Tanzania Volunteer Quests
Volunteer in Tanzania: 2-12 weeks

"My experience was everything I dreamed of and more. It was more than a vacation; it was education for the soul, relaxing yet challenging, uplifting and yet heartbreaking. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a way to further find their inner self and is willing to give everything they have in order to get more. It is a big world out there and time's not standing still; take action and go make a difference!"

The purpose of this Quest is to promote a deeper level of cultural exchange and understanding through meaningful volunteer work at local schools and organizations, social activities in the local community, excursions and cultural activities. United Planet is working currently with different volunteer opportunities in partnership with local organizations in Tanzania

1) Teaching Quest

In Tanzania, schools are changing so that English is the language used in teaching. During this transition period significant assistance with English is needed in schools, so volunteers are needed to assist teachers with English instruction for grades 1-4. Volunteers will assist in three main areas: improving oral English for Grades 1-4, conducting teacher-training for English Teaching Staff, and teaching Remedial Classes. No teaching experience is required. Students in Tanzania are very eager to learn and having a teacher who is from another country is a great experience for them.

Volunteers will work with a local vocational school in a number of capacities. Volunteers can teach English and computer skills to the students during the day, and conduct HIV/AIDS education seminars in the evenings with the local community. HIV/AIDS is a serious issue in Tanzania. Many people are infected with HIV due to the lack of health education, poverty, and the traditional culture against protection during sex. Many young people die from HIV/AIDS and their children end up with greater poverty, which can drive them to be street children or prostitutes. No previous experience with HIV/AIDS education is required.

3) Orphanage Quest (rural)

This project is an orphanage center in Ilula Ward located 40 minutes drive outside of the provincial capital of Iringa (8 hours from Dar Es Salaam by bus). The center includes over 100 acres of farmland, and they are currently focusing on building a new secondary school. Volunteer work is rotated so that volunteers are not doing the same task all the time. The work during the day is usually manual labour, including assisting with the farm. Evenings are spent with the orphans. Coordinators at the center spend a week with the volunteer to put together a schedule and determine an area of assistance. Accommodation for volunteers is a guesthouse within the center.

This project requires a minimum 4 week commitment.

5) Teaching Quest (rural)

Teachers are needed to teach and train local teachers at a rural secondary school, situated in Kwala village/ward in the Kibaha-Pwani coastal region of Tanzania. The school is located 100 kilometers (2 hours) west of Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam. This village is comprised mainly of subsistence farmers and some small businesses and is home to more than 5,000 residents.  The school has 13 staff members, 6 of whom are teachers, to support 352 students from Forms 1-4. Due to its rural location, many students travel a great distance to attend this school.  Qualified, certified teachers needed for Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), English, and Math. As with all secondary schools in the country, English is the language of instruction. Volunteers stay in staff housing and live with staff members’ families.

The Quests take place in both city and rural locations, and therefore provide many cultural learning opportunities, through living in with host families and interacting with local communities. United Planet provides excursions and cultural activities, such as a weekend on the exotic island of Zanzibar and Swahili lessons! For more information on excursions, prices and details please visit the Tanzania Prices and Details page.

• The Tanzania Quest runs year round and starts on the first Thursday of each month
• Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age unless accompanied by an adult
• Click here for a sample two week Tanzania itinerary