options

• Orphanages
• Gardening and Agriculture
• HIV/AIDS Project
• Pamoja Project
• Medical/Healthcare
• Teaching
• Training center for disadvantaged teenage girls
• Internships

Below you will find descriptions of the voluntary work places. Tasks and working hours differ from place to place.

Food and accommodation during volunteering
Most volunteers prefer to stay at the “House for Volunteers” in Arusha with: TV-room, internet connection, showers and sanitary facilities. There’s a guard and a cook who prepares 3 meals a day. Here it is possible to have more of a social life with other volunteers. The coordinator – who also arranges Safari Trips – has his office in the house.

If you prefer more authentic surroundings, you can chose to live with a local host family instead, where you also will have 3 meals a day. Here you will share all facilities with the family members, of whom at least one speaks English.

Tanzanian food includes a little meat, chicken or fish with rice and some fruit. Showers do no not always have hot water. Don’t expect luxury!

Below you will find descriptions of the voluntary work places. Tasks and working hours differ from place to place.

Orphanages

Tanzania and all the sub-Saharan African countries are badly affected by the epidemics of poverty and HIV/AIDS. The number of orphans and street children is growing. Efforts have been made by various local organizations to protect these children by offering much-needed education as well as skill-development training.
Thousands of orphaned children who suffer from extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS and hopelessness leave their villages and travel to Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi and other cities, where they most often end up worse off on the street. Most orphanages in Tanzania lack resources and are under-staffed. Some are extremely poor, and struggle just to feed the children. Not all of the children can attend school, as they lack sponsors to pay for uniforms, books and so on. Other orphanages are more fortunate and even have their own school close to their premises. All of them, however, rely on volunteer workers and donations of all kinds in order to be able to run the orphanage and maintain an everyday, secure environment for the children.

Some orphanages are in rural areas andvolunteeers will have to take one of the local minibuses (called “Dala Dala”) to get there, a cheap way of transportation.there, a cheap way of transportation. You can buy a weekly pass for a "dala dala" minibus. Cost approx. $ 5.

Volunteer tasks usually are:

• In the morning help with breakfast and prepare the children for school. Volunteers accompany the children to and from school.
• Teach English 3-4 hours a day in the local school
• Small children (ages 2-6 years) remain in their orphanages. Volunteers who choose not to teach in schools play with these children: sport, art, games, picture books, music. You are welcome to suggest all sorts of activities.
• Organize activities when the children return from school and help with homework.
• Skill-training and leisure activities for the children, who are too old to go to school.
• After dinner help the children wash, brush teeth and take care of themselves.
• Keeping the orphanage clean and tidy. Help with daily chores such as washing the children’s clothes, repairing and maintaining the premises etc.

This is just a general picture of daily tasks. Each orphanage has its own routine. You will receive detailed information about your work place before travelling.

Gardening and Agriculture

Several orphanages try to be as self sufficient as possible and have vegetable- and fruit gardens, cows, goats and chickens. Selling products at the local markets generates income to the orphanage. As the orphanages don’t have means to hire people, volunteers interested in exploring Tanzanian ways of agriculture and manual labor are welcome to give a hand.

HIV/AIDS related projects

Despite global concerns and efforts, this deadly disease is still epidemic in Africa.
The NGO provides care and support for individuals and families affected by life threatening diseases. This is done by offering Physical, Psychosocial, spiritual and social wellbeing through culturally appropriate services. The NGO’s Nursing home strives to accomplish this by providing competent and compassionate nursing and medical care, promoting Public Health and Human Rights community development projects.
The NGO also provides moral support to those affected and helps them to build self-esteem and hope in life.
Volunteers in this program will care for HIV/AIDS infected children and adults, and get them involved in educational activities. Orphans of HIV/AIDS victims can stay at the daycare center/orphanage. Volunteers with no medical training will mostly work in the here. Typical tasks – in addition to normal orphanage activities would be to:

• Provide therapeutic day care, safe, loving environments to children infected with- or affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Provide supportive social services to children and their families in order to enhance the quality of their lives.
• Collaborate with other community resources to insure the children's and their families' needs are met.
• Children are taught on how to prevent the disease from spreading and to eliminate the stigmatization facing them and their families.

Volunteers with medical training are welcome to help at the Hospice, or in the Home Based Care Project, where nurses assist HIV victims at home and provide them with healthy food, provide care, and try to eliminate the stigma of AIDS.

Typical activities are:

• Outreach home visits for patients and families providing preventive health education on the importance of early diagnosis of diseases for those who are sick.
• Preventive health education and self examination on breast for women In order to reduce breast cancer fatalities and referral of suspected cases.
• Working closely with community leaders on creating awareness on mobilizing resources for vulnerable groups and patients. Link the needy to service providers.
• Ensuring adherence to drugs including Anti-tuberculosis and Antiretroviral therapy.
• Support and empower primary care givers. Teach family basic nursing skills and encourage families and communities to do voluntary counseling for HIV-tests.

Medical training is not necessary for all aspects of the program, but a background in HIV/AIDS and basic health care is preferred.

Pamoja Project

The Pamoja Project focuses on teaching and raising awareness of HIV/AIDS for community members and schoolchildren. Most of your time will be spent teaching, lesson planning, and training peer educators. You will also be involved in community assessment work within villages.
Peer to peer learning has proven to be an effective model for behavior change communication among adolescents. Peer education is a particularly powerful method for reaching young people. This educational program targets both government and private primary and secondary schools. Educators are nominated and elected by teachers and fellow students, and they are among the brightest, most outgoing students in their class.

Volunteers and program officers provide training for peer leaders, and a three day seminar for peer education teachers. Our partner and field officers stay in touch with schools and different community project stakeholders - helping peer educators organize special events such as sports days, exchange learning visits, and competitions within and among schools.

These students use dynamic education techniques such as songs, drama, debates, and poetry to engage other youths and encourage them to think critically so they can choose behaviors that lower their risk of getting HIV / AIDS. This requires that we teach the basic biological facts about the virus, the progression of the disease in the body, the primary modes of transmission, and the most effective methods of prevention. Volunteers participating in this project will have to count with extra transportation expenses.

Medical/Healthcare Programme

Most clinics and hospitals only accept certified professionals in the medical/healthcare sector, or interns.

If you are looking for valuable hands-on medical experience, there are possibilities in the hospitals in Arusha. You will also be able to work at rural health posts and community clinics. Participants spend the majority of their internship/work period working as an assistant to a doctor/healthcare professional. Work responsibilities vary with your education, skills, and previous experience. Interns must have health care certification, such as an ID as a medical student, EMT or paramedic certification, or nursing or physician's credentials.

Medical interns without credentials are not allowed to work in this programme because of the potential liability risk. Job responsibilities of interns vary with education, skills, experience and qualifications. Interns measure blood pressure, temperature, height, weight, as well as assist doctors. Interns may also help in health camps, distribute medication, advise patients about health, nutrition and sanitation as well as counsel patients and possibly participate in the treatment of minor injuries and wounds or maintain journals.

Work is from 20-30 hours per week. On the first working day you will meet a coordinator, who will explain your role as a volunteer/intern. An individual timetable will be worked out for you based on how much time you want to commit.

Please note: the programme supervisor DOES NOT DEVELOP internships; instead you will select a particular area of interest and explore the issue further with the help of an assigned supervisor. It is up to the interns to get as much as possible out of their stay.

Teaching

Children represent over 50% of the population, but in terms of budget allocations, children welfare is still relegated to the private sphere of the family, community and NGOs and remains politically marginalized from the mainstream concerns of the governance and economic policy.
There is significant economic growth in some sectors, particularly mining and tourism but very little growth in Agriculture sector on which most children and their families depend.
Opportunities missed in childhood, such as good nutrition and education, can cause irreversible harm and trap children in long term poverty. Poverty at household level and very low level of investment in basic infrastructure such as schools and health care facilities or transport for economic activities makes life hard for children in Tanzania.

The only way out of poverty is through education. This goes of course even more for orphans. Children are very much aware that being able to speak English is essential to their future prospects and they are eager to learn.
English is a common language in Tanzania because the country once was a British colony. However, there is a lack of quality English education. If you choose to teach, don’t expect Western standards with premade educational materials, tight schedules and so on. You must make it up as you go. You may also assist with sports, music, drawing lessons, games and other activities.
Public schools close during the following periods:

June 15th – July 27th
Sep 19th – Oct 10th
Dec 15th – Jan 1st

During these periods it is possible to teach at a private school or at an orphanage instead.

Training center for disadvantaged teenage girls

Exis works with a local NGO who runs a school for young teenage girls. The girls are selected through a number of different networks and are either recovered from the forced labor- or sex trade, abandoned by their families or have escaped abusive relationships. Many of the young girls already have children of their own. The goal of the NGO is to provide the girls with a hope for a better future and teach them skills that allow them to become self-supporting and take care of their children. At the moment the NGO helps young and vulnerable women from the Arusha-, Moshi- and Kilimanjaro region.

The girls stay at the school for 6-12 months. Here they are taught skills such as tailoring, cooking, English and computers. This will help them get a job, e.g. in the catering sector or the hotel business.
Volunteer tasks can be:
· Teaching English.
· Developing handcraft skills.
· Teach Computer Skills and maintain computers.
· Assist in the cooking classes.

Depending on your own capacities and experiences, you can suggest other skills. The girls are very eager to learn.

Internships

Most of the projects mentioned here accept internships. Send an e-mail to info@exis.org explaining your wishes and the requirements of your school counselor and we will find out, where you fit in best.

Program prices in EURO

Included in the price

• Airport pick-up and drop off.
• Single or shared room during entire stay.
• Full board during entire stay.
• Pre-departure handbook.
• Assistance from a local coordinator.
• Introduction days.
• Personal sponsor amount to project.
  

Not included in the fee

• Any personal expenses, soft drinks, bottled water.
• Any entrance fee during sightseeing and traveling.
• Airfare.
• Insurance.
• Turist visa fee and C-Permit fee, 120 USD.
• Immunization.

Excursions

EXIS can organize safaris and trekkings at special fees for volunteers.

Safari
Safari, in Kiswahili, simply means "journey", but it has now become a synonym for an African wildlife adventure.
Our partner organization in Tanzania arranges a 4 or 5-day camping safari to Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Park for volunteers. The 4 days safari does not include the visit to the Masaï village). For more information, pictures and a video about the national parks in Tanzania see: http://www.tanzaniaparks.com/manyara.html

Transportation is in a land cruiser with maximum 4 other participants, so everyone has a window seat.
You will camp in a spacious tent with beds and have access to toilet and shower, clean drinking water and get 3 meals a day.
The safari staff includes a professional guide, cook and crew in charge of practical tasks and safety at the campsites. All vehicles have VHF radios.
The safari starts and ends in Arusha.

The cost of a 4 days safari is 650 USD and a 5-days Safari is 800 USD.

You will also be asked to tip the cook and driver at the end of the trip, 5 USD per day to the cook, 10 USD per day to the driver.
Included in this fee

• Entrance fees.
• Full board and accommodation.
• Driver and guide in a 4x4 vehicle.
• Game drives.
• Extra bottle of water daily.
• Visit to a Maasai village in Ngorongoro, on the way to Serengeti
• Visit to Olduvai Gorge in Ngorongoro.
• Government taxes.
  

Not included in the fee

• Extras at campsites i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
• Tips to the driver and cook (as mentioned above).

6 days Kilimanjaro trekking
If you have a good physical condition, you can participate in a 6 days Kilimanjaro treklking and watch the sunrise behind Mawenzi, illuminating the plains. Detailed information can be sent by email.

The cost of this 6-day Kilimanjaro Trekking is 1268 Euro.

Included in the fee

• All meals.
• Transfers to and from hotel.
• 1 night hotel accommodation.
• Mountain hut accommodation.
• Climb and park fees.
• English speaking professional guide.
• Kilimanjaro certificate.

Not included

• Items of personal nature.
• Passport visa.
• Travelers insurance.
• Tips to guides and porters (approx. 200-250 USD).
• Kilimanjaro trekking requires equipment such as jacket, pants, hiking shoes, sleeping bag, walking sticks etc. All equipment can be rented in Arusha. Costs are approximately 165 USD.

During weekends you can participate in shorter excursions like for example a visit to “Arusha National park”, the closest national park to Arusha town. Arusha National Park is often overlooked by safari goers, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.

If the start dates for the excursion do not fit with your volunteer work stay, the coordinator can arrange a break in your volunteer job, so you can return to work after the safari or trek.

Before you travel

Even though EXIS always tries to give the best service, also in Tanzania, don’t expect European living standards or precise work schedules. It is a big challenge to live and work in a poor country. It demands courage, some experience and the ability to adapt. It can be overwhelming, especially at first, to have to adjust to completely new conditions, communicate in a foreign language etc. Things are not as you are used to, the climate, the food, the atmosphere – everything is different. During your work you will be faced with a harsh social reality and experience things a tourist would never see.

To take part in the voluntary work program, maturity, flexibility, independence and the desire to do social work are necessary. Your stay is an experience you will never forget. Volunteering in Tanzania enables you to explore both this great country and yourself. The World is yours – Join it!

Enrolment
You enrol by sending the enclosed enrolment form to info@exis.org.

Please add a letter of motivation in English with a picture, in which you describe yourself and explain why you wish to work as a volunteer.
The local coordinator will do his best to respect your first priority, but we may not guarantee that all your wishes can be fulfilled.
Upon receipt of your enrolment, we will mail you a confirmation, an invoice, and a pre-departure handbook.

Before you leave you will receive detailed information about your local coordinator, project and accommodation.

Enrolment form Tanzania
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Arrival
When you arrive in Tanzania, one of our local staff members will be waiting for you at the airport. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it, so there will be no confusion. Please do not forget to send your detailed flight itinerary to info@exis.org so these arrangements can be made.
Clothing
For Dar es Salaam, we suggest you bring tropical clothing. However, at Masai land the nights may be cool. If volunteers want to participate in safaris, camping equipment would be preferable (sleeping bag, etc.).
Communication
There is internet in most big cities. You can use mobile handsets with a local sim card. Post offices are also available.
Donations
We appreciate gifts of new or used toys and clothes for the orphans.
Friends
If you want to participate together with a friend, please note his/ her name on the enrolment form.
Currency
Tanzanian currency is called the Tanzanian (Tsh) shilling. The « second » currency is the American dollar, commonly used in airports to pay taxes, in museums and hotels. So make sure you always have som USD with you. You cannot buy Tanzanian shillings in Eruopean banks. Therefore you should travel with a Visa card. One € corresponds to 1962 TZS. (October 2009). For a currency converter see: http://fxtop.com/dk/adv.htm
Insurance
European insurances do not cover you outside Europe. Travel insurance is compulsory.
Travel fees
Travel fees are not included in the program fees.
Vaccines
Please contact your doctor or insurance company for further information.
Visa
Do not contact the embassy or consulate until you have received the handbook with extra information about visa procedures.