Tanzania – Zanzibar Teaching Assistant

Get a glimpse of real life on the beautiful island of Zanzibar and make a tangible difference in the community. You will help teach English and get creative with arts and fun activities for school children.

 

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 the myriad of cultures that make up Zanzibar.
  • During the weekends’ you can join a safari tour or enjoy amazing beaches nearby.

 

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

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ). You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your new home in Stone Town. 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.

Days 1-4, Tuesday-Friday: Begin your meaningful volunteer work on our teaching enrichment programs. After breakfast at 8:30 AM , the coordinator will take you to your designated placement via local public transport. At 1 PM volunteers, all meet back at the volunteer house for lunch and spend the afternoon preparing lessons and exploring the city.

Days 5-6, Saturday-Sunday: Your weekends are free to explore Zanzibar and Tanzania.

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 icon Location of the Project: Stone Town, Zanzibar

Project length Project length: Min 2 weeks – Max 8 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work:  Teaching

Age Age: 25-70

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 20 international volunteers

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Shared accommodation at the project base

Food Food: Three meals on weekdays and two on weekends

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers: Included on arrival day

Orientation Orientation: Orientation day is on Monday to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and local culture

Support 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

Zanzibar is more than spices and beaches, it also amazingly combines different cultures and unique traditions. Swahili, Persian, Arab, Indian and European influences culminate together in Stone Town, the biggest city on the island. In 2000, UNESCO recognized Stone Town as a World Heritage Site. It boasts a unique fusion of architecture and cultures which date back to the 18th century.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region within the United Republic of Tanzania. It consists of two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, and some populated islets. After the 1964 revolution, Zanzibar joined with the then Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Zanzibar maintains its own government and handles all non-union affairs, including health services.

Unguja Island covers an area of about 1,464 square kilometers, and Pemba Island covers an area of about 864 square kilometers. The local people are a mixture of ethnic backgrounds. Islam is the dominant religion and practiced by most of Zanzibaris. There are also followers of Christianity and other ethnic beliefs. Swahili is a local language that is widely spoken in Zanzibar. Many people also speak English.

Our volunteer program partners with various primary, secondary, and high schools located in and around Stone Town. These schools need teaching support in a variety of areas, including English, Math, and Science.

As a volunteer, you will prepare lessons and 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 5 to 14 years old (grade 1 – 7). The school operates between the hours of 8 AM until 3 PM in the afternoon. Volunteers will engage with students 4-5 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
  • Free time or afterschool programs
  • Lesson Planning for next day
  • Dinner

Internet icon Internet: No Wi-Fi is available at the accommodation. You can purchase a local sim card nearby.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry facilities are located nearby for an extra fee

Accommodations icon Accommodations: You will stay in a traditional and comfortable guesthouse in the heart of Stone Town with multiple bedrooms, communal bathrooms, a kitchen and one sitting room — suitable for enjoying the company of your fellow participants. Please note that all rooms are of single gender with 4-8 people per room. You will easily find a few small local stores that sell snacks, drinks and any basic supplies you might need during your stay. Nearby, there are ATM’s, banks, shops, a local pharmacy, etc.

Food icon Food: The program includes 3 meals on weekdays and 2 on weekends. We will provide local meals that are typical of Zanzibari culture at the accommodation.

  • Recommended age of 25 plus. The program carefully vets mature young adults aged 18 plus to make sure they meet the requirements.
  • Online Visa before arrival, around $50
  • Police clearance form
  • Good English level (some previous teaching experience will be helpful, but is not essential)
  • Travel medical insurance is mandatory to enter the country

Volunteer Experiences

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