Overview
Enthusiastic? Energetic? Enjoy working with children?
If you've answered 'yes' to the above, then this placement in Moshi is for you! With a variety of projects on offer, you will help to educate and care for local children as well as improving the community’s English! Practical skills in areas such as teaching, counselling and sports are welcomed, but as long as you have the get-up-and-go to care for these youngsters, you could make an enormous difference to their lives. Whilst you're there you can explore Moshi, a bustling town that lies at the foot of the Kilimanjaro massif. It’s home to the Chaga and Masai tribes and many of its residents rely on banana groves and coffee smallholdings for their living, making it an ideal destination to get an insight into Tanzanian culture.
Trip Highlights:
Living in the shadow of the awe inspiring Mt Kilimanjaro
Making a real difference to the lives of young children in Moshi
Soaking up the atmosphere of Moshi - a lovely East African town
Fast Facts
Project Information
- Project Duration: Min 2 weeks - Max 12 weeks
- Project Costs: US$ 1679.00 for 2 weeks, US$ 275.00 for every week thereafter
- Location of project:Various locations within Moshi
- Arrival Airport:Kilimanjaro (airport code JRO)
- Activities:Providing general care and assistance in looking after the children. This will involve playing games, teaching English & basic life skills.
- Working Hours:Flexible, Monday to Friday as required by the project, all other time is free
- Getting to the project:Around 1 hour walk
- Requirements:Minimum age 18
What's Included
- Accommodation:Shared dormitory room in volunteer house. Single room upgrade also available, please give us a call for more information
- Food:Breakfast and dinner
- Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
- Training:In-country orientation
- Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
What's not included
- Flights, Insurance, Visas, Return Airport transfer, Local Transport, Food (Lunch not provided)
Itinerary & Details
Project details:
Working with a number of orphanages, nurseries and kindergartens in Moshi with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, these projects need your assistance to give them a better start in life. These projects involve working with young children who often have parents who cannot afford to care for them, or are street children and orphans. The nurseries are set up to prepare the children for primary school and provide extra care where they otherwise may not be able to access it. Many of these projects are set up by adults in the community to serve the children and for which they selflessly get no money in return.
Why the project needs volunteers:
All too often parents cannot afford to take care of their children, especially if they are faced with a combination of poverty and HIV/AIDS. This is the reason why there are so many street children and orphans in Africa. By assisting at these projects you are helping to educate and entertain children who may not receive care and attention elsewhere.
What kind of skills you need to go this project:
Initiative, enthusiasm and patience will be essential characteristics for any volunteer embarking on this project. You will need to understand the key aims of your project as a focal point for the broader community and be aware of the long term goals in order to appreciate the hands on work that this project will require. The projects are often chaotic and demanding, yet infinitely rewarding, so you will need to be open-minded, patient and energetic. Any specific skills that you can contribute, such as teaching or child care experience, or skills in arts/crafts, music or sports will be very much appreciated and useful in teaching the children in an interactive way. Volunteers will need to be pro-active in instigating activities that they particularly want to get up and running as supervision and leadership may be fairly minimal.
Your role as a volunteer:
Your role will be to provide a range of skills and activities, depending on your experience. You will almost certainly be asked to help with informal teaching to the children on a basic level, such as the alphabet, math and basic vocabulary. The main aim is to make learning as fun and interactive as possible so any games, songs or other fun activities you can initiate would be greatly appreciated.
As the children’s projects tend to be morning projects, you can choose from a variety of afternoon projects to help the community in other ways. 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. The projects are distributed across Moshi so you can have up to an hours walk or a shared taxi ride to reach them.
You will need to book your flights to arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on the arrival date.
Visa Information:
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 Class C 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:
You’ll enter into Tanzania on a tourist visa which you can get on arrival (cost is US$50, or US$100 if you’re Irish)
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!
On arrival at your project you will be switched over to a Class C work permit from your tourist visa
Once you have started your project, due to the rules and regulations regarding work permits in Tanzania you will only able to take tours offered by our in-country partners.
Throughout your time at project we ask you to confirm all weekend travel plans with the in-country team. This is to ensure that both they and you are able to ensure that you remain within the regulations of the work permit.
If you are looking to travel in Tanzania after the end of your project you will need to submit an itinerary to the in-country team when you apply for your class C Work Permit. However, again due to the work permit restrictions, you will only be able to go on an organised tour with our in-country partners as it is not possible to alter the status of your work permit once it has been issued unless you leave the country.
Any questions about planning your trip to Tanzania just give us a call!
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 fora 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 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 project then a 60-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 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
24/7 emergency support
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
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. 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
Supporting our projects
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.
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
Next Steps
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
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)
We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.
We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with confirmation of your project and accommodation 2 weeks after you've booked
We will ask you to complete your forms and pay your final balance if they are still due when required
We are available for any questions you may have on 800 985 4852 or support@i-to-i.com
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 if requested
Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)
Make final payment at least 90 days before you go
Make sure you have a visa for your trip if it's 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!
Flights & Insurance
Insurance
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
Flights
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
Early Airport Pick-up
If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your orientation accommodation. One additional night a
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 72.00
A little bit of history...
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.
Best time to go...
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.
Getting around...
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.
Useful links
www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas
www.airtanzania.com
Domestic airline Air Tanzania.
www.coastal.cc
Flight charter company Coastal Aviation.
www.precisionairtz.com
Domestic airline Precision Air.
www.scandinaviagroup.com
Bus company Scandinavia Express.
www.tazara.com
Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).
www.trctz.com
Tanzania Railways Corporation.
www.zanair.com
Zanzibar’s main airline Zan Air.
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