Dunia Rafiki - Volunteers
Childcare Volunteering in Mwanza.
Excited to be a Childcare volunteer in Tanzania? Dunia Rafiki Organization Childcare volunteer program is a great way for volunteers to assist at kindergartens and early childhood centers in low-income areas where many families rely on them for support while they go to work. Volunteers gain childcare experience while helping staff at centers which are often lacking adequate funds and resources to provide the kind of high quality childcare which helps young children grow and learn.
Highlights:
Programs available year-round with exceptions of June and December months. Affordablefees from $299 for 1 week
Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support Set up and run activities that help children to learn and have fun
Experience Tanzania’s amazing wildlife and landscapes Stay near the spectacular Lake Victoria
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Working area: Based in childcare centers Accommodation: Volunteer house or homestay Duration: From 1 - 16 weeks
Working hours: Up to 5 hours volunteering a day
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Childcare centers and kindergartens in low-income areas of Mwanzaa are often lively places, and many families rely on them for support while they go to work for the day. Volunteers can ease the workload of local staff and help them provide better quality care for preschoolers. As a Childcare volunteer you will assist in daycares and kindergartens that are often underfunded, under-resourced and in need of extra help. Volunteers provide valuable support by:
• Assisting with teaching
• Caring for children
• Playing games and arranging activities Helping with feeding and mealtimes
• Interacting and engaging with children
Other general duties.
You’re welcome to bring along books, pencils, basic first aid supplies and musical instruments to help entertain the children and assist with activities. These supplies can generally be purchased in Tanzania, which also helps to support the local economy.
Why do Childcare volunteers in Mwanza with Dunia Rafiki?
When you volunteer with children in Tanzania you’ll be helping teach the kids, while also
developing personally and professionally by:
Teaching independently and/or assisting with teaching
mproving early childhood education for disadvantaged communities Helping children develop life skills in a safe place
Gaining childcare experience
Immersing yourself in Tanzanian culture
Discovering Africa’s incredible wildlife
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or friend who is over 18 to participate in this program
All volunteers are required to provide a criminal background check to Dunia Rafiki prior to departure, or if aged under 18 need to provide two character reference letters instead
All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month and volunteers need to arrive in Mwanza on the day before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Mwanza Airport. Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation. When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Mwanza. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Tanzania prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Mwanza Airport on the day before your program orientation. Orientation is hosted by our local team at one of the volunteer houses in Mwanza. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date. If your start date falls on a weekend or a public holiday, your orientation will begin on the Monday or day following the public holiday. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Tanzania – an introduction to Tanzania,Tanzania customs, rules and expectations, language lessons (Kiswahili), safety, travel opportunities in Tanzania, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On the first day of the volunteering placement, you will be escorted to the project by our local staff and introduced to the staff at the project you will be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours are dependent on the placement that each volunteer is working at. A typical volunteer day would be as follows:
7:30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house or homestay.
8:00 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at.
1:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home for lunch at their accommodation, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing.
8:30 PM Dinner at the volunteer house or homestay
Weekends
Tanzania is a wildlife lover’s dream. In your free time you can venture out on a safari and see Africa’s Big 5 - lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhino - as well as the mind-blowing number of other species that call Tanzania home.
In Mwanza itself you can find great fish markets, take a few hours to hike alongside Lake Victoria, or learn about the culture and Sukuma tribes of the area. You can also take a short flight down to Zanzibar for a weekend of sun and sandy beaches or save some time before or after your program to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers in Tanzania are accommodated in dorm-style volunteer houses or homestays located in Nyegezi and Malimbe, Mwanza. In the volunteer houses, volunteers can expect to share a room with another volunteer of the same gender; however, the majority of rooms accommodate 2 people.
Living conditions are basic, but the volunteer houses and homestays have running water and electricity. It’s important to note that there are often power outages, which can affect the availability of hot water and electricity. There are cooks who prepare meals for the volunteers, and each volunteer house has a security guard.
Please be aware that private room upgrades are not available in Tanzania.
If you would like to stay connected during your stay, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Tanzania. The local team can assist you with purchasing a SIM card and data during your program orientation. Additionally, you can access WiFi at cafes and restaurants in Mwanza.
If you wish to arrive a day earlier than your recommended arrival date or spend a few extra nights after finishing your program, we can arrange extra nights of accommodation for you at $35 per person per night, including meals, subject to availability. You will be able to book extra nights via your profile after you register.
Meals
Tanzanian cuisine varies across the country due to differences in produce found inland and along the coast. The immigration of Khoja Indians has influenced local dishes with Indian flavors. Staple foods in Tanzania include rice, ugali (maize porridge), chapati, and beans. Please keep in mind that rice and beans are significant components of meals in Tanzania, so you can expect to be served these quite often.
Volunteers are provided with three meals a day at the volunteer houses and homestays. Breakfast typically consists of eggs served with pancakes, mandazzi (deep-fried dough balls), or cake, along with plenty of fresh fruit, bread, and a selection of jams and other spreads for toast.
Lunch and dinner usually feature a traditional meat dish (chicken, fish or beef) alongside a vegetable dish, beans, lentils, or cooked vegetables served with rice, pasta, chips, or chapati.
Meals are served at the accommodations, but lunch boxes with fruits and sandwiches can be provided upon request if your placement is scheduled to finish after lunchtime.
Bottled water is readily available in Tanzania, and volunteers should budget approximately $5 per week for 2 liters a day. Filtered water is also available at the accommodations, and you can choose between purchasing bottled water or using the free filtered water provided in the houses.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please inform us so that the local team can make arrangements for you. They can provide vegetarian meals and options that are dairy and gluten-free; however, please note that vegan, halal, and kosher options are not available. Keep in mind that your eating experience may differ from what you’re accustomed to at home. The local team will do their best to accommodate your needs and ensure volunteers are well taken care of, but it’s essential for volunteers to remain flexible.
Volunteer Visa costs in Tanzania
Volunteer in Tanzania for 1-3 months you will require an ordinary Visa which costs $50 for other nationalities and $100 for American passport holders. These can be purchased upon arrival at the airport or border crossing in Tanzania. It can be purchased online before the link below https://tanzania-e-visas.com/tanzania-volunteer-visa/
Be aware this process can take 2-3 weeks. Here’s a breakdown of the visa according to requirements.
- - Ordinary visa A6 is for volunteers
- - Student visa C2 is for volunteer students
- - Student visa C1 is for interns
Important things to note
- Booking should be done at least 1 month before arrival. 50% of the volunteer fee should be paid at least 1 week before to cover pre-arrival services.
Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes. - Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Tanzania generally find US$75-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.
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with Dunia Rafiki Organization?
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