VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN TANZANIA.

Tanzania is a prime example of what most people expect of Africa. The endless wilderness of the national parks with wild animals roaming their natural surroundings, the colorful Maasai people, and mountaintops from where you can spot the end of the world. Although these endless landscapes and wild animals are a reality, there is so much more to experience and discover when you volunteer in Tanzania. Another reality is that local communities need your support. Volunteer for education, youth sports coaching, women empowerment, or healthcare and make a meaningful difference while you volunteer and travel.

WHY VOLUNTEER IN TANZANIA.

There are plenty of advantages to being a volunteer rather than a tourist in Tanzania. There is no better way to get to know the culture and the people of a country than to become part of its society and offer a helping hand.

Whether you’re doing a medical mission trip, joining a women empowerment project, or sport coaching your contribution counts. Benefits from exceptional encounters with locals and other volunteers and experience Tanzania as an insider.

If you’re excited about volunteering in Tanzania but don’t know where to volunteer yet, the following overview will uncover everything about the different volunteer opportunities in Tanzania. Our live chat team is also by your side to help you find the right volunteer abroad opportunity for you.

VOLUNTEER A MEDICAL MISSION TRIP IN TANZANIA

Medical volunteers in Tanzania are always welcomed with open arms. Whether you’re a medical student or want to do volunteer nursing in Tanzania, there are plenty of healthcare projects that need extra support. Especially in rural areas! Volunteer for a medical mission trip and support local doctors and hospitals facing problems like:

Outdated Equipment
Medication Shortages
Insufficient Staff
Growing numbers of patients

Usual tasks in a healthcare volunteer job depend on the knowledge of the volunteers. As a medical volunteer in Tanzania, you will:

Help local nurses on their rounds
Hand out medication
Work in the maternity ward
Work in the psychotherapy department
Give hygiene and illness prevention talks in local community centers or schools as part of health education and medical outreach program.

A medical mission trip is a perfect way to gain practical experience and do something for the community. Medical volunteers who are studying healthcare can gain university credits during their volunteer experience. You may need to check with your university what the requirements are.

VOLUNTEER FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Even though the perception is slowly starting to change, women in Tanzania and in many other parts of Africa are not considered equal to men. They don’t have free will and depend on male relatives like fathers and brothers or husbands. They’re generally not allowed to inherit and are more affected by poverty than men.

These circumstances lead to many homeless girls and women who do not have any support from families and are exposed to violence, abuse, and human trafficking. Many of them are forced into crime or prostitution because they lack education and have no means to improve their situation.

There are a variety of tasks in women empowerment projects. If you don’t think you are equipped to work one on one with the women, you could help out with other things like:

Raising funds for the projects
Giving business or English classes
Teaching basic skills like cooking and sewing
Working in the kitchen of women and girls shelter's
Caring for the women's young children while they work or study

If you want to help disadvantaged women, then a volunteer job in a women empowerment project is a great idea. Please be aware that most of these women have been victims of inhuman treatment, have been drug addicts, or experienced other traumas.

Working on these projects as a counselor, social worker, or therapist is definitely not for everybody. Experience in working with vulnerable and traumatized people is necessary in some cases.

Please note that most women empowerment projects abroad ONLY accept female volunteers to make sure that the women feel safe and at ease and trust the people around them. As a volunteer in Tanzania, some shelters will also ask you to sign codes of conduct and confidentiality to protect their clients.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN TANZANIA.

There are many different ways to be active in community development as a volunteer in Tanzania. Many NGO volunteer jobs in Tanzania need helping hands.

Community centers in remote villages support schools, families, and elderly people where needed. If you enjoy juggling various tasks during your volunteer program in Tanzania, this might be the right project for you. Here are some examples of tasks:

Helping out in local schools
Caring for younger children whilst their parents are at work
Visiting families at home
Setting up after-school programs or educational activities for adults
Planning and maintaining communal areas like vegetable gardens or playgrounds

Do you like volunteering with people and are you a strong communicator? Use these skills to lead environmental awareness workshops abroad. They help educate locals on sustainability, recycling, and renewable energy which are fairly new techniques in many parts of Africa.

WHERE TO VOLUNTEER IN TANZANIA?

Tanzania is a large country. Because most volunteer projects are centered around community work, you’ll most likely be volunteering in one of the major cities. Dar Es Salaam, the previous capital, Moshi, and Arusha are the main destinations.

Volunteer in Dar Es Salaam

What used to be a fishing village is now a metropolis by the coast and one of East Africa’s busiest coasts. Volunteer opportunities in Dar Es Salaam focus on education and healthcare. Volunteers who are eager to teach or those who have a medical background will find plenty to do in this former capital of Tanzania.

Volunteer in Moshi

Situated close to the Kenyan border and also known as the gateway to Kilimanjaro national park, Moshi is also one of Tanzania’s coffee hubs. Volunteer and support a plethora of volunteer opportunities in Moshi, Tanzania. From educational projects, community work, and medical volunteer jobs to environmental conservation efforts. Choose one of the volunteer categories and get ready for your volunteer adventure abroad!

Volunteer in Arusha

Arusha is a hotspot for volunteering. Volunteer in Arusha Tanzania and help the local community. Whether it’s in the medical field or as a teacher, your help is absolutely necessary. Arusha is a large city in the North East of Tanzania but also the gateway to Tanzania’s national parks and safaris - excellent for a weekend getaway

Volunteer in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is the most visited island in Africa named “the spice island”. Helping children with class room construction and ensuring they stay comfortable when settling their minds with for a new knowledge.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER IN TANZANIA?

All projects abroad expect different skills from their international volunteers. While you can find the specific requirements for each project on their program page, here are some general requirements that apply to most volunteer opportunities in Tanzania:

You need to be at least 18 years old for most of the volunteer projects, especially when working with children. Some projects will accept volunteers from the age of 16 but you need to get in touch with the project coordinator to confirm this.
You need to have basic English skills to do volunteer work in Tanzania. Volunteers working at a teaching project may even need advanced English skills.
Depending on the project, you may need to provide a criminal background check and a health declaration in order to volunteer abroad.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VOLUNTEER?

The suggested daily budget for volunteers in Tanzania is between US$ 20 and US$ 30. This is an estimate made considering the average price of some of the goods and services you may need during your time abroad. It gives you a general overview of how much things cost so you can prepare and save the money you’ll need.

You will need a Visa or MasterCard for accessing money from ATMs and paying entry fees at national parks. For hotel payment, credit cards are usually not accepted or are charged with high fees.

Additional costs you should consider as a volunteer in Tanzania.

Program fees
Flight tickets
Travel insurance
Fees for your visa
Personal expenses