Besides the public and private school, which teach following the national syllabus (formal schools), there are school which generally are called "informal schools".

These are schools that typially are run by NGOs, churches, community initiatives or centres for orphan and street children with the idea to support those children who for various reasons don't attend any formal school. These children don't have the education levels which they should have for their age.

For the younger children, the goal of these informal schools is to prepare them for the exams that allow them to re-enter the public school system. Some 14 years olds who have been living on the streets for many years or who had to help their families with farming only, unfortunately only have the education levels corresponding to 6 years olds. To fill these gaps of education within a relatively short time is challenging.

For adolescents, in most cases the target simply consists in providing them knowledge and skills that they need for their life such as reading and writing, maths, English, general knowledge, and vocational skills such as handcrafts, computers, agriculture, tayloring, cooking etc. As a teacher for such youths you can bring in your own creative ideas.

Some informal schools have employed local teachers who receive a salary, but there are also local volunteers. The problem in many cases are the huge differences of age and knowledge within one class where the teachers don't have sufficient possibilities to respond to the individual needs of each student. If there are foreign volunteers, it is possible to split the classes into smaller groups.  

Infobox:

Place: Moshi, Tanzania

Duration: Minumum 3 weekss

Special qualification required: No 

Costs: free of charge (Trouble-free package for € 500 is optional)

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Included: 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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