Become a Volunteer

There are no program fees for volunteering though there are costs that occurred during volunteering time, such as accommodation, transfers, and transportation all costs are given according to the activity and location where the volunteering activities are undertaken, due to distance, location, and nature of the specified area. 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. This is an overview of living costs in Tanzania (in US$, for one person): Hotel $42.41 Coca-Cola $0.45. Eating out $4.48 Rental Car $200 Hostel $6.71 Marlboro $1.34 Beer $0.9 Fuel $1.01 Taxi $4.00 Motorcycle (Bodaboda & Bajaj) from $1.00 and Public Transport (Dalladalla) $0.13.

You will need a Visa or MasterCard for accessing money from ATMs and paying entry fees at national parks. For hotel payments, credit cards are usually not accepted or are charged with high fees. Additional costs you should consider as a volunteer in Tanzania: flight tickets, travel insurance, fees for your visa, and your personal expenses

All projects expect different skills from volunteers. Here are some general requirements that apply to most volunteer opportunities in Tanzania:

• You need to be at least 18 years old for most 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 on 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.

Yes, you can bring any material and monetary donation. Anything that you think might be useful in life. Things such as computers, tablets, phones, school supplies, clothes, medical books, medical supplies, and other things that might be used to teach our children, youth, and widows new skills would be useful. The recipients will be most grateful.

Local dishes include rice, beans, meat, fish, maize, green bananas, etc. You can also cook by yourself in most of the accommodations available where you can share the foods of your country with your new friends. We do not recommend drinking the local water. You can buy bottled water in local stores available.

Laundry Machines are available in hotels only but in most areas, there are no laundry machines. You can either wash your own clothes by hand or hire a local who would be more than happy to wash your clothes for a fee.  Out of respect do not ask locals to wash your private garments.

When volunteering in a foreign country, it is important to understand a little about the culture. The following facts about Tanzania might be helpful for you:

• Home to over 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, Tanzania is an inherently peaceful place that embraces its multicultural heritage.
• It is estimated that a third of the population follows Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions.
• In Zanzibar, 99% of the population is Muslim. You may want to keep this in mind when traveling there.

The safety standards in Tanzania and in Africa, in general, differ a lot from western countries. Be sure to follow these tips and keep safe:

• Walk as far from the road as possible and walk toward traffic. Most bag snatching happens by passing cars or motorbikes.
• Don’t carry large amounts of money with you if you don’t have to. Leave important documents, cash, and jewelry in the hotel safe.
• Make sure you only travel with licensed taxis and be mindful of whether your transportation seems safe.
• Always listen to your volunteer coordinator or project manager.
• Do not go anywhere alone.
• When leaving the volunteer accommodation (to visit the local town or go to the shops) let the management know.
• Be sure to let us know if you’re on any medication.
• When drawing money from the ATM, withdraw in smaller amounts and don’t carry too much cash around with you.
• Make a photocopy of your passport, insurance information, and other important stuff to keep with you.
• Keep hydrated and wear sunscreen – the African sun can be very hot so be sure to bring sun protection and a water bottle.
• Behave responsibly and adhere to the Code of Conduct so that you don’t endanger yourself or your fellow volunteers.

It is of utmost importance that you mentally prepare yourself before you come to Africa, Africa time is flexible most things do not go in time.  Patience and acceptance of the unexpected will make your life a lot easier.

To minimize the risk of falling ill while volunteering, consider the following health advice:

• Make sure that your routine vaccinations of MMR, Diphtheria- Tetanus-Pertussis, Chickenpox, and Polio are valid.
• Other recommended vaccinations for travelers, according to CDC, are against Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Yellow Fever. Discuss with your doctor which vaccinations make sense for you.
• Inform yourself about the medical care on-site and make sure you have health insurance.
• Use insect repellent and cover your skin to prevent mosquito bites. Zika, Malaria, and Yellow Fever are health risks in Tanzania.
• When traveling to national parks and remote areas, only use official sites for camping because emergency access and evacuation can be difficult.
• When hiking or climbing, make sure you’re well equipped and prepared for low temperatures. The extreme altitude of Mount Kilimanjaro can cause altitude sickness.

Depending on what kind of volunteer work you will do, you should adjust your packing list accordingly. Here are some essentials you should definitely bring with you:

• Bring a copy of your passport and all important documents and carry them with you instead of the originals.
• Make sure to pack sun protection, a sun hat, and strong insect repellent.
• If you are planning on working outdoors or trekking in your free time, bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring any medical supplements you may need.