Volunteering in Tanzania

Thousands of Tanzanian die every year because of a lack of proper medical care and equipment. Tanzania has few qualified medical professionals; this is also a reason for the high death rate. The medical center is located in the Ukonga area Dar Es Salaam City about 30 minutes by bus from the town city center. The Hospital is the biggest in the Ukonga ward serving around 500,000 residents of the Ukonga ward. The Hospital occupies 8 doctors, 40 nurses, a laboratory service, an outpatient department, a dental department, eye department, a maternity and children clinic, a labor ward and several other hospital departments.

Premedical/nurse students can volunteer in these programs. The roles include:- Assist in taking a patient’s medical history, Assist in updating charts and patient information to show current findings and treatments, Assist in ordering tests for nurses or other healthcare staff to perform, Assist in reviewing test results to identify any abnormal findings, Recommend and design a plan of treatment, Assist in addressing concerns or answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being, Assist patients take care of their health by discussing topics such as proper nutrition and hygiene. Sometimes they might even be given administrative works.

Volunteering in the orphanage is quite similar to the teaching projects in the day. You’ll be helping the teachers conduct their lessons, helping with drawings, sports, games and pupil learning. However there is an added dimension - you’ll be assisting with the general care of the orphans in the orphanage. Duties such as cleaning the dormitories and clothes and helping with the cooking of meals for the children, as well as playing with and entertaining them. It’s a fuller but more demanding role than that of school volunteering, as you will be building emotional bonds of care with the children and providing pastoral support.

A typical orphanage in Tanzania is home to 60 children ranging in age from 4 to 14. A nursery school teaching program usually takes place during the day. Approximately 40 children in total will attend nursery school. Volunteers in this teaching program help teachers to do their lessons, drawings, sports, and games.

The Orphanage we place Volunteers is located in Vingunguti Area in Dar Es Salaam. It has 42 children aged between 5 and 17, has 7 staff. Vingunguti area is densely populated and among the poor communities in Tanzania with around 400,000 residents. About 60% of the population in Vingunguti are children aged 0-18 years. The project is located about 2km from the accommodation, volunteers would use DalaDala(Public Buses) to and from the Orphanage. The bus fare is 0.20$ hence 0.40$ go and return. It will take around 10 minutes to reach the Orphanage from the accommodation.

Children are at the heart of every community in Tanzania. Education of these children is incredibly important, and Tanzanian families are becoming aware of the social mobility that can be achieved through education. However, there are many problems standing between a child and his or her education in Tanzania. Class sizes are extraordinarily large- 90 to 120 pupils per classroom is not at all uncommon at the primary level.

The majority of the schools we place volunteers with are constantly understaffed and are always in need of teaching support. Individual children suffer from a lack of personal support and attention, and their education falters as a result. It’s clear that volunteers can provide much-needed assistance with large class sizes, and help provide exposure to fluent native English. Working with teachers, you’ll help improve children’s education not only in English, but subjects like Maths and Geography are universal as well, and you’ll be looking to help out the pupils’ development in all areas.

Working with other volunteers and resident teachers, you'll build on the work of previous volunteers to help the children progress in all areas of the curriculum, through traditional teaching methods, and fun activities such as games, art, and physical activity. Working with children is fun anywhere in the world, and it is a great privilege to help a child towards a brighter future, one we’d like to share with all our volunteers. Primary school students in Tanzania range from age 5 to 13 years.

This project will help people of the Kipawa area in Dar Es Salaam. Kipawa area is in close proximity to Dar Es Salaam International Airport. Kipawa area has an estimate of around 90,000 inhabitants and around 60 percent of these are children below the age of 18 years old. The project is located around 1KM from the volunteer accommodation. Hence it is just a walking distance, around 10 minutes walking. If one is tired of walking then it is possible to use a bodaboda (motorcycle) which will only cost $4.

Most special needs schools in Tanzania have few qualified teachers and lack enough learning equipment. Volunteers need to understand that special needs children’s centers are a very new concept in Tanzania. There are very few special needs children’s centers in Tanzania and most of them are without qualified caretakers. The children do not stay in these special needs centers; they arrive in the morning and return home in the evening.

The centers lack the skilled personnel and relevant equipment to deliver the special care and attention needed to provide these children with a stimulating environment. They need volunteers to help with education and providing one on one stimulus and motivation. Volunteers may also be required to help with motion, lifting and handling, personal hygiene and other days to day tasks that the children simply cannot perform on their own.

We place volunteers at Special need school located at Kinyerezi in Dar Es Salam. The school has 40 students and 7 staff. The children range from age 5 to 8 year old. Kinyerezi is an area with about 100,000 residents, about 20 minutes from Dar Es Salaam City center. The project is located about 3km from accommodation, volunteers would use DalaDala (Public Buses) to and from the Center. The bus fare is 0.20$ hence 0.40$ go and return. It will take around 15 minutes to reach the center from the accommodation.

Thousands of Tanzanian die every year because of a lack of proper medical care and equipment. Tanzania has few qualified medical professionals; this is also a reason for the high death rate. The medical center is located in the Ukonga area Dar Es Salaam City about 30 minutes by bus from the town city center. The Hospital is the biggest in the Ukonga ward serving around 500,000 residents of the Ukonga ward. The Hospital occupies 8 doctors, 40 nurses, a laboratory service, an outpatient department, a dental department, eye department, a maternity and children clinic, a labor ward and several other hospital departments.

The hospital accepts volunteers who are medical/nurse students or medical/nurse professionals. Pre-medical students can also be accommodated. The roles include:- Assist in taking a patient’s medical history, Assist in updating charts and patient information to show current findings and treatments, Assist in ordering tests for nurses or other healthcare staff to perform, Assist in reviewing test results to identify any abnormal findings, Recommend and design a plan of treatment, Assist in addressing concerns or answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being, Assist patients take care of their health by discussing topics such as proper nutrition and hygiene. Sometimes they might even be given administrative works.

he project is located about 4km from the accommodation, volunteers would use DalaDala (Public Buses) to and from the Hospital. The bus fare is 0.20$ hence 0.40$ go and return. It will take around 15-30 minutes to reach the hospital from the accommodation. Volunteers are needed in Tanzania especially in Dar Es Salaam were the population is high and the ration of a patient to a physician is very poor. Tanzania offers the best environment for Western medical/nurse volunteers to experience working in a local African environment. Moreover, medical volunteers are given the best opportunity to help and share their skills by treating local needy patients.

Support three children's centers located outside of Arusha. The centers are home to approximately 20 children, ranging in age from 4yr-15yrs old. The centers are run by loving dedicated staff who have opened their hearts to these vulnerable kids and orphans. They provide shelter, food, love and education to orphans, abandoned and street children of surrounding community.

Volunteers support the orphanage by providing an extra set of hands with the daily chores; cooking, meal preparation, washing clothes. Activities with the children including reading books, helping with homework, creating games, sports or coaching, teaching songs, dance or other past times. Volunteers should have a lot of patience, an open mind and a sense of adventure. We do recommend volunteers to learn a few words and phrases of Swahili, which will be very helpful with the children. Volunteer housing is provided at all orphanages.

Visa/Permit Notes: “Volunteer Visa” is required for all program participants. The cost is US$250. Tanzania embassy information.

At a local village school outside of Arusha. Volunteers support local teachers that provide free education to orphans and vulnerable children in the community. Volunteers needed to teach English and mathematics.

We do recommend you learn a few words and phrases of Swahili, which will be very helpful and appreciated by the children. Bringing teaching aids (flash cards, picture books, alphabet and number games, maps) with you is highly recommended, and needed.

Schools in Tanzania are closed for 2 weeks in late April, during August and December to January. Prior experience is not required, guidance will be provided as to what subjects to cover, but volunteer teachers will be expected to come with ideas to create and prepare lessons.

*Volunteers need a Tourist Visa to enter Tanzania (US$100) as of 2016 you can get it at the Tanzania airport. *Once in the country all volunteers must apply for a “Volunteer Permit” is US$250. All participants in the Tanzania program must secure a permit to volunteer.

with professional credentials, or those currently enrolled in medical/nursing school are welcome at a district hospital outside of Arusha. Patient count can vary from day to day. Since many health centers lack modern facilities, or have broken equipment and lack of staff, the placements are very challenging. However volunteers will have a physician to shadow and work with. Volunteers need to bring their own medical equipment, gloves, lab coat, medical scrubs and appropriate shoes.

The type of hands on work you will be allocated will depend to an extent on your own abilities and capabilities, which is understandable given that you will be dealing with patient health and safety. You will be involved in aspects of the day-to-day running of the hospitals, observing or directly assisting, where possible. You can help out in simple but practical ways, vastly increasing your own knowledge and understanding of medical practice.

We do recommend you learn a few words and phrases of Swahili, which will be very helpful when dealing with the locals.

*Volunteers need a Tourist Visa to enter Tanzania (US$100) as of 2016 you can get it at the Tanzania airport. *Once in the country all volunteers must apply for a “Volunteer Permit” is US$250. All participants in the Tanzania program must secure a permit to volunteer.

With a grassroots health organization based in a rural community outside of Arusha. As a volunteer you will support the home for children afflicted with HIV/AIDs, also contribute to the host based community outreach projects. The programs is helping hundreds of families living with HIV/Aids patients, and also does work to promote HIV education, health and hygiene information as well as a refuge for sick children. Working with this grassroots organization you will see how one person can truly help and change the life of someone in need.

Because of the remote location volunteers will help to distribute food and medicine when possible. Volunteers need to accompany the children to the clinic for health checks. Expect to support the children's home, outreach projects, home visits and other duties will depend on which projects the organization is working on when you are there. We do recommend you learn a few words and phrases of Swahili, which will be very helpful when dealing with the locals.

Due to the location and travel involved volunteers should budget $25 a week for local buses. Undergraduates, pre-medical and pre-nursing students are welcome. Public health and social workers are welcome also

Visa/Permit Notes: “Volunteer Visa” is required for all program participants. The cost is US$250. Tanzania embassy information.

Dance in Africa is part of everyday life and deeply rooted in the local culture. Dance is used as a means to bring community together, also used for educative purposes at schools and orphanages. Volunteers with a background or passion in dance are welcome!

Volunteer have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice by creating workshops with the Tanzanian dancers. Local students are eager to learn from the volunteers, and also share their knowledge of local dances. Volunteers should bring their laptop, music and camera.

Visa/Permit Notes: “Volunteer Visa” is required for all program participants. The cost is US$250. Tanzania embassy information.

East Tanzania. All medically trained volunteers are welcome and needed at a charitable health center in the Kibaha District Council, the capital of Pwani Region, located 40 miles west of Dar Es Salaam.

The center provides health services in a community of 26,000. Medically trained volunteers support the work at the health center which sees ailments including the treatment of HIV/Aids, malaria, UTI, hypertension, peptic ulcer, skin conditions, tooth abscesses and child birth complications.

Medically trained providers will work alongside local medical staff to promote better health and practices within this extended community. The scope of the work volunteers are directly involved in depends on the volunteer’s qualifications and background. As a healthcare volunteer, you will exchange knowledge and have a multicultural learning experience with the local providers.

The health center has nine departments including:

• Surgery
• Laboratory
• Medical records
• Admission/intake ward
• Outpatient
• Pediatrics, maternal and child health care
• NHIF services
• Dental surgery
• Ultra sound department

The health center has 25 beds. There are 5 doctors and 18 nurses on staff. The health center sees about 200 patients per week. Volunteers are required to buy a volunteer permit ($250) when they arrive in Dar Es Salaam.

Visa/Permit Notes: “Volunteer Visa” is required for all program participants. The cost is US$250. Tanzania embassy information.

East Tanzania. Currently enrolled medical students, student nurses and dental students are welcome and needed at a charitable health center in the Kibaha District Council, the capital of Pwani Region, located 40 miles west of Dar Es Salaam. The center provides health services in a community of 26,000.

An important element of this placement is learning about healthcare and dental practices in third world conditions. As a volunteer, you will gain firsthand experience of the discrepancy between the standards of care available in developed countries vs developing worlds. Medical and dental observership rotations and residency and medical/dental/nursing internships are available.

Student volunteers will be supervised locally by an attending physician. Student volunteers can expect to be involved in treating patients with HIV/Aids, malaria, UTI, hypertension, peptic ulcer, skin conditions, tooth abscesses and child birth complications. Volunteers need to arrive with their own exam gloves, stethoscope and medical scrubs.

The health center has nine departments including:

• Surgery
• Laboratory
• Medical records
• Admission/intake ward
• Outpatient
• Pediatrics, maternal and child health care
• NHIF services
• Dental surgery
• Ultra sound department

The health center has 25 beds. There are 5 doctors and 18 nurses on staff. The health center sees about 200 patients per week. Volunteers are required to buy a volunteer permit ($250) when they arrive in Dar Es Salaam.

The health center has nine departments including:

• Surgery
• Laboratory
• Medical records
• Admission/intake ward
• Outpatient
• Pediatrics, maternal and child health care
• NHIF services
• Dental surgery
• Ultra sound department

The health center has 25 beds. There are 5 doctors and 18 nurses on staff. The health center sees about 200 patients per week. Volunteers are required to buy a volunteer permit ($250) when they arrive in Dar Es Salaam.

Visa/Permit Notes: “Volunteer Visa” is required for all program participants. The cost is US$250. Tanzania embassy information.