About the Project
OPEN NOW!
Tanzania has reopened to international arrivals. See the 'Additional Info.' section for procedures in place during the pandemic.
The mission of this program is to care for the needy and impoverished children of Tanzania. The community childcare center Love Volunteers works with in Tanzania supports over 20 children between the ages of 2 and 14. This family-run center was set up by an older Tanzanian couple who took in their first child many years ago and it has grown from there. As the project has grown, they have moved into a larger premises in order to accommodate and support more children. The care center is government registered but sadly receives no government funding whatsoever, so relies heavily on support from volunteers. The children at the project require a lot of care, attention and most importantly, companionship. Volunteers spend their time caring for the children, helping with their education, playing games and arranging fun activities during leisure time. Attention and companionship is what the children need the most. For volunteers who truly want to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children, those at-risk and impoverished, this program serves to protect and care for those who need it most.
Goals of this Project:
- Provide essential care to vulnerable children of Arusha, Tanzania
- Improve the future prospects of at-risk children in Tanzania
- Give impoverished children quality care, compassion and a sense of hope
- Enable inter-cultural exchange which benefits both locals and international volunteers alike.
How You Can Help
Volunteers play an essential role in helping disadvantaged children through this program. Participants will spend their time taking care of children and assist the local team as needed. During the day, the older children attend school while the younger ones are taught at the care center. Volunteers will be busy working with the children, running activities, playing games, and cooking and cleaning. The children love to have international visitors and flourish with the extra attention from volunteers. Volunteers make a huge difference to the lives of these vulnerable children, and are truly needed and appreciated at the center. In their down time, volunteers will find that Arusha is a bustling city, filled with a great many things to do and see, while outside of the city are a great number of national parks and impressive sights.
Volunteers will contribute in a number of ways on this program and can expect to undertake the following tasks:
- Help to care for the children
- Help to teach the children
- Attend to and interact with the children
- Create activities and entertain the children with games
- Cook and clean as required
Requirements
Love Volunteers welcomes all those 18 years and over who wish to assist in the development of Tanzania's next generation. While this highly rewarding project does not require participants to have a background in the field of childcare, as there are many ways you can assist, volunteers with suitable education, qualifications or experience are highly sought after. Regardless, a volunteer’s individual role can often be tailored to suit their particular skills and interests. Ideally, volunteers on this project will have at least a basic knowledge of the local language in order to communicate effectively with staff and students, though this is not a pre-requisite. All applicants must of course display a genuine willingness to help, show drive and initiative, and bring a positive 'can-do' attitude. If this sounds like you, we want you on the team!
Additionally, volunteers applying to join this program will be required to supply to following documentation:
- Emergency contact
- Police check
Project Location
Situated in northern Tanzania, Arusha is the capital of the Arusha Region and is surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, it has a mild climate and is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as having its own Arusha National Park on Mount Meru.
Arusha balances well the ‘city life’ with the ‘small town’ feel and that makes it even more attractive in the eyes of tourists and travelers from all parts of the world. The city is surrounded by farm estates growing coffee, wheat and maize. These farm estates are being maintained by the Arusha and Meru tribes since the 18th century. Arusha is commonly referred to as the safari capital of East Africa. This is because it is the main starting point for safaris into Tanzania. It is a vibrant town renowned for its streets filled with tourist vehicles, the Maasai warriors and the famous Central Market. Awesome!
Start Dates & Duration
This project is available year-round and programs start every SUNDAY. Volunteers can choose to participate for periods ranging from 1 week to 12 weeks. Longer stays can be arranged directly with the local team, but will be subject to availability and individual visa conditions.
Spaces on this project are limited and therefore subject to availability. Early booking is recommended.
For current available start dates please check the calendar on the right.
Arrival & Orientation
Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport volunteers will be collected by a representative of the local project team and transported to their assigned accommodation where they will join a short welcome session. On Monday, volunteers attend the full orientation session where a representative from the local team will fill you in on local and regional customs, traveling, rules and recommendations, and of course, what to expect from your volunteering experience in Tanzania. You will be taken on a town tour where you can purchase a SIM card so you can access the internet during your placement (you will need to ensure you have had your phone unlocked before your arrival). This is a great opportunity to get to know your hosts, meet your fellow volunteers, ask any last questions you may have, and perhaps even start to make those safari trip plans...oh yeah!
- Program Arrival Day: SUNDAY
- Program Departure Day: SATURDAY
- Arrival/Departure Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania (CODE: JRO)
Accommodation & Meals
Safe and comfortable accommodation will be provided during your stay in Tanzania. Volunteers on this program are accommodated in a hostel run by our partner organization. The hostel includes shared rooms with either 2 or 4 people per room and a shared bathroom. There is wifi available at the hostel but remember it is unlikely to be as reliable as you are used to. As with most parts of Africa, laundry facilities are basic and most volunteers simply use the services of a local laundromat.
Volunteers are provided 2-3 meals per day at the hostel and depending on where they are working, lunch may need to be bought at a small cafe during the day. The meals provided are mostly vegetarian, local dishes. Conveniently, there is also a fridge and basic cooking facilities if volunteers would occasionally like to prepare their own meals. Easy!
Fees
That’s just USD 28 per day* for:
*In addition to the program fees listed above a Registration Fee is payable to secure your place. The registration fee is USD 299 for those volunteering with Love Volunteers for the first time or USD 149 for any subsequent volunteer placements. The registration fee includes: lifetime LV Alumni Membership, fundraising support & advice, dedicated pre-departure support, certificate of completion (on request), and exclusive access to the LV Trip Planner.
Some things are not included in the program fees listed above, such as flights, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, additional foods and snacks, spending money, local transport, in-country trips and excursions, return airport transfer (unless mentioned above).
Please note that prices are subject to change without notice. Please ensure you have read the Love Volunteers Terms and Conditions & Refund Policy.
Additional Info
COVID-19 requirements:
All international arriving flight passengers will need to adhere to the following:
- Travellers are required to complete an online Health Surveillance Form (https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz/) within 24 hours of arrival. Travellers will receive a Unique Health Code (UHC), which they must present to health officials upon arrival.
- All travelers are required to present a negative COVID-19 test certificate upon arrival. The test must be a Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test, with the sample collected within 72 hours before arrival in Tanzania.
- All travellers entering Tanzania will be subject to enhanced screening for COVID-19, including through a rapid test. The rapid test cost is $25 per traveler.
Important Visa Information
An ‘STP’ or ‘Volunteer’ visa is required to volunteer in Tanzania and costs around US$100 depending on where it is obtained. Some nationalities can apply in advance from their local Tanzania Embassy, but most volunteers will obtain the volunteer visa from the airport on arrival in Arusha. Please ensure you have sufficient US$ to pay for the volunteer visa on arrival (notes must be no older than 2009). The STP-visa, which is valid for three months, can then be renewed for a further three months if required.
Note: All travelers require return or onward tickets, all documents required for their next destination and proof of funds. Currently visitors arriving from infected areas must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travelers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.