About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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On sun-drenched Zanzibar, hidden cleverly in the Indian Ocean, truly away from it all, you will have plenty of opportunity to get in your teaching and tanning time. You will be based in Stone Town, the cultural center of Zanzibar, known for its narrow alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and extravagant houses of the Arab elite. Stone Town is so fantastic that it was even declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Welcome to Dar es Salaam where you’ll be met by a member of the i-to-i team at the airport. Then it’s a 40 minute bus transfer where you’ll get your first glimpse into Tanzanian life! Your first night will be spent in Dar es Salaam in our volunteer hostel just outside of the city. Here you’ll have time to relax after your long journey, meet other volunteers and start to acclimatise to the lovely warm air. All your meals are included today.
If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into Dar es Salaam on your official arrival date then we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation. Please give us a call for more information.
It’s an early start this morning to catch the ferry over to Zanzibar. Our team will get you on the ferry in Dar es Salaam. The journey takes around 3 hours so you’ll have plenty of time to relax, put your feet up and enjoy the azure blue water float by. We’ll pick you up when your ferry pulls into Stone Town, Zanzibar and it’s just a short walk to your accommodation.
The rest of the day is all about settling into your new home. Take your time to get to know the staff and volunteers at the volunteer house. Once you’ve unpacked, you can head out into Stone Town and start exploring! Stone Town is a beautiful old town famous for its winding streets, and dilapidated buildings and ancient wooden doors.
Today is the day you’ve been waiting for - your first day with the children! After a hearty breakfast of toast, eggs and succulent local fruit it’s off to school. They start early, so you will too.
You’ll be lending a helping hand to teachers at one of a few local schools where we work. Your duties could be anything from playing and singing with nursery level children through to teaching basic maths and English to a small primary school class.
Either way you’ll probably be surprised and humbled by the tenacity, enthusiasm for learning both the children and teachers you encounter will show. You’ll wave the children off as they head home around lunchtime and its time for you to sample the culinary delights that Zanzibar has to offer. Whether it’s curry in a restaurant overlooking the water, or a quick fish kebab on the beach, lunch is never boring in Stone Town.
The evening is then free for you to enjoy.
The rest of the week will follow a similar pattern with your mornings spent at school and the afternoons your own. Evenings in Stone Town are when the town really comes to life. The centre of attention is the fresh food market overlooking the beach in the centre of town. Here you’ll find a fantastic bustle of locals and tourists all enjoying fresh local food.
Why not sample the local delicacy Zanzibar Pancake – it’s not to be missed. After you’ve eaten your fill you might move on to a local bar to play pool, chat or even bust a few moves in one of the local clubs.
The weekend is yours to spend as you wish. A weekend lazing on one of the northern beaches of Kendwa or Nungwe is hard to resist.
Alternatively a great weekend can be spend wondering the streets, markets, gardens and historical buildings of Stone Town, picking up souvenirs and taking photographs. Spice tours, dolphin watching, scuba diving and snorkelling are just some of the activities available for the more adventurous! Our local team can help you to arrange any trips that take your fancy.
Your next week or weeks will be similar to your first, with your mornings spent in school and the afternoons and weekends as you please. Make sure you take the time to get to know the children and teachers at your school as well as the staff at the volunteer house; they all have a story to tell!
Sadly it’s time to say goodbye to your newfound friends, grab those last few souvenirs and pack your bags.
Your return transport to the airport is not included in your trip so you’ll need to arrange this yourself. The team will help you to arrange a ferry (roughly US$50) or flight (roughly US$150) back to Dar es Salaam ready to catch your onward flight.
We work with a number of schools and nurseries striving to give their children the best education possible. Funding is in short supply, so school staffing and resources remain low. You can see why they are very grateful for an extra pair of hands to improve this!
The Tanzanian school curriculum is very similar to that in Britain, so teachers and students have their work cut out, keeping learning on track. It’s particularly important for students to get a good grasp of the English language as 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!
You’ll be working at one of a few schools and nurseries that we work in Stone Town. Wherever you’re based, you’ll have the challenge of inspiring young learners with only basic facilities and tight time constraints. Some classes can be very large and children rarely get one-on-one time with their teachers.
You’ll need bucket-loads of patience, flexibility and initiative, both in the classroom environment, and when dealing with the more bureaucratic aspects of teaching in an African country.
Lack of education and poverty, amongst other things; create a combination of problems that face the youth of Tanzania. The schools within this project aim to help Tanzania's future - its children - through education, care, counseling and creatvity.
Students in Zanzibar are eager to learn English but there are not enough English teachers to go around. Volunteers can make the biggest difference by helping students to learn English and enable them to work in tourism or other professions where English is required. By contributing time, support and enthusiasm you will enable schools to take one step closer to giving all children throughout Tanzania free, accessible primary education.
School starts early and so will you! Your first class will be around 8am and, with a brief break around midday for a snack, you’ll wrap up classes around 2pm. Classes run Monday to Friday, but finish early on a Friday ready for the weekend!
Your daily activities will centre on the children’s learning so you could be doing anything from spending precious one on one time with nursery children singing, dancing and playing. Alternatively you might be leading a small primary school class to master the basics of maths, science and English. Any skills that you can contribute both in academic fields or in more vocational skills, can be utilised to the advantage of both children and staff. You’ll also find yourself getting involved with extra curricular activities such as arts and crafts, sport, music and dance, offering the children the opportunity to use some creativity.
If you do want to work longer hours there are plenty of activities that need your help in the evenings from 5pm to 9pm such as helping the children with their homework or getting involved with sporting activities, if you have any ideas for any extra curricular activities then please feel free to bring them along!
During the school holidays from middle of August to beginning of September you will be involved in holiday classes and sport camps and during the holidays from the end of November to the beginning of January you will be supporting classes for exam preparations for the first two weeks and then sporting activities! Please also note that schools are closed during Ramadan and you will participate in alternative activities such as above.
A new scheme has now been launched at our projects in Zanzibar, whereby volunteers are encouraged to bring along used or new books for their project. The books are then distributed by our coordinators in Zanzibar to the different schools we work with for the term. Once the term ends, the schools return the books to our coordinators and an alternative set of books is then sent. This will mean that the children don’t get bored as they get to read new books each term!!
The projects we work with are under-resourced, if you are considering giving gifts or donations instead of books we’d suggest waiting until you are in country to do this. Firstly because this way, the money you spend will go straight back into the local economy and secondly because it will give you a chance to get to know the students, staff and school to see what is really needed.
As Tanzania is a modest country you will need to dress conservatively at your project so remember that shorts and skirts should be to the knee or below and tops and shirts should cover the shoulders. Bikinis, short skirts and shorts, strappy tops should be left for the beaches!
Please note that you will need to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival.
When you’re volunteering in Tanzania the project you work on benefits from your help and adds to the ongoing work of others. You’ll need to apply for a Permit in order to do this; it’s a working Permit that allows you to volunteer. We’ll send you all the documents straight after booking so you know what you to do. There are a just few things you’ll need to know about the Permit when preparing your itinerary:
IMPORTANT: If you want to travel around Tanzania, go on safari, climb Kili etc please ensure that you do this BEFORE your project start date whilst you are still on a tourist visa - the tourist visa you enter the country on gives you far greater freedom in terms of where go and what you do!
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 fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
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
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.
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 how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
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.
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 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
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams 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
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
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. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.
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.
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
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 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 Art in Tanzania Volunteers Hotel (see details below) in Dar Es Salaam where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. The following day you will board the ferry to Zanzibar. You will be met in Zanzibar by a member of the i-to-i team and taken to your hostel in Zanzibar.
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 hotel on the arrival date:
Art in Tanzania Volunteer House
Bahari Beach
Kunduchi
Dar es Salaam
The Dar es Salaam Volunteers Hotel is located some 20km north along the coast from the Dar es Salaam city center. The hotel has all basic services including internet café, bar and curio shop.
Your accommodation in Stone Town is in a beautiful, bright hostel right in the centre of the action, this hostel is for the use of the volunteers only. You’ll be woken each the morning by the sounds of the Muesin calling people to prayer! You’ll be sharing a room and bathroom with up to six other volunteers. There is a large area where there are chairs and tables for you to eat your meals, read, chat and relax.
Breakfast will be made for you by Ali or another of the hostel staff and is great opportunity to try the weird and wonderful local fruits that are in season. Lunch and dinner are for you to arrange for yourself. We’d suggest eating out as there is such fantastic food at dirt cheap prices, it’s silly to resist! However, if you fancy preparing something for yourself you can use the hostel kitchen (though be aware this is local kitchen and doesn’t have many of the mod-cons we’ve come to expect)!
Each room has its own bathroom which is basic but does have a western style toilet, sink and a shower, water is based on cold water but we are sure that you will enjoy this due to the hot weather! There is a cupboard or a closet in your bedroom where you can store your belongings.
Your bed will have its own mosquito net and bedding is provided. You’ll get an under and over sheet and a small pillow, however if it does get chilly then you can always ask for an extra sheet! If you are going travelling further north in Tanzania then we would suggest that you bring a sleeping bag.
There is a lock on your bedroom door and there is always a security guard on duty. However if you want to keep your valuables in a more secure place we’d suggest bringing along a portable safe such as a PacSafe or something similar.
You’ll find local people, especially at school dress surprisingly smartly. Bring trousers or long skirts and a modest top for school. There are mosquitoes around in the evenings so you’ll need long trousers and tops for then too.
The volunteer hostel is in a fantastic location with access to shops, bars, restaurants and the great local vibe. You can get a great meal at the local food market which overlooks the beach.
Fish and meat kebabs, pancakes, chapattis and sugar cane juice are all on offer for very little money and you can nibble your way round night after night. There are also a plethora of local curry restaurants as well as western establishments which you’ll find are significantly more expensive! The further off the beaten track you get, the cheaper you’ll find the food is! We’d suggest that you budget US$5 a day for lunch and dinner.
Banks, internet cafes, laundry facilities are all within easy walking distance. In fact, everything within Stone Town is within walking distance, and it is such a pleasure to wander the streets it won’t feel like a chore! There are mini-buses that will take you further afield to the north or south of the island for a few dollars. Taxis are available but you’ll find they are a lot more expensive, and not nearly as fun!
Your project will be up to a 20 minute walk or 20 minute bus ride ($3 return) from your accommodation. The team will help you find your way!
Modern day Tanzania was formed in 1964 with the merger of Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar. Migrating tribes from across Africa settled on the land as early as the first century BC, while Arab traders occupied the coastal regions from around the 8th century onwards. The Portuguese added to the mix when they colonised the country from the 16th century. By the 19th century, a European presence was stronger than ever; explorers, notably Stanley and Livingstone, were arriving and the country became part of the German Empire until the British took control after WW I.
Nationalist movements were gathering pace against the onslaught of European rule and by 1961 the country had gained independence with Julius Nyerere of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) at the helm. A one party system pervaded much of the century until 1995, which saw the first democratic elections in almost 20 years. Recent elections however have been wrought with contention and have succeeded in widening the gap between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Tanzania remains one of the poorest countries in the world, but it has achieved steady economic growth, aided by a rise in tourism.
Tanzania’s summer is December to March while its winter season runs from March to May, and is also the main rainy season. The heavy rains can make travel on unpaved roads and dirt tracks difficult. The rainy season hits Zanzibar in April and May. The country is hot year round with the most agreeable temperatures from June to September, averaging in the high 20°C. The most opportune time to see lions roaring and wildebeest roaming is to visit the Serengeti from January to March, or the beginning of June and mid-November, when the great migrations to and from Kenya takes place.
The mainland and Zanzibar are serviced by a stream of airlines, both domestic and private small plane operators. Air Tanzania and Precision Air fly the main domestic routes, including flights to Zanzibar (around 20 minutes flying time from Dar es Salaam), with the main flight hubs based at Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kilimanjaro. Zan Air, Zanzibar’s airline, also flies to the mainland and to the island of Pemba. Coastal Aviation specialises in Safari trips and has a fleet of small planes varying from 3 to 12 seaters. Ferries also serve Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam. Ferry operator Azam Marine provides a daily service that takes around 2 hours, while its route from Zanzibar to Pemba takes just over an hour and runs a couple of times a week. Faster services are available from companies such as Sea Express and Flying Horse.
Bus travel is the most used form of transport but is tainted with road accidents and poor quality roads outside of the major towns. Private companies like Scandinavia Express offer air-conditioned buses that cover the major routes. Dalla dallas (minibuses) are also in abundance and often travel to more remote areas though they don’t have the best safety records. Buses only travel during daylight hours as night time bus travel is not permitted. Self-driving is not recommended. Most four-wheel drives for safaris are required to be hired with a driver and some car hire companies don’t allow for self-driving outside of Dar es Salaam.
A much safer, albeit slower, option is to ride the country’s railways. Tanzania Railways Corporations runs services from Dar es Salaam to stations throughout the country, while TAZARA covers stops en route to Zambia from Tanzania. It’s best to opt for the comfort and security of classes 1 or 2 but travellers still need to keep an eye on belongings and close windows at night.
For localised travel, crowded buses and minibuses, together with taxis, are a regular feature in towns and cities as a means of getting from A to B.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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