Teaching English Abroad in Tanzania - Community Involvement

Get a glimpse of village life in the heart of Tanzania and make a tangible difference in the community. You will help teach English and get creative with arts and fun activities for school children. During your time off, see some of the world’s most beautiful places as well as have the chance to hike around Mount Kilimanjaro.

Program Highlights:

Gain practical experience in teaching English.
Provide educational enrichment and reduce the chances of children dropping out of school.
Make learning more fun by organizing educational games.
Immerse yourself in Maasai culture.
Spend your weekends going on safaris and swimming in waterfalls

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your new home in Monduli. Take the time to get settled and meet other volunteers.

Day 1, Monday: You will join our orientation day to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and local culture. This includes a tour of the local area and a hike up the beautiful Monduli Mountains.

Days 1-4, Tuesday-Friday: Begin your meaningful volunteer work on our teaching enrichment programs.

Days 5-6, Saturday-Sunday: Your weekends are free to explore Tanzania. Go hiking in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and swimming in waterfalls, or go on a safari tour in the incredible Serengeti National Park.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday and having Saturday-Sunday off. Departures are on a Saturday.

Location of the Project: Monduli, northern Tanzania

Project length: Min 2 weeks – Max 8 weeks

Arrival Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Volunteer Work: Teach English to children, teachers, and other community leaders.

Age: 18-70

Number of Volunteers: Up to 20 international volunteers

What’s Included

Accommodations: Shared accommodation at the project base

Food: Three meals on weekdays and two on weekends

Airport Transfers: Airport transfers are provided on arrival day

Orientation: Orientation day is on Monday to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and local culture. This includes a tour of the local area and a hike up the beautiful Monduli Mountains.

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (approx. $50 USD), travel health insurance, personal expenses

Location

This project takes place in the district of Monduli, which is in the Arusha region, northeastern Tanzania. This area is a popular base for travelers to learn how the local Maasai people live and to explore a fascinating part of Africa. Located a few hours’ drive from Mount Kilimanjaro and safari destinations, such as the Serengeti, the Ngorogoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire.

Volunteer Work

Our volunteer program works with various primary, secondary, and high schools in the Monduli district. Local schools need volunteer teachers to support community leaders with English enrichment programs.

As a volunteer, you will assist local educators in teaching basic English by exchanging songs and playing educational games. You will support children through activities like handicrafts, sports, drawing, coloring, and writing. Higher-level education programs in mathematics and science are available as well.

Our teaching program supports the education of children aged 6 to 14 years old (grade 1 – 7). The school operates between the hours of 8 AM until 4 PM in the afternoon. Volunteers will engage with students 4-6 hours per day between class sessions and after school.

Aims & Objectives

Improve the children’s English skills and widen their cultural interactions
Provide you with a teaching assistant experience, an invaluable life skill!
Assist the teaching staff with extra hands

Daily Schedule from Monday to Friday:

Breakfast
Assisting Teachers and Students at the school
Lunch break
Assist Teachers and Students at the school
Lesson Planning for next day
Dinner

Holidays: Regular teaching classes do not take place during school holidays. Additionally, volunteer work is not scheduled on national holidays, including Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Labor Day, which may impact short-term placement bookings. However, volunteers are welcome to participate in local celebrations during these periods. After registering, you will receive a detailed file with the holiday dates for the Zanzibar Teaching program.

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: Internet facilities are available in town for a small fee. Wi-Fi is not available, we suggest all participants get a local SIM card and buy a bundle to maintain personal internet access.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry facilities are available.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: As a volunteer, you will stay in our local program center with shared rooms for 2-6 people. A home-stay option is also available. Accommodation is basic, with a mix of western-style toilets and traditional squat-style toilets. They sometimes heat the water for bucket-style showers. The accommodation is on a local school campus and there are lots of green space to enjoy. There is an extensive garden available where you can relax during the daytime, and during clear nights, you can even stargaze in the Milky Way!

Food icon Food: The local cuisine inspires the meals and comprises a lot of corn, rice, potatoes, and bananas. Some beef, goat meat, beans, and a few green leafy vegetables will help to add nutrients to your daily meals. There are very few dishes that are western style, so prepare for a food adventure as well. The program includes 3 meals on weekdays and 2 on weekends.

Requirements

Minimum age of 18
Police clearance form
Good English level (some previous teaching experience will be helpful, but is not essential)
Immunizations (please consult your local travel clinic)
All participants must bring along with them 4-5 COVID-19 self-test kits (average 1 per week) to cover their stay.

Travel Highlights

Tanzania offers a variety of tours and safari options, which are perfect for a weekend getaway or a post/pre-project safari. Monduli is only a few hours’ drive from exciting safari destinations such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara.

The project coordinators in Monduli can help advise you on different getaways, which can include a trip to the Tanzanite mines, a visit to Zanzibar, a trip to the famous Serengeti National Park or the unique Ngorongoro Crater, and, of course, climbing the mighty Kilimanjaro!

Project Orientation (Included):
On arrival in Monduli, you will receive a comprehensive orientation, including:

Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice, and handling of documents.
Tanzanian Do’s and Don’ts, Culture introduction and country history, and Intensive Swahili Language Lessons.
Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary.
Lunch
Hike up the beautiful Monduli mountains