Tanzania may be considered rich in its own region, but that doesn’t mean its social services are up to the standard of a first world country. The country still needs help from international organizations that run on volunteers.
Best Volunteering Programs in Tanzania
Why Volunteer in Tanzania?
As a volunteer in Tanzania you will gain access to some of Africa’s greatest sights, including Mount Kilimanjaro and the national parks which teem with wildlife, and you will get to meet people from some of the tribes that inhabit the country, including the Maasai, the Sukuma, the Chagga, and the Meru.
You will experience the warmth of Tanzanian people as you begin to refer to them in the traditional way, calling them by family titles such as mama and dada, meaning “mother” and “sister”. You will get the opportunity to learn about the unique Tanzanian culture through guest speakers, Swahili language instruction and daily chats with people in the local villages.
How You Can Help
Programs span a wide range of areas, from agriculture to construction. If you enjoy working with your hands, you can help build, repair and decorate buildings that are for the benefit of the community, such as clinics, schools, orphanages or community centers.
The country has a decent social healthcare system, but they are always in need of extra help. If you have a medical background you can help out local doctors and nurses. The amount of hands on experience you will get depends on your qualifications and skills. There are plenty of schemes and program, both urban and rural.
Eco-agriculture is another area where you can volunteer by working on organic coffee plantations and learn the whole process beside local workers.
Volunteers and interns can also be involved with caring for infants and children, teaching, working towards women’s empowerment, sharing their professional skills/experience, observing and assisting local medical professionals, caring for people with disabilities, working with people affected by HIV/AIDS and assisting teachers of special education.
Location of Projects
Most placements are in the larger cities and tourism destinations including: Arusha, Dar es Salem, Dodoma and Zanzibar.
Kilimanjaro
A lot of projects especially helping animals are located in the Kilimanjaro Region which provides a unique opportunity to live and work near the base of one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. There is a strong sense of community in this area, so many of the placements focus on community and business development. The Chagga people in this area are well-known for their excellent skills in education, business and community development.
Volunteer in Arusha
The Arusha Region is an agricultural center of Tanzania and the base to the northern safari parks that are very popular destinations for travelers. The city of Arusha, located about 20 minutes away from our Home-Base, is an international focal point of various United Nations offices and home of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Rwanda Trials.
Aside from being an international meeting place, the city of Arusha is a place where many Tanzanians come to purchase their supplies for their businesses and homes. You will see women selling fruits and vegetables in the market place, and men pushing massive wooden supply-laden pushcarts in the bustling traffic.
The Village of Patandi, where our Home-Base is located, is a small farming village where volunteers truly get to know the community. On the way to their work, volunteers pass women and children carrying water to their homes, and children in school uniforms heading off to school. The banana trees around the village provide a lush, tropical feel and the area offers both the vibrancy of a city and the warm and tight-knit feeling of a smaller community.
International volunteering in the Arusha Region offers an incredible opportunity to experience a fascinating side of African culture from inside the community, as well as the chance to make meaningful friendships with wonderful people whose open and welcoming nature will touch your life.
Cultural Activities and Free Time
During their free time, volunteers often choose to go on safari to the many national parks in the area or visit Mount Kilimanjaro, with its gleaming glaciers and beautiful waterfalls. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro takes longer than a weekend, so if you are planning to climb Kili, you may want to plan time after your program for this, or hike to the nearby Mount Meru, which also offers breathtaking views. The town of Moshi contains plenty of attractions and activities, such as sporting events, restaurants, religious worship and visiting with members of the community.Free Time
Feedback & Reviews
“This experience completely exceeded all my expectations. It was valuable as a cultural, professional and personal experience. It has opened my eyes to new possibilities and opened my mind to new cultures. It has broadened my horizons and improved and enriched my life. I took a leap of faith going so far from home by myself and it paid off ten-fold. I will never forget Tanzania or the people there and I can’t wait to do another program.” – Sarah Bond
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