Schools for mentally disabled, deaf and blind children

 

In Tanzania, children who have some form of mental impairment, slow learners as well as deaf and blind children are typically referred to as “Special Needs Children”.

 
In the Moshi/Kilimanjaro area we can arrange internships and volunteering options in several schools and nursery schools which specialise in „Special Needs Children“.

One school, the „Longuo Centre“ is being operated by the Lutheran Church. Every day 8 mentally impaired children are being attended every morning. 11 further children are being visited at home around twice per month. 

 

The public Korongoni Primary School has two separate classes for deaf and blind students (6-8 years) who after the initial two years will continue their studies together with the non-handicapped students. These classes are carried out full-time 5 days per week. Volunteers/interns at these schools can combine the teaching of Special Needs Children with teaching non-handicapped students.

The Mwanga School for the Deaf is located in the Njia Panda District, around 45 minutes by bus outside of Moshi Town. On a large plot there is a boarding school for deaf children and youth which only opened in spring 2010. The building was financed by the parents of the children, the teachers however are public teachers. At the moment there are around 25 deaf children and youth aged 12-18 years staying at the boarding school, which however has a maximum capacity of around 50 students. It is the aim of the school to expand.

 

The children are learning sign language for communication. You can teach English or otherwise spend time with the deaf children and youth.

 

Accommodation for volunteering/doing an internship at the Mwanga School would be nearby with a family, as communting from Moshi town every day is time-consuming. The accommodation standard in Njia Panda is however lower than in Moshi town and concerning for instance shopping or entertainment facilities, you would have to accept that you are in a rural area. On the other hand, you will get "true" insights into the rural African life and you will be fully integrated into your host family and the village community. If you want, as most of our previous participant did, you can easily take a bus to Moshi Town on the weekends and meet our further participants.

 

Two of the four Montessori Kindergartens of Moshi have special classes for Special Needs Children.