TANZANIA Welcome to . . IVHQ TANZANIA This is an interactive PDF. Please scroll through the brochure or click on the quick links below. You can click on the IVHQ logo at the bottom of each page to return to the quick links. You will also find buttons on many pages throughout the brochure that provide additional details. Enjoy browsing! PROGRAM OVERVIEW PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS LIVING DETAILS PROGRAM SCHEDULE IVHQ FEES WHY IVHQ? FAQS IVHQ COMMUNITY WHAT NEXT? PROGRAM OVERVIEW »» TEACHING ENGLISH »» CHILDCARE »» MEDICAL PROGRAM LOCATION The program is based in Arusha, which is where orientation and general administration is carried out by our partner organization. Volunteer projects are located in and around Arusha. PROGRAM START DATE AND DURATION The program begins on the 1st and 15th of each month. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods ranging from 1 week to 6 months. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS Volunteers must be over 18 years of age at the beginning of the program. Volunteers must speak fluent English. Volunteers must present a recent criminal background check to IVHQ’s partner organization staff upon arrival in Arusha. Volunteers must have adequate travel insurance. Volunteers participating in the Medical project must have appropriate training and certification and US$80 medical donation (to be presented to IVHQ partner staff on arrival in Tanzania). * TANZANIA BROCHURE Capital: Dodoma Population: 37,849,133 Official languages: Swahili Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS) Airport for volunteer pick up: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Climate: Tanzania is hot throughout the year and is humid on the coast and dry on the central plateau. The heavy rains last from March to June and can make unsealed road travel difficult. The hot, dry weather in January and February attracts the most tourists. The best time to visit the Serengeti is from January to March, when the grazers are calving and there are plenty of lion around, or to witness the wildebeest migration to and from Kenya, which occurs at the onset of the dry season and again with the first rains, usually around the beginning of June and mid-November. Zanzibar has a warm climate year-round and its coastal resorts are tempered by sea breezes. The island is best avoided during the rain season in April and May. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS TEACHING Volunteers on the Teaching project in Tanzania work in English-medium schools, government schools or orphanage schools, where the presence of volunteers is beneficial in opening the minds and broadening the horizons of the students, along with exposing them to native spoken English. Children in Tanzania love to attend school, often starting as young as 3 years old, and wherever possible, children hope to stay in school until at least 14 years old, as education is highly valued in Tanzanian society. Teaching volunteers work by themselves or alongside local teachers and other volunteers, teaching subjects such as, English, Math, Science, Social Studies (Geography and History), Art and Physical Education. There can be between 30 and 80 children in each class and volunteers are required to assist the local teachers with daily lessons, providing one-on-one attention to the students and sometimes relieving the teacher of a class or two per day. Volunteers do not need to be experienced or qualified teacher to participate on this project. English-medium schools run throughout the year and have holidays for the entire months of April, August and December. Government schools have holidays for the entire months of June and December. These schools also take 1 week holidays during Easter and September. Orphanage schools do not have set holiday schedules, but take shorter breaks of 1 to 2 weeks at different times of the year. During school holidays, volunteers can take a break, travel, engage in tourist activities such as safari, take tutorials for senior students, or volunteer at another placement. As each school-type has holidays at different times, there is Teaching work available for volunteers throughout the year. There is also an opportunity for volunteers to work in a special needs school in Arusha with around 25 students, aged between 3 and 25 years old. Volunteers at this school work with students with a range of mental and physical disabilities, such as autism and Down’s syndrome. These students require a great deal of attention and support in their studies and if you have experience in working with special needs children, or are interested in volunteering at the school, please make a note in your application. CHILDCARE Due to the high rate of HIV/AIDS and other illnesses prevalent in Sub-Saharan African countries, there are a large number of children left orphaned in Tanzania. In addition, there are many children who have been abandoned by their parents, as they are unable to provide for them. Given the family-oriented culture of Tanzania, orphaned and abandoned children tend to be taken in by extended family or neighbors, however these children put a considerable strain on the families who take them in and they are often sent to orphanages for certain hours of the day to receive education, interaction and food. As the children do not usually live at these orphanages and are only there for a few hours each day, volunteers on this project are often required to teach the children. In addition to teaching, volunteers are also required to help with the general running of the orphanage and daily chores. Volunteer tasks include teaching, cooking and cleaning, farm work, caring for children and babies, and assisting with feeding programs. TANZANIA BROCHURE PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS MEDICAL Healthcare is neither easily accessible nor affordable for many Tanzanians in rural villages and poor urban areas. Volunteers on the Medical project help to provide care in these areas and work alongside local medical professionals, gaining an understanding of the healthcare system in Tanzania. Volunteers work in medical clinics and hospitals and are placed according to previous experience and training. Some hospitals and clinics include departments, such as Laboratory Testing, Pharmacy, Maternity and Family Planning, Radiology, Ultrasound and Dentistry, and volunteers who have an interest in any of these areas are asked to make a note in their application. The key attributes for a successful Medical volunteer are initiative, enthusiasm and readiness to work in basic facilities with limited resources. It is important that volunteers have realistic expectations with regards to the activities that they will be involved in on the Medical project. Volunteers generally shadow local doctors and provide basic patient care, as procedures must comply with the Tanzania Healthcare System and most volunteers cannot communicate directly with patients due to language barriers. Volunteers need to understand that a key role on this project is simple observation and it is unlikely that you will be involved in operations or independent tasks. Volunteers on this project must be trained and qualified in a relevant medical field. Paramedics, EMTs, and other healthcare professionals are welcome to join the Medical project in Tanzania, however it is important to note that volunteers are placed within a general practice clinic or hospital, rather than working within their specialized roles. Please note, all medical placements require a one off placement fee of US$80 regardless of your placement duration. This fee goes directly to the medical center where you are placed and is payable in Tanzania directly to the local staff. TANZANIA BROCHURE LIVING DETAILS Accommodation Volunteers in Tanzania are either accommodated in a volunteer house or a homestay with a host family. Volunteers can expect to share a room with one to five other volunteers of the same gender and volunteer houses can accommodate up to 30 volunteers at one time. Volunteers in homestays can expect to be living with at least four other volunteers. Living is basic but the volunteer house and homestays have running water and electricity, however it is important to note that there are often power outages. Bedding is provided, however it is recommended that volunteers bring their own sleeping bag for weekends away, along with a towel and toiletries. In the volunteer house, there is a cook who cooks the meals for the volunteers and there is a security guard. The local staff are also available on a daily basis. Meals Tanzanian cuisine varies across the country, owing to the difference in produce inland and along the coast. The immigration of Khoja Indians has resulted in local dishes influenced by Indian cuisine. Staple foods in Tanzania include rice, ugali (maize porridge), chapatti and coconut milk. Volunteers are served three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Breakfasts generally consist of chai (tea), toast, fruit and mandazzi (deep fried dough). A typical lunch can include meat and vegetables with rice and fruit, while dinner usually sees traditional food, such as ugali and chapatti accompany the meat and vegetables. Bottled water and plastic water sachets are readily available in Tanzania and volunteers should budget approximately US$5 per week for this (2 liters per day). If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible. TANZANIA BROCHURE PROGRAM SCHEDULE Arrival and Departure Orientation The Tanzania program begins on the 1st and 15th of every month and we ask that you arrive in Arusha for a pickup on the day before your chosen start date. Accommodation is provided from the night before your start date through to (and including) the night before your end date. If you arrive one or two days earlier or depart one or two days later than these dates, this is ok, however, you will need to pay US$20 per night directly to our partner organization in Arusha (this includes meals). Orientation is taken by our Tanzania team at the volunteer house in Arusha. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Tanzania – Introduction to Tanzania, Tanzanian Customs, Rules and Expectations, Language Lessons (Kiswahili) Safety, Travel Opportunities in Tanzania, 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 Week (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: A typical day would be as follows: 7.30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house or home-stay. 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. 2-5 .00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing. 8.30 PM Dinner at the volunteer house or home-stay. Weekends: During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of their local town or Arusha. Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield to destinations, such as Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Uganda and Kenya, or to embark on a safari. TANZANIA BROCHURE IVHQ FEES Registration Fee Program Duration Program Fee 1 week 270 549 2 weeks 370 649 3 weeks 470 749 4 weeks 565 844 »» 6 weeks 755 1034 »» 8 weeks 945 1224 10 weeks 1135 1414 12 weeks 1325 1604 16 weeks 1705 1984 20 weeks 2085 2364 24 weeks 2465 2744 (Applies for each program you join) $279 (USD) »» Currency conversion Total Cost (Program and Registration Fee) All fees incur a 5% transaction and currency conversion fee (added to your total at point of payment) and are to be paid in US Dollars. TANZANIA BROCHURE WHY IVHQ? AFFORDABILITY IVHQ was established in 2007 to provide volunteers with high quality, safe, responsible and yet extremely affordable volunteering opportunities abroad. Since our inception, IVHQ has developed a reputation as the world leader in affordable international volunteer programs. Thousands of volunteers travel abroad with IVHQ every year and an insight into their experiences can be found in our Volunteer Abroad Reviews. By working directly with local organizations in the countries where our programs are based, IVHQ is able to provide high quality volunteer programs at affordable rates. To view our low program fees starting from just $180, visit our Program Fees page. EXPERIENCE Every year, IVHQ places thousands of volunteers on our programs abroad, making us one of the most experienced volunteer travel organizations in the world. Our directors and staff have traveled to our volunteer programs and experienced these programs first-hand. We have lived in the accommodations and eaten the food that our volunteers are served. We have visited the placements and inspected the projects that our volunteers are working on. We have helped thousands of IVHQ volunteers prepare for their trips and we understand what it is like to travel abroad. It is this experience that has helped establish IVHQ as the world’s most trusted volunteer organization. RESPONSIBILITY The implementation of responsible volunteer travel practices is paramount to any high quality international volunteer program. At IVHQ we understand the importance of ensuring our volunteer programs are sustainable and responsible, and we have a dedicated Risk and Responsibility Advisor who oversees this aspect of our programs. IVHQ’s Responsible Volunteer Travel Policy is discussed with IVHQ volunteers during their in-country program orientation before they begin volunteering. In addition, all volunteers are required to read, understand and sign the IVHQ Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy before they can begin their program. QUALITY Although IVHQ has built a reputation for providing low program fees, we pride ourselves on the high quality programs and superior service that we provide to all IVHQ volunteers. IVHQ and our local teams are motivated to provide top quality programs and support services for IVHQ volunteers and as a result, IVHQ is consistently rated as one of the top volunteer travel companies on independent review sites. Since 2007, we have grown to become one of the world’s largest volunteer companies and our growth has been built on volunteer feedback. Each year, we send thousands of volunteers abroad, and an insight into their experiences can be found in our Volunteer Abroad Reviews. NEED IVHQ actively seeks partner organizations that offer quality projects in genuine need of volunteer assistance. Whether your stay is a short or a long one, our partner organizations will do their utmost to ensure that you do make a difference. TANZANIA BROCHURE WHY IVHQ? SUPPORT From the moment you pay your Registration Fee, you will receive ongoing support from IVHQ until the day you finish your volunteer program. Once registered on an IVHQ program, you will gain access to a number of features within My IVHQ to help you prepare for your trip, including information booklets and check-lists. You will also be connected with a dedicated IVHQ Program Manager who is directly responsible for managing your program and helping you prepare for your trip. Once you reach your volunteer program destination, our local team takeover the initial support role and will be your first point of contact until the day you depart your program. While your IVHQ Program Manager becomes a secondary layer of support at this stage, he/she will remain in touch with you via email and will be accessible should you require assistance. SAFETY Traveling to a foreign country and experiencing a different culture can be a daunting experience at the best of times, but when you are volunteering and living among the local community, this apprehension can often be compounded. While safety can never be totally guaranteed wherever we are in the world, IVHQ and its partner organizations do all we can to ensure your volunteer program is as safe as possible. Volunteers are placed in trustworthy institutions and accommodations, all of which have been screened by our local teams. We conduct risk management audits on our frequent visits to programs, while providing our local teams with risk management guidelines to help minimize risk for our volunteers. FRIENDSHIP Volunteers on IVHQ programs often form life-long friendships with their host families and the people they assist while volunteering. However, they also form strong bonds with the other volunteers on their programs. Although many volunteers come from very different cultures and backgrounds, the experiences that these volunteers share forge strong ties that can last a lifetime. As one of the world’s largest volunteer organizations, sending thousands of volunteers abroad annually, IVHQ volunteers are always in the company of other international volunteers. LOYALTY Loyalty is one of the foundations that IVHQ has been built on. We make your registration fee refundable so if you change your mind (no later than 60 days before your program start date), you will receive your money back. We also reward our returning volunteers with US$50 registration fee refunds. We show strong loyalty to the communities in which we work, IVHQ sets up sustainable long-term partnerships with local organizations and institutions, which allow long-term prosperity for the people in the communities where our volunteers are placed. ENJOYMENT At IVHQ we recognize that there is more to a great volunteer travel experience than simply volunteering. While we are focused strongly on providing top quality volunteer programs, we also realize that many IVHQ volunteers are first-time travelers to their program destinations and wish to take time out for sightseeing and to explore. To accommodate this, our local teams have established partnerships with local travel companies to provide volunteers with access to high quality and often discounted travel and tour activities. TANZANIA BROCHURE FAQs Do I need a visa to go to Tanzania? Visa requirements vary depending on the following factors: your purpose of travel, length of stay, nationality and place of residence. Purpose of travel: IVHQ trips fall under the category of volunteer tourism and we recommend you state your purpose of travel as “vacation or “tourism” when asked by immigration officials. If you state “work” or “volunteer work” as your purpose, immigration officers often demand that you pay extra and acquire a work/employment visa, which is not necessary for your volunteer program. Length of stay: A tourist may stay in Tanzania for a maximum of 180 days. Nationality and place of residence: Some African, Caribbean and Pacific nationalities may enter Tanzania without a visa, whereas some African, Middle Eastern and Asian nationalities must arrange a visa prior to arrival in Tanzania. All other nationalities are eligible to gain a tourist visa on arrival. Please check the requirements for your nationality with your nearest Tanzanian Embassy. How to apply: Tourist visas are issued for 3 months initially and if you are eligible to gain a visa on arrival, you will just need to have the relevant fee in USD (US$200 for USA and Irish nationals and US$50 for all other nationals). Points of entry in Tanzania are listed in the information booklet provided once you register on the Tanzania program. If you choose to, or are required to obtain a tourist visa prior to arrival, you can apply for this from your nearest Tanzanian embassy. Canadian volunteers are required to present an invitation letter to gain a visa prior to arrival, which you can request once you have registered on the program. However, this letter is not required for Canadians who wish to obtain a visa on arrival. If you are planning to volunteer on one of our longer programs (3+ months), you will need to extend your tourist visa in Tanzania and our in-country staff will help you with this process. All volunteers need to ensure they have a passport that is valid for 6 months from entry. In addition to the tourist visa, all volunteers who are volunteering for longer than 1 week are required to obtain a work permit (this is acquired after you arrive in Tanzania and lasts for 3 months). The work visa is obtained for you by our local staff immediately after your program orientation and costs US$200 (newer notes issued after 2006 are recommended to pay this). To obtain the work visa, you will need to provide the following: 1) 5 passport photos 2) US$200 (make sure all bills are newer than the year ‘2006’) 3) CV/resume 4) Proof of your highest academic qualifications held* 5) A photocopy of the passport page with your details *Volunteers need to bring proof of the highest level of education ALREADY obtained. If you have completed A-levels or high school only, you need to provide a copy of your high school diploma. If you are currently enrolled in university but have not yet graduated, you will again need to provide a copy of your high school diploma, or a certificate from completing A-levels. If you have graduated from university, you will need to provide a copy of your degree. These documents will need to be present to our program staff during orientation so they can obtain your work permit from the immigration office to allow you to take part in volunteer work in Tanzania. Since the introduction of work permits for volunteers, immigration staff have become very strict and now check on orphanages, schools and other volunteering institutions regularly to ensure all volunteers have this permit. If you are going to be in Tanzania volunteering for longer than 3 months, you will need to purchase two work permits, as the visa is valid for three months only. TANZANIA BROCHURE FAQs What is the currency in Tanzania? Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). We recommend you check out the most current exchange rate before your departure. Managing your money: We recommend you take some United States Dollars (around US$200) to keep away in case of emergencies and a VISA or Mastercard credit/debit card to withdraw cash in local currency, as you need it. ATMs are easily accessible in major cities and tourist areas, and hotels, shops and restaurants in tourist areas generally accept credit cards. You will need Shillings for public transportation, taxis and independent shops and hospitality venues. Most currencies can be exchanged easily at the airport (although you will not receive a favorable exchange rate) and at any bank. I want to get cheap flights! Can you help me? IVHQ prides itself on providing high quality volunteer trips abroad at incredibly affordable prices. However, our volunteers often discover that one of the biggest costs when preparing for their volunteer trip abroad are their flights. To help overcome this, International Volunteer HQ has partnered with STA Travel to create flight itineraries especially for IVHQ volunteers. STA Travel’s mission is to open up the world to eager, enthusiastic, exploratory travellers and as the world’s largest travel company for students and young adults are committed to helping you travel with a purpose at an affordable price. Once you have registered on the program (paid your registration fee) and have your dates and location confirmed, you can request a flight quote from STA Travel. Before registering on the program, you can view a list of indicative flight prices from STA Travel for our most popular flight routes. Tanzania has several airlines flying in and out of the country. Airlines include; British Airways, Emirates, Air India, Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), Corsair, Scandinavian Airlines and Swiss Airlines. Helpful hint: when booking flights into Tanzania, volunteers have found that flights into Arusha (Kilimanjaro) are often more expensive than flying into Dar Es Salaam or Nairobi (Arusha is an approximate 6 hour drive from Nairobi and a 10 hour drive from Dar Es Salaam). Some volunteers fly to one of these two cities and then catch a bus or shuttle to Arusha. There is more information on how to arrange this in the information booklet provided to you when you register on the Tanzania program. I have never been to Tanzania before and am worried! How safe is it? Tanzania is a developing country where there can often be unrest and like all countries around the world, there are areas where criminal activity is more prevalent than others. Safety and security is a high priority for IVHQ and you will not be placed in areas where we feel your safety is at risk. You will be accommodated and placed with other volunteers, so it is unlikely that you will ever be alone during your time on the program and we do everything in our power to ensure your volunteering trip is as safe and secure as possible. The IVHQ office is based in New Zealand and we work closely with local partner organizations in each country in which we have programs. One of the strengths of IVHQ is our partner organization selection process. It is a sad fact that there are many volunteer programs with sub-standard accommodation and services, even though they charge a small fortune to volunteers to allow them to “help”. Every program that IVHQ offers has been personally inspected and selected by a director from IVHQ. We have lived in the homestays, experienced the orientations, worked on the projects and built strong, trusting relationships with the staff from our partner organizations. If we did not believe the placements were safe enough to send our own children on, we would not offer them. TANZANIA BROCHURE FAQs Placements and homestays are monitored on an on-going basis to gauge volunteer experiences and we are continually improving our projects through feedback from our volunteers. Security and safety of our programs is constantly being reviewed and if you have any concerns we encourage you to discuss these with the local staff at orientation. During orientation, our local staff will provide guidance in the area of safety and security and in the unlikely event that something was to happen, you will be able to call on the local staff for support 24/7. The host families and staff at your placement are also available to provide you with assistance if needed. Is it easy to keep in touch with friends and family at home? Phone: You can bring your own cell phone to Tanzania to use with a local pre-paid SIM card, however, it must be an unlocked, quad band, 3G phone. You can buy prepaid SIM cards for US$1. Both International and local/long distance calls can be made. If you are unable to bring a phone from home (and we suggest leaving very valuable phones back home), you can also buy a local phone once you arrive. The cheapest phone is approximately US$25. If you wish to use your own cell phone on global roaming, you will need to check with your cell phone provider for roaming costs and coverage in Tanzania. Please note, the country code of Tanzania is +255. Internet: You will be able access to WiFi and the Internet in Internet cafes in urban areas. Do I require vaccinations to travel to Tanzania? The Yellow Fever vaccination is legally required for you to enter Tanzania. All other vaccinations remain a personal choice and we recommend visiting a travel doctor (ideally 4 to 6 weeks prior to your start date) to discuss vaccinations, as the list we provide below is only a guide. Your doctor will advise you of the benefits and implications for vaccinations available in accordance to your full travel plans so you can make an informed decision. We recommend considering the following vaccinations: Polio Hepatitis A Diphtheria/Tetanus Typhoid Hepatitis B Tuberculosis (when epidemic) Malaria - Tablets TANZANIA BROCHURE IVHQ COMMUNITY IVHQ Network and Testimonials Looking to gain a first-hand insight into our programs and network with past and present IVHQ volunteers? Our social media channels have what you’re looking for! Join the International Volunteer HQ Facebook group and like our IVHQ Facebook page to browse the thousands of photos, videos and travel tips from IVHQ volunteers. Plus connect with other volunteers on the same program as you. If you’re tweeting, follow @IVHQ on Twitter and keep us posted with your volunteering plans. Smartphone users may also enjoy browsing the growing library of #IVHQ photos posted on Instagram. And tune in to our YouTube channel and Pinterest boards to get an insight into the volunteering experiences waiting for you with IVHQ! IVHQ Volunteer Competitions Our volunteers are never short of memories to share from their trips, so to help share these special moments, we run monthly photo and video competitions on our website. Flick through the Photo Competition entries and watch the Video Competition clips to grab a glimpse into our programs and remember to vote for your favourites! IVHQ Volunteer Diaries To give future IVHQ volunteers a better feel for our programs, we encourage our current volunteers to write a volunteer diary, sharing the day-to-day experiences of an IVHQ volunteer. These diaries are published on the Volunteer Diaries section of our website and are available for you to read! TANZANIA BROCHURE WHAT NEXT? To secure your place on an IVHQ program and begin preparing for your trip abroad, just follow these steps: 1. Browse our great range of volunteering programs at www.volunteerhq.org 2. Select the program that you wish to volunteer on and apply online using the online application form. Within 48 hours, you will receive an email from IVHQ, informing you of whether there is space on your selected program. 3. If your application is successful, you can then pay the registration fee (refundable* if you choose not to go) of US$279. This payment confirms your place on the program. 4. After paying your registration fee, you will be assigned an IVHQ Program Manager and will be provided with a comprehensive information booklet, detailing everything you need to know for your upcoming volunteering program. * Terms and conditions apply. Contact Us PHONE POSTAL ADDRESS +64 6 758 7949 (International) International Volunteer HQ 1-877-342-6588 (USA/Canada Call Free) PO Box 8273 EMAIL 0-808-234-1621 (UK Call Free) New Plymouth [email protected] 1-800-557-380 (Australia Call Free) NEW ZEALAND Please note that IVHQ is based in New Zealand and office hours are 8.30am - 5.00pm, weekdays (NZST).
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