Projects Abroad in Tanzania

Volunteering in Tanzania: Arrival Procedure in Arusha

Host family in the Tanzania

A member of Projects Abroad staff will meet you at either Kilimanjaro or Arusha airports. Kilimanjaro airport is about a one-hour taxi ride from the town of Arusha whereas Arusha airport is about 20 minutes from the town center. It is also possible for a member of Projects Abroad staff to pick volunteers up from the bus station in Arusha if you decide to travel from Nairobi or Dar es Salam by bus.

Our staff member will be waiting for you in the arrivals area holding an A4-sized laminated “Projects Abroad” sign. You will then travel by taxi to your host family. Some volunteers live in the town of Arusha itself whereas others live about 40 minutes east of Arusha in an area called USA River. You will be introduced to your family and spend time unpacking and settling in.

Volunteering in Tanzania: Orientation and Induction

You will have your induction the next working day after your arrival. A member of staff will come pick you up from your host family and show you around town. You will start the day by going to our office where a member of staff will go through the Tanzanian Handbook with you, including all the necessary safety and security measures.

Tanzania

You will also be required to fill in two forms in order to obtain your Permit C (it allows you to work in Tanzania as a volunteer). To complete the visa process, you will need five passport-sized photographs (they do not have the be the same as the actual photo in your passport), $120, a copy of your passport and visa, and finally your resume. A member of staff will go to the immigration office and get your Permit C processed for you.

You will then be taken around the town of Arusha and shown important sites and landmarks including internet cafes, the post office, where to change money and how to get to each place from your host family. You will also be shown where other volunteers live and get the opportunity to meet some of them.

Depending on the time and your program, you may be introduced to your placement on the same day as your induction. If not, we’ll pick you up and take you the next day. You’ll be shown how to use public transportation so that you become familiar with the route and landmarks. You will need to cover the cost of your journey to and from work; most volunteers travel to work on the local bus, which is normally 50 cents per journey.

The majority of volunteers stay with host families, however we occasionally have accommodations at the orphanage or center where you work. Tanzanian people are known for their hospitality and you will experience this first hand when you meet your family. The houses are spacious and usually have a garden or outside terrace where you can relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. You will get an authentic Tanzanian cultural experience as you live with locals in the Tanzanian community.

Host families speak Kiswahili and English. Children in the host families are always eager to teach volunteers Kiswahili and practice their English. In terms of meals, families can easily cater for vegetarians.

Our Projects Abroad office is based in the center of Arusha town near the soccerl stadium. The local bus station is just next to the office, making the office very accessible for our volunteers. The office itself is easy to find as it’s located in a tall blue building known as Blue Rock House – a local landmark in Arusha. The office provides a great view of the city and on a very clear day you can even see Mount Kilimanjaro!

The office has three rooms: one is for staff members working on their day-to-day tasks. The second is a workshop where doctors and teachers come and talk to the volunteers on a regular basis. This room also has a range of medical books and equipment that can be used by the volunteers. Finally, there is also a room for the volunteers with comfortable chairs, a water cooler and local newspapers and books to read.

Tanzania has two main seasons: summer (dry season), which lasts from June to November and winter (wet season), lasting from December – May. In the northern and eastern regions of the country (where Projects Abroad is based), the rainfall is bimodal, so there are two rainy seasons. The “short rains” or Vuli occur from October to December wh8ile the “long rains” or Masika last from March to May. Volunteers should bring a sweatshirt and jacket with them as it can get chilly.

At the end of your placement we will arrange your journey back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro airports by taxi.