Physically challenged people have it twice as hard if they live in countries without social systems. Their position in society traditionally excludes them from education and hence makes it even more difficult for them to do a job and live an independent life. Many disabled people in developing countries live in poverty and are totally depending on other persons.  

In Zanzibar and Dar-es-Salaam, we can offer student placements and volunteer positions in the fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. The student placements will take place at the Mnazi Mmoja government hospital in Zanzibar which runs sufficiently equipped physiotherapy and occupational therapy wards with qualified staff.

Volunteer work for qualified therapists is possible at Mnazi Mmoja and at UWZ (Zanzibar Association of the Disabled). UWZ has the aim to improve the life of people with disabilities. The organization is not only doing lobby work, but it is arranging really helpful projects  which have the goal to integrate people with disabilities into society. To support the team, UWZ is looking for volunteers of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

At UWZ, volunteer work will only take place 2-3 days per week when staff of UWZ will drive to the villages of Zanzibar for therapeutic visits. During the other days of the week, volunteers can assist at the physiotherapy or occupational therapy ward of Mnazi Mmoja Hospital which also operates its own outreach program to the villages of Zanzibar that volunteers can join.

In Dar-es-Salaam there is the Matumaini Orthopaedic workshop and the Matumaini School for physically disabled children, both of which are run by the Salvation Army.

The school has around 200 children and youth aged 7-16 years who are being taught on a primary school level. Matumaini employs Tanzanian teachers. At the orthopaedic workshop, adults with disabilities are manufacturing tailermade orthopaedic shoes.  

Further tasks include bringing children in their wheelchairs to the dining room, to dress and wash them, to wash children's cloths, to assist the children with eating, to help cooking, and to escort sick children to the hospital.

Further activities in related subject areas can be done in the Kilimanjaro region at St. Joseph Hospital and at schools for special needs children.

Read more about the situation of disabled people in Tanzania.

Info box:

Place: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Duration: from 1 months

Specific qualification required: Yes 

Cost: At Mnazi Mmoja, students have to pay a weekly contribution of 75 US$ directly to the hospital. It is being used to buy hospital consumables. The same applies to qualified volunteers staying for less than 1 year at Mnazi Mmoja only. If you stay for less than 90 days and if you pay the weekly contribution, you won't need a Residence Permit Class C and the trouble-free package is 300 € only. If you stay for 91 days to 2 years, a Residence Permit Class C is needed and the trouble-free package will be 500 €. 

Qualified professionals at UWZ don't need to pay any contribution; however they require a Residence Permit Class C even for durations of shorter than 90 days. The trouble-free package for 500 € is optional in this case.

No additional contributions are expected at Matumaini.

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Inclusive of: Placement in the project; if you opt for the trouble-free package the whole range of services which is part of the trouble-free package is included

Not included: Travel, health insurance, visa, work permit

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