Tanzania – Zanzibar Community Outreach

Volunteers will spend most of their time in schools located in the nearby village called Jambiani, a gorgeous coastal town located in southern Zanzibar which boasts gorgeous, white sand beaches and picture perfect sunrises. Visitors will enjoy the warm waters and leisurely pace by which the town operates. Jambiani is only an hour’s drive from Zanzibar Town, the capital of the Zanzibar archipelago.

Volunteer Involvement in Local Pre-Schools: While the educational system in the community is ill-equipped, the students understand the importance of education and have a very strong desire to learn. You will assist the local students and teachers by:

• Teaching English to children, as well as their teachers
• Developing the children’s creative and motor skills through crafts such as painting, drawing and coloring
• Playing developmental games with the children
• Helping to maintain and repair the facilities

If you are a fully qualified teacher and would like to get involved in a primary or secondary school in the area, please let us know and we will see if this is possible.

Adult English Classes: The tourism industry is a sector with a lot of potential in Zanzibar. Volunteers will get involved in teaching English to adults from nearby villages to help them better communicate with tourists. Volunteers will also teach English to other community groups, including the local football team, teenagers and local women’s groups.

A typical day: At 8:30 AM, you will transfer from Kizimkazi to your volunteer placement within Jambiani village where you can expect to work from about 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a one to two-hour break for lunch in the afternoon. After work, you can unwind or transfer back to the volunteer house in Kizimkazi which is about 20 minutes away. Dinner is served at 6:30 PM  and in the evening volunteers can relax, play games and, on some nights, enjoy the activities scheduled by staff.

Fridays are usually occupied with a community project, such as planting trees, repairing or maintaining schools, cleaning the beach, working in the gardens or organizing sports activities with the nursery school children. It can also include some prep time for lessons the following week.
You will have Saturdays and Sundays off to do any tourist activities or to rest from your week of volunteering

Holidays: Please note that for the month of Ramadan and the four days of Eid, all school children will be on holiday and the schools will be closed, but there will be a holiday club running.

During school holidays, volunteer will take part in community projects which may include:

• Community beautification through painting, repair work and building
• Environmental maintenance work, such as litter pick-ups and planting trees
• Creating school resources such as posters and lesson plans
• Facilitating sports activities

For a detailed holiday schedule, please consult our placement advisors.

Internet: Internet facilities are available in town for a small fee.

 Laundry: A weekly laundry service is available for an additional fee.

 Accommodations: You will stay in a volunteer house in a small fishing town called Kizimkazi, just a few steps away from the beach. The rooms are dormitory-style and single-gender, with four-eight volunteers per room. Accommodations include mosquito nets, fans, bedding and housekeeping. The volunteer house is also equipped with a resource room where you can find and store project work and prepare lessons. *Please Note: There is no hot water for showering (most places in Zanzibar do not have hot water).

 Food: Volunteers receive three meals a day. Breakfast usually consists of eggs, porridge, toast, fruit, tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner include a mix of local and international food and are freshly prepared each day.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• Minimum age of 17
• Police clearance
• Immunizations (please consult your local travel clinic)
• Good level of English
• Flexibility and open mindedness
• High level of independence and emotional strength
• Motivation to work with children

During your stay you will have the opportunity to enjoy some incredible attractions in the surrounding areas such as Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, the famous Serengeti National Park, the unique Ngorongoro Crater, and the mighty Kilimanjaro!

Zanzibar and Tanzania offer a variety of tours and safari options, which are perfect for a weekend getaway or a pre-/post-project safari. Most activities are priced all-inclusive, providing transport, transfers, accommodation, guide and driver, park entry fees, etc. The project coordinators in Zanzibar will be happy to assist you in exploring these options:

Incredible snorkeling and scuba diving off Zanzibar island

• Jozani Forest
• Swimming with dolphins at Kizimkazi
• Stone Town City Tour
• Spice Tour
• Tour of Prison Island