Enrolment form Tanzania
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Introduction

EXIS organizes language- culture- and volunteer work stays in Tanzania in collaboration with local NGOs. Volunteering is a unique way to discover a country, its culture and people while doing a meaningful job.

The country
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. Tanzania is a country of many contrasts.

Click for map: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/africa/tanzania/tanzania.htm

Ongoing volunteer projects are located in Dar Es Salaam, Arusha in the Mount Kilimanjaro and N'gorongoro areas, Moshi, Zanzibar and Bagamoyo. Dar Es Salaam (House of Peace) boasts numerous beautiful beaches which are usually easily accessible from the city, namely Kunduchi, Mjimwena and Mbwa Magi.

Dar Es Salaam is a gateway to the more exotic destinations of Tanzania. Dar is Tanzania's present-day capital as well as a busy seaport straddling some of the world’s most important sea routes.

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.

Moshi is a small busy town approximately an hour and a half drive from Arusha, set on the edge of the plains which ascend toward the huge Kilimanjaro massif. With a variety of projects available, Moshi offers an ideal adventure for participants.

Climate
The climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in the highlands. The coastal region is tropical with relatively high humidity. The average temperature is moderated by the sea breeze, especially on the islands, and ranges between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius.

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. There are two rainy seasons. The long season is from mid March through May, the short season is during November and December with only some hours rain during the day.

Population
Life expectancy is only around 45 years, due to the many deaths from AIDS. UNAIDS and WHO figure that nine out of ten children under the age of 15 carry the virus.

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.

Food and accommodation during volunteering
Accommodation is with host families or in guest houses with local food 3 times a day. Tanzanian food includes meat, chicken, seafood and vegetarian dishes. In Dar Es Salaam and Tengeru village, volunteers live in private houses, maximum 3 volunteers to a room. There is a shower but no hot water. In Masai land volunteers live in Masai mbomas (huts), sometimes in camping conditions. Volunteers usually share bath and toilet facilities with their host families.

The program

Programs start the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, with arrival Sunday prior to the program start at Dar Es Salaam International Airport. Volunteers who choose Masai land and Tengeru arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport (Arusha town).

Upon arrival you will be picked up at the airport and driven to our partner’s hostel. Next day you will meet local staff and get a general briefing, with question and answer session.

A one week language and cultural immersion program precedes voluntary work. This first week will offer you glimpses into the Swahili language, as well as Tanzania's various cultures, religions, and ways of local life. The Swahili language program starts with a 2-3 hour lesson. Afterwards you are free to explore the nearby beaches. The program for the next days includes continuing language lessons, review of first day's lessons, practice basic greeting words/phrases, a video presentation covering wildlife and local culture, as well as a cooking class and traditional Tanzanian music.

This first week will end with a tour to Bagamoyo, the first capital of Tanzania under German colonial rule, until it shifted in 1892 to Dar Es Salaam. Participants can visit the headquarters of German East Africa, the fort where slaves were kept prior to being shipped to Zanzibar; the oldest mission in Central and East Africa, the museum in the center of town detailing the slave story as well as that of Dr. Livingstone.

Outside the museum is one of the oldest and largest Baobab trees in East Africa. Participants can enjoy an outdoor lunch in the shade of this amazing tree. The language/cultural immersion week ends with an evaluation and an introduction to projects, staff members and host families, before volunteers depart for their work programs.

Volunteer work

• 1. Orphanages.
• 2. Teaching English.
• 3. HIV/AIDS Project.
• 4. Handicapped children.
• 5. Women Project.
• 6. Environmental Projects.

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

1. Orphanages

Tanzania and all the sub-Saharan African countries are badly affected by the epidemics of poverty and HIV. The number of orphans and street children is growing in Dar Es Salaam as well as other city areas. Efforts have been made by various local organizations to protect these children by offering much-needed education as well as skill-development training. Volunteers in Tanzania work proactively in the orphanage community where they share their love, compassion, skills and efforts with the children. Hundreds of orphan children who suffer from extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS and hopelessness leave their villages and travel to Dar, 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. Orphanages in Tanzania focus primarily on offering formal and informal schooling and a safe place to live and study.

There are many areas where volunteers can support the activities of these orphanages. Orphanages are located in Dar Es Salaam, Arusha, and Moshi. Volunteers generally work with the following activities:

• During 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 orphanages or schools.
• Small children (ages 2-6 years) remain in their orphanages where volunteers who choose not to teach in schools play with the children: sports, art, games, picture books, music. All sorts of fun activities are welcome.
• Also organize activities when the children return from school, both free time fun and help with homework.
• Skill-training and free time activities for the children who are too old to go to school.
• After dinner help the children to brush teeth, shower and learn to take care of themselvesaden hjælpe børnene med at børste tænder, gå i bad og lære hygiejne.

This is just a general picture of the daily life of volunteers. Each orphanage has its own routine.

Working hours are from 20-30 per week. Volunteers are accommodated in a separate room at the orphanage or with host families, with local food three times a day.

2. Teaching English

English is a common language in Tanzania because the country was a British colony. However, there is a lack of quality English education. Tanzanian children are very eager to learn English. You may also assist with sports, music, drawing lessons, games and other activities.

If you are interested in teaching English, be aware that most schools close during the following periods:
June 15th-July 27th, September 19th-October 10th, December 15th-January 1st.

Volunteers at the English teaching projects teach English to nursery, primary and secondary school students. Volunteers may also teach math and/or science. Volunteers teach from 2 -3 hours/day, five or six days a week. The school’s English teachers will assist volunteers with teaching methods and advice. Teaching experience is not required but we expect volunteers to have a good command of English and communication skills. In most cases, volunteers stay with host families in a separate room with three meals a day. Volunteers usually share bath and toilet facilities with their host families.

3. HIV/AIDS Project

Despite global concerns and efforts, this deadly disease is still epidemic in Africa.

HIV/AIDS prevention and counseling projects in Tanzania are an attempt to prevent further transmission through education. The projects also provide moral support to those affected and help 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, with focus on safe sex. Educational materials are provided.

Volunteers help with the following activities:

• Care for and encourage HIV/AIDS patients.
• Counseling and education in hospitals and communities
• Encourage young men and women by involving them to actively participate in HIV/AIDS preventive education in the district.
• Help various HIV/AIDS organizations in their community outreach programs such as hospice care, recreational and educational programs, voluntary HIV counseling and testing and seminars and conferences on the virus within the local community.
  
  There are no specific qualifications required to volunteer in this project.

4. Handicapped children

The handicapped children's project aims to support mentally and physically challenged children. This project primarily supports the children of some of the poorest families who cannot afford to take their children to a private rehabilitation center.

The children are divided into two groups. The first group can concentrate and read, so volunteers can teach English, math, and/or science. Volunteers can also organize singing sessions, dancing, listening to music or other extracurricular activities.

The second group has severe mental and physical conditions and cannot read or write. Volunteers can help this group with physical therapy, speech therapy, games, etc. This project is located in the Kawe area of Dar Es Salaam.

There is no need for any specific qualifications.
However, volunteers must be patient, flexible, hard working, and possess an unwavering love for handicapped kids. Daily routine is generally the following: The children are brought to the project in the morning and the volunteers are expected to be there ahead of time. The morning session lasts until lunchtime. After lunch the younger children go home to rest. The rest stay at their schools, where volunteers help with teaching, games, music, etc.

5. Masai women support project

Masai women have a traditionally weak social position. One proven way to raise the social status of women is to give them opportunities to earn their own money. Presently, we collaborate with a local NGO, which runs various projects to promote cultural tourism programs for the Masai people.

The women's project is part of this program and teaches and trains local Masai women to make handicrafts. Masai women sell their products in local markets. In addition to income, this women's group also provides housing for local widows and extremely poor women.

Volunteers teach English, because most of the handicrafts are sold directly to tourists. You can also join the project as art and/or handicraft instructor, show organizer or website designer if you are qualified in these areas.

The daily work plan depends on the individual skills, interests and knowledge of volunteers.

There are no specific qualifications to join the women's support project. In most cases, volunteers stay with host families in a separate room with local food provided three times a day. Volunteers usually share bath and toilet facilities with their host families. The women’s project is located in Arusha.

6. Conservation Project

Deforestation is a major problem challenging the forest ecosystem of Tanzania. With growing demand for energy in Tanzania, the rate of deforestation is likely to accelerate other ecological/environmental problems. This means institutions, community-based organizations (CBOs) as well as individuals must all work together to conserve both land and water.

The Kilimanjaro region is located in the Northeastern part of mainland Tanzania. The region has an area of 137,209sq.km, and is densely populated. 75% of the population lives in rural areas.

The increasing population puts pressure on the land as people continue to cut trees for fuel and construction. This has again worsened weather conditions and increased droughts and even shortages of water in towns.

As a volunteer, you will work with KIWAMA, a community-based group dedicated to the conservation of forests. However, you will mostly work in a nursery which aims to produce indigenous tree species.

Volunteer tasks include:

• Prepare nursery beds.

• Sow seeds.
• Weed.
• Thin various indigenous tree species.
• Distribute tree seeds to villagers.
• Other tasks may include: planting, collecting seeds, replanting, eliminating diseased trees and taking inventory of fauna and flora depending on the season.
  
  

  Volunteers work with local community members who also work in the nursery. There are no specific qualifications needed but volunteers should be aware that this particular conservation project is physically demanding. A love of gardening is a must.

  The conservation project is located in Moshi in the Kilimanjaro region.

Program prices 2008

Including one week language and culture program. Prices in Euros.

Included in the price

• Airport pick-up
• One night hotel stay (first night)
• Expenses incurred over 4 days covering food/room/transport/guide
• Manual.

Not included in the fee

• Any personal expenses, dinner on the first day of arrival (day 0) soft drinks, bottled water.
• Any entrance fee during sightseeing and traveling.
• Airfare.
• Visa and Visa extension fee.
• Transfer to airport, airport taxes.
• Gifts to project staffs and host family.
• Laundry.
• Insurance.
• Telephone.
• Immunization.

Before you travel

Even though EXIS always tries to give the best service, also in Tanzania, don’t expect European standards. Upon receipt of your enrolment, we will mail you a confirmation, an invoice, and a pre-departure handbook.

It’s 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 experience this great country up close and personal.

Enrolment

You enrol by sending the enrolment form to info@exis.org, Please add a letter of motivation in which you tell us which program you prefer, how long you wish to work and why you want to work as a volunteer and describe yourself.

Upon receipt of your enrolment form EXIS will send confirmation and more useful details.

Enrolment form Tanzania
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Vaccinations
Make sure that you have your vaccinations up to date. For more information on which vaccinations could be necessary please contact your family doctor or insurance company.

Cancellation insurance
It's advised to underwrite a cancellation insurance.

Enrolment - deposit
Upon receipt of your enrolment form, EXIS will send you a confirmation and invoice. A deposit of 200 € is to be paid upon receipt of this confirmation. The remaining amount is to be paid six weeks prior to your arrival. If you enrol less that six weeks before arrival, the entire program price will be payable upon enrolment.

Cancellation
If you cancel your application before receiving information about your host family you will be able to have your deposit refunded less a deduction of 200 € for administration expenses.
If your application is cancelled after receiving the address of your host family, your deposit will not be refunded whilst the balance will be refunded in full. Once the language course has commenced, no refunds will be made.

Travel expenses
All prices are excluding travel expenses. Mail to info@exis.org for package price.

Prices
All prices are mentioned in Euros.

Price changes
EXIS reserve the right for changing the prices without further notice, in case of changed foreign currency or other circumstances, that are beyond our control.