Got a lot of spare energy?

The warm smiles that greet you in Tanzania are almost as famous as the country’s other recognisable landmarks, the snow capped peaks of Kilimanjaro and the wide expanses of Lake Victoria and on this project you get to experience both. Our partner project in Moshi, a pretty town in the foothills of the Kilimanjaro, works hard to improve the lives of young people by teaching English, maths, science and a host of extra-curricular activities the kids will no doubt rope you in to! As is often the case in developing countries classes can be large, but don’t worry our TEFL certification is included to give you lots of ideas to keep them occupied. And if you have any energy left over you can always try the mountain!

Project details:

The Tanzanian government has put a large emphasis on increasing the number of primary-educated people in their country and as such there are now a large variety of government funded schools. However, regardless of the type of school a lot of the projects are severely under-resourced and often have large class sizes (sometimes up to 60 pupils) due to staff shortages. There is also a strange system within Tanzania education whereby much of the primary education is taught in Kiswahili and then switches to 100% English for secondary education. This causes chaos for the pupils who are forced to switch language instantly! Teaching English in the primary schools will help to bridge this transition from primary school to secondary education.

During March, June, September and December the schools are on holiday. If you are here during these times you can often provide holiday tuition or work on one of the less formal projects such as nurseries or orphanages.

Why the project needs volunteers:

The 80s and 90s were tumultuous decades for Tanzania, with economy and stability suffering as a result. Targets were set for universal free education with the hope that social development and economic development would follow. However government funding for school staffing and resources remains extremely low, and even privately funded schools are under-resourced.
Volunteers can play an essential part within Tanzania's education system by contributing their time, support and enthusiasm to the schools and your contribution will enable schools to take one step closer to giving all children throughout Tanzania free, accessible primary education.

What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:

Patience, flexibility and initiative are crucial to the position, both in the classroom environment, and when dealing with the more bureaucratic aspects of teaching in an African country. Any skills that you can contribute both in academic fields, such as English, Maths, Science or Health Education, or in more vocational skills, can be utilised to the advantage of both children and staff. Also any skills in extra curricular activities such as arts and craft, sport, music and dance will provide the children with some creativity and enjoyment that they otherwise would miss out on completely.

Your role as a volunteer:

Working in any of the schools in the Moshi area, you could be teaching English in potentially large and enthusiastic classes, coaching sports and extra-curricular activities, or even help improve staff English pronunciation and conversation skills. Fresh ideas and activities will be welcomed at all projects.

At the primary schools the main emphasis is on teaching English to help prepare students for their secondary education or other future opportunities. You will receive a syllabus to help with your lesson preparation.

The hours are flexible in these projects and will be determined by the timetable you agree with the teachers. Time permitting, there are a variety of additional afternoon projects you can participate in if interested. These include activities such as:

• sports coaching 
• health care and sanitation
• conservation 
• adult education

Where the project is based:

Moshi is the closest town to Mount Kilimanjaro in the north of Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border. The town has a range of facilities including internet cafes, ATM machines, banks and other shops and restaurants. It is also the start for most treks up Mount Kili and for other safaris and tours.

You will need to book your flights to arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on the arrival date.

What exactly do i-to-i provide?

It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.

Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….

Project sourcing and assessment

We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More

Expert help-desk

Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.

Thorough project briefing materials

Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and project, and a DVD about how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.

TEFL training

If you are volunteering on a Teaching or Community Development project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More

Airport pickup

It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time… especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.

Arrival orientation

Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More

Local in-country coordinators

Your in-country coordinator (ICC) will pick you up from the airport and conduct your orientation upon arrival. All ICC's are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More

24/7 emergency support

Aside from the local support from your in-country coordinators you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by i-to-i staff in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals Docleaf to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More

Ongoing training

The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. At the end of 2006 we flew all our in-country coordinators to the UK for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More

Supporting our projects

We don't fund our projects directly, but once a year they are all invited to apply for funding for special projects or resources from our registered charity arm, the i-to-i Foundation. i-to-i funds the operation of the i-to-i Foundation and is the largest single donor. Along with the generous support of our volunteers, we have distributed over US$200,000 in funding in the last two years alone! More  

Recruiting people like you

We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.

The intangible benefits

Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here

What we will do after you've booked:

• Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account
• We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know
• Community Development and Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course
• Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant) or send through a reference
• We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.
• We will hound you to complete your forms and pay your final balance when they are due
• We are available for any questions you may have on 0870 333 2332 or operations@i-to-i.com
• We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with final project and accommodation confirmation 21 days before you go

What you need to do after booking your place with us:

• Book your flights
• Arrange suitable travel insurance
• Fill out some extra details through our online interface:
  • application from
  • travel details
  • insurance details
  • medical information
  • emergency contacts
• Complete your police check or request your reference (where relevant)
• Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)
• Make final payment at least 60 days before you go
• Make sure you have a visa for your trip if its needed
• Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention
• Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip
• Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!
• Get on the plane!

Orientation Information

We aim to provide you with a safe and soft landing into your destination by picking you up from the airport, giving you an orientation that helps to settle you into the country as quickly as possible. It's also the best time to ask any questions you have about your time in Tanzania. Here's what will happen:

You will arrive on the Arrival Date - Saturday and will be met at the airport on that day (whether it is 12 in the morning or 11:59 at night). You will be taken to the Volunteer House (see contact details below) where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. The house is located some distance from the main shops but if you wish to have a wander please ask one of the team for directions.

Note: If you're arriving early we can arrange a meet and greet for you. If you require this please contact us to arrange this service. If you wish to make your own way please arrange to be at the address below on the arrival date:

Art in Tanzania Volunteer House
Next to Falcon Crest Hotel at Soweto
Moshi
+255 (0)754 54 66 73 (Mr. Heriel Mbowe)

Your orientation will take place the next morning at a hotel in Moshi centre and will introduce you to life in Tanzania as well as important information about staying healthy and safe. The volunteer houses or the lodge will be your permanent accommodation throughout your placement so there is not need to transfer elsewhere. Projects are located approximately 45 minutes journey away by public transport and you will start volunteering on Monday. From here on in you will spend your time with the project but the in-country team are there if you need them.