Facilities For Children With Special Needs

In the town of Moshi, Kilimanjaro volunteering opportunities and internships are available at institutions for children with special needs. Your focus can be on special education (teaching), physiotherapy/occupational therapy or psychology. We advice you on which facility is most appropriate for you according to your skills and interests. Facilities include the 11 institutions of BCC in Moshi, the Gabriella Rehabilitation Centre, the State Korongoni Primary School and Mwanga School for the Deaf.

Why is your support needed?

In Tanzania, traditionally, people with disabilities are excluded from society and kept hidden at home. They are referred to as a "shame" and "God's punishment" for the family and the family loses their reputation. Husbands blame their wives for the disabled child and leave them. The financial situation of the family deteriorates and the children are neglected, most often undernourished and suffering from poor health.

Up to a few years ago, there were no options to accurately diagnose and treat the disability. Currently, there are a few facilities and programs working for children with mental disabilities, a distinct learning disability, as well as deaf and visually impaired children. In Tanzania, these children are collectively referred to as "Special Needs Children".

How can you get involved?

BCC ("Building the Caring Community")

In 2007, the Lutheran Church, along with the American organization Mosaic, started the program "Building the Caring Community", with the aim of improving the quality of life of Special Needs Children and their families.

The program consists of three activities: training and therapies, health and family support through micro-credit, and income generating activities.

Training and Therapy:

BCC helps about 200 children in the city of Moshi. About 100 of them visit one of the eleven Centers of BCC on a daily basis. While the Centers offer therapies according to the individual needs of the children, the program always includes two nutritious meals a day, a basic school education and various therapeutic activities. The children are encouraged to take part in activities like washing and cleaning so that they can use what they learn, to help at home.

At every day centre, there are at least two staff working with our interns and volunteers. As examples, we present two centres hereunder:

The Longuo Centre is located in Moshi – KCMC. Here, eight mentally disabled children are cared for every day in the mornings. Another 11 children are visited at their homes twice a month. Read more about the Longuo Center in More Info.

The Moshi Mjini Two in Moshi-Rau helps nine children during the day at the center, and 11 children at their homes. The children and young people are between 7-21 years old.

The working hours at Longuo and Mjini Two are everyday from 8:30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., during which the children are at the centres. The services provided include special education and physiotherapy.

Unfortunately, BCC does not have sufficient financial resources to offer all children a place in the day centers. Hence, there are another 100 children and young people in the home support program. In general, these children and their families are visited at home once a week by employees of BCC. They enquire about their general health and train the parents/caregivers in dealing with the children.

Health Care:

BCC organizes an annual check-up, where the children are examined for general diseases at St. Joseph Hospital in Moshi. If a child becomes ill within the year of the check up, parents or caregivers assisted under this program by BCC, take them to the hospital for free treatment.

Family Support:

The third part of BCC looks at financially supporting the families of the children, and hence raise the standard of living of children.

Here, jobs are created for parents, instead of direct funding. Many staff in the day care centers are mothers of Special Needs children and adolescents. While they are sufficiently trained by BCC for dealing with the children and young people, they are not professionals who have gone through a long training. Volunteers can help improve the working skills of these mothers.

BCC also runs a micro-credit program. Parents, especially mothers, can apply for a small loan and open up their own small businesses, such as small restaurants, kiosks, small shops and chicken farming projects. Some parents have come together in working groups and create different handicrafts such as bags and beaded jewelry. These products are sold partially through partners in America, and also in a small shop in Moshi.

Gabriella Rehabilitation Centre

The NGO Gabriella Rehabilitation Centre was founded in 2009 and is located in Kikavu, an outskirt of Moshi. It operates a Montessori kindergarten and a primary school as well as a boarding school for children and adolescents with special needs (especially cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, microcephaly and learning disabilities). A holistic care is provided to the kids that prepares them for a future in their local community.

The facility has a capacity for up to 180 and currently houses 84 children and adolescents, aged 3 to 25 years. Gabriella works closely with surrounding hospitals to ensure that disabilities in young children are recognized early on to provide a proper treatment. They also offer training and counseling weeks for parents to support and prepare them for the challenges of home caring their children with disabilities.

Special needs teachers and occupational therapists are in charge of the kindergarten (3 to 7 years) and primary school (7 to 15 years) and teach the kids basic skills such as reading, writing and crafts. The goal is to integrate the children into a general school.

If this is not possible, the young people will go to a vocational school, which is also on the property of Gabriella. Here, the focus lies on practical skills, such as cooking, carpentry, brickmaking, tailoring, jewelry making, gardening and livestock.

Gabriella supports their young graduates with the reintegration into their families and communities and continuously guides them on their future path. In addition, the village communities get prepared for the reintegration of the young adults – Gabriella informs the residents about life with disabilities and tries to break up the strong stigmata. Gabriella also provides meetings and talks for parents and everyone interested, at public institutions, schools, churches, mosques and health centers.

Volunteer assignments and internships are possible for trainees, students and professionals in occupational therapy, special needs education and speech therapy. Trained and independent physiotherapists can also volunteer – please note that Gabriella does not employ full-time physiotherapists for support.

Your working hours are from 7:30 until 16:00. Since Gabriella is located outside Moshi, you have to expect a journey of about an hour by public transport. School will be closed during school holidays (April, August, December), but the outreach programs and occupational therapy will continue. The entire center is closed around Christmas and New Year.

Korongoni Primary School

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 teaching Special Needs Children with teaching non-handicapped students. Another public school in Moshi teaches Special Needs Children three times per week for half a day; the pupils are 6 to 20 years old.

Mwanga School for the Deaf

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 opened in the spring of 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 has a maximum capacity of around 50 students. The school aims to expand. The children learn sign language for communication. You can teach English or otherwise, spend time with the deaf children and youth.

Accommodation for volunteering/ internships 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 for your 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 rural African life and you will be fully integrated into your host family and the village community. If you wish to, as most of our previous participants did, you can easily take a bus to Moshi Town on the weekends and meet our other participants.

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

Info Box

Location: Moshi, Tanzania
Availability: All year, Start date flexible
Minimum Duration: BCC: 4 Weeks; all others: 1 Week

Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: English
Further Languages Of Advantage: Swahili
Accommodation:
Shared Accommodation, Host Family

Supervision Possible: Yes
Qualification Of Supervisor: Special Education Teachers, Occupational Therapists
Minimum Qualification Of Intern:
No formal qualification required
Further Contribution To Project: None

Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: None
Further Contribution To Project: None
Expectations:
Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude?

More Infos

Internship report of Longuo Centre, by Lisa:

I always had good and fast communications with World Unite! The support staff in Moshi was always helpful and always there when I needed them. Everything that needed to be arranged worked out very smoothly. Respect! :-)

I enjoyed my time in Tanzania very much.

I have spent 4 weeks in Moshi at Longuo Centre. It did an internship that was needed for my university studies (Special Education for mental and physical impairments). I enjoyed very much that at Longuo I was first given an introduction about how Special Education is being done in Tanzania. I will summarize some key points that I find worth mentioning.

Educational peculiarities:

* No common language; learning through imitation and sign language
* Teaching with very basic means (few educational materials available)
* Students have very little knowledge and skills
* Introduction of new educational methods to a teaching style which so far is rather monotonous.
* Assisting local staff with educational approaches and empowering them

Conclusions:

* You have to be open and flexible. The situation is very different from back home and you should not lose motivation when the educational approaches you will find are not always up to date. Schools for Special Needs Children only started in Moshi 3 years ago.
* You need to be proactive, there is little guidance
* You have to accept that changes need time. There will hopefully be more volunteers and interns to continue your work
* It is possible to do small changes. It made me happy to see that the teachers included some of my ideas and approaches into their teaching
* People are very thankful
* It is a pleasure and very enriching experience to work in a foreign country
* I will do it anytime again!

Cheers,
Lisa

Accommodation

Accommodation in Moshi

In Moshi you can choose between accommodation of different standards:

Most popular! - This is the choice of most of our participants. You live in a shared apartment with other students (you can choose between 4-share dorm room, twin/double room, and single room) or in boarding of middle standards with a host family.

Comfort+ - For those who place emphasis on comfort: Accommodation at a Hotel or boarding of upper standards with a host family.

Adventurer - For simplest deals: Home stays of simple standards.

Shared Accommodation:

KDC House

The spacious and modern house for World Unite! participants is located in the KDC area of Moshi Town. It has 3 large bedrooms, out of which one is used as a 4-share dorm room and the other two are used for double occupancy. All rooms have private bathrooms with a toilet and hot water. The house also has a communal living room, kitchen with dining area, and a large garden. There is also a watchman and a power generator. The KDC public transport stop is located just one minute to walk, from where you reach the town centre by Daladala within 10 minutes, or within 30 minutes when walking. In direct vicinity of the house there are several shops, restaurants and bars.

KCMC House

KCMC is a large hospital of Moshi and the area around the hospital is known as KCMC Area. It is a little hilly, airy and green in contrast to the rather dusty part of Moshi on the plain. In a facility with a total of 14 rooms, we have rented 5 rooms for our participants, renovated and furnished well. The other rooms are occupied by East African students who attend the university in Moshi. Our rooms are for single or double occupancy (with large double beds or two single beds). Each room has a private, small bathroom with western toilet, shower with water heater and sink. For our 5 rooms only, there is a separate kitchen with gas stove and refrigerator. The very green and attractive apartment complex has a large garden with unobstructed views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Twiga Home

Twiga Home has two buildings with a total of 14 rooms. Besides our participants, backpackers and budget travelers from all over the world stay here; however, we get very attractive special rates for our participants. All rooms have a private bathroom with western toilet and hot shower. Each house has a seating area with sofa; between the two houses, there is a covered lounge area and restaurant. At a little extra per week, you get half boarding (breakfast and dinner - African and Western food). You can cook in a separate kitchen as well. In front of Twiga Home, there is a little beer pub.

Apartment at Ghala Road

At "Ghala Road” in Moshi Town, there is a building in a backyard for our participants. On the ground floor, the building has a two bedroom apartment with its own kitchen, hallway with dining table and sofa, and bathroom with hot shower and western toilet. The house dates from the 50's, as Moshi grew into a real city through the coffee trade, but is fully renovated inside. Each room has two single beds with mosquito nets; the kitchen has an electric cooker, fridge and microwave. On the first floor, accessible by stairs from outdoors, there are three single rooms that share a bathroom and a kitchen.

Host Families:

Boarding of Medium Standards with Host Family

Staying with a host family provides you with the opportunity to get a more intensive insight into the Tanzanian culture and society. We work with many host families in the city of Moshi. For boarding of middle standards, families are of the upper middle class of Tanzania. Their houses are of quality construction, equipment and furnishing for most of our participants. Often the houses have two bathrooms (which are also tiled), one for parents and one for the children and you. The shower is often cold, since a water heater consumes too much power. There is usually a western toilet in the house. There is Tanzanian and Western food like toast with jam, omelette and tea for breakfast; Meat/fish with vegetables and rice/ugali and chapati for dinner and to drink, tea, boiled water or homemade fruit juice. Vegetarian dishes are available on request. There is a fridge; food is usually cooked on gas. Most such families have one or two domestic workers who cook, clean and wash clothes by hand. Often, in the living room you'll find decorative curtains and doilies, stereo, television and an older laptop. The family also often, has a motorcycle or a thirty year old used Japanese car. Most of these things are, however, saved up over many years and the family still has financial difficulties to finance a college education for their children and use the car only for absolutely necessary journeys.

Hotel Accommodation and Boarding of High Standards with Host Families:

Mountain Inn

Mountain Inn Hotel is quietly situated in a large park just outside the town, reachable in 5-10 minutes by public transport from the city center. The rooms are tastefully decorated with TV, balcony, bathroom and desk. Water is heated by solar energy. There is a pool, sauna, massage Center, garden, restaurant, bar and free Wifi. Breakfast is included in the price.

Boarding of High Standards with Host Family

Staying with a host family provides you with the opportunity to get a more intensive insight into the Tanzanian culture and society. The high standard boarding with families show their high walls for security, park-like landscaped ornamental gardens, opulent living rooms with status symbols such as large flat screen televisions and furniture from fine wood and gold imitation. If you look closer, you realize however, that this comes more down to "Status" and "ceremonial" value, rather than quality and longevity. As in the simpler houses the faucets, doors, furniture, etc. are low quality and are regularly broken down. The pomp is shown usually only in the air-conditioned living rooms, where visitors are welcomed, as well as in palatial "Master Bedroom" of the parents, and less in the bedrooms of children, which are kept functional. The food is usually very generous and cooked by maids who serve this for you and the family. Often, there are also drivers, nannies, gardeners and security guards as domestic staff who live in a separate house on the property. Such families usually have a power generator that is turned on in case of frequent power outages. Older children are often in boarding schools abroad like Malaysia,Emirates and England and you live in their nursery. Younger children are often at home and want to play with you.

Comments about the Host Family of "Yasmin":

"The family is a dream and I felt part of it!!! Food was excellent and they have made my experience a highlight. If I had not had them, I would have felt lost. Everything was perfect !!!!!!!!"

"Yasmin took excellent care of us; when one of us was sick, she nursed us back to health. She has helped me in my work plan and always had time for me; we have also made many family outings, I really felt at home with her."

"What to say? Yasmin is just great. Her family receives one with open arms, even if it looks a bit like being back at 15 and needing a babysitter."

"Everything was great with Yasmin. Beautiful house, always nice and clean and you could, at any time, chat with Yasmin. One only needs to take one look at. Yasmin's house and then you know why we have rated her on top in the questionnaires."

For all accommodation in Tanzania: Although the accommodation described is of "high standard" for locals, remember that you are in a developing country and cannot therefore, expect high standards as you are used to in Europe for example, in relation to sanitary facilities, buildings, well equipped kitchens, etc.

Host family of simple standards:

Homestays of Simple Standards

The boarding of simplest standard that we offer, is with families that belong to the Tanzanian middle class. Accommodation in particularly poor families, we do not offer for security reasons. Simple standard here, means that the house is built simply. The floors are mostly of bare concrete, the roof is of corrugated iron with no ceiling; there is often only an Arab Squat toilet (but with flush) and we shower with a bucket or a simple water pipe. The furniture is minimalistic and purely functional. In the living room, there are some slightly more representative pieces of furniture made of Chinese wood. The family usually has an old, used fridge; a radio and an old tube television are also often present. Your room has a bed with a mattress and mosquito net and probably some hangers on the wall and a small shelf or the like. The houses have electricity. Food is usually cooked outdoors over an open fire or gas cooker. The food is usually without options - for breakfast, there is tea with chapati; for lunch, ugali or rice with beans and vegetables, for dinner, the same. Meat is only taken for special occasions, and if so, in small quantities. The families usually consist of mother, father and some children; many more children from the neighborhood visit the house and are around the house. As transportation, the family has bicycles and sometimes, a motorcycle. Income from the rent you pay are often the only way for the family to finance the education of their children.

Rates

I. World Unite! Service Package

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.

		up to 31 Days	32-60 Days	61-90 Days	91-120 Days	5 Months or longer
	1 Person	450 EUR	600 EUR	700 EUR	750 EUR	850 EUR
	2-4 Persons (Rate per Person)	400 EUR	500 EUR	600 EUR	650 EUR	700 EUR

Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies

The World Unite! Service Package includes:

Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
Preparation Session via Skype, together with further participants
Arrangements for your Residence Permit or similar permit and other official permits (if required), but not the official government fees for it/them (See costs below)
Pick-up and Transfers from/to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on arrival and departure
Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
Orientation and Introduction in Moshi
Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
24 Hours emergency support by local support team
50 USD Contribution to your project
To compensate for the CO2 emissions of your long-haul flights: Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
Local SIM Card with 10,000 TSH air time
Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
15% Discount for Safaris, Kilimanjaro Climbs, Excursions and Watersports Activities offered by "Budget Safari Tanzania"

The Rates do NOT include:

Accommodation and Meals (see below)
Travel to/from Tanzania (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
Official fees for Visa and Residence Permit (see below)
Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
Personal Expenses
Vaccinations
Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.

II. Accommodation Costs

You can choose between the following options:

All Rates in US-Dollar! Convert Currency		All durations of stay (1-365 Days)
Shared House/Apartment or Hotel
House/Apartment shared with other participants	1 Person (Single Room)	10 USD/Night
	2 Personen p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	7 USD/Night
	4-Share Dorm Room p.p.	4.50 USD/Night
Hotel incl. Breakfast	1 Person (Single Room)	495 USD/Week
Hotel incl. Breakfast	2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	320 USD/Week

Host Family
Host Family of Middle Standard on Full Board	1 Person (Single Room)	15 USD/Night
Host Family of Middle Standard on Full Board	2 Personen p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	15 USD/Night
Host Family of High Standard on Full Board	1 Person (Single Room)	18 USD/Night
Host Family of High Standard on Full Board	2 Personen p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	18 USD/Night
Host Family of Simple Standard on Full Board	1 Person (Single Room)	10 USD/Night
Host Family of Simple Standard on Full Board	2 Personen p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	10 USD/Night

In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.

Overview of other costs:

If meals are not included: around 110-200 USD/Monthfor self-catering (eating out at affordable yet good restaurants and/or cooking by yourself; you are much more flexible in this way compared to if we would serve food at your accommodation)
Visa and Permits (mainland Tanzania): In case of stay of up to 90 days: Visa 50 USD; In case of stay of 91-180 days: Total visa costs 200 USD
Small local expenses (e.g. Internet, local transport): around 30-50 USD/Month (Estimate)
Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month

How do I pay?

Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.

The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.

Extras

Other Projects That Might Interest You:

These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more! Check out our other listings in the areas of "World Learner" and "Active Travel" at your travel destination to make your stay even more interesting.

Safaris, Kilimanjaro Climbs, Day Trips, Watersports

As "Budget Safari Tanzania" we are arranging cost-effective yet high-quality safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs, excursions, and watersports activities in Tanzania and Zanzibar. You will group with other World Unite! participants and further travellers.

As a World Unite! participant, you get a 15% discount on all offers of Budget Safari Tanzania. We will share a Discount Code with you that you can use with the online booking of your safari, Kilimanjaro climb, excursion or watersports activity.

This is the Website of Budget Safari Tanzania.

Learning Swahili in Moshi!

It is always helpful to know Swahili while doing your project here. Swahili is a relatively easy language for participants and some start to follow it within the first few lessons. You can choose the intensity of the lesson. We would, however, recommend a maximum of ten hours per week. The lessons are conducted individually; in some cases, 2-3 participants with similar levels of knowledge may be given combined lessons. The number of participants does not affect the cost of the lessons.

The cost for Swahili lessons: 1 Student: 10 EUR

Please check "Language Training Required" in the registration form and specify your desired duration (minimum 20 hours).

Travel Health Insurance

We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.

Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.

Moshi

Check out our video on Moshi!

In this video, tourism intern Iris and our team member Adelina show us around Moshi Town and the surrounding areas. Adelina and Themi, two of our coordinators, introduce themselves. We also meet the volunteers Pia, who collaborates with the Social Reality Tour, and Laura in their host family. Coffee Farmer Dennis talks about coffee and we see a few shots from a Maasai Village.

Moshi at Kilimanjaro

Moshi is a town in the north of Tanzania, at the foot of Kilimanjaro. Here, you are in the middle of Africa and deal with people like the Chagga and Maasai. The city has about 150,000 inhabitants; however, it appears - like many African cities - much smaller, owing to the fact that many unplanned settlements are spread over long distances outside the city. Furthermore, the majority of the population do not have the purchasing power that would make transactions comparable to for instance a European city of this size. Nevertheless, Moshi is a relatively well-developed city and all necessities may be found here - from ATMs to specialty stores, restaurants to small supermarkets.

Moshi is the starting point of all Kilimanjaro climbs and many safaris to the Northern National Parks of Tanzania start from here. Kilimanjaro International Airport is about 40 km from Moshi. Tourism and trade of coffee and bananas have contributed to the flourishing of the city.

The city lies at an altitude of 813 m and has a year-round climate that people from moderate climates consider to be very comfortable (compared to the humid heat that often prevails on the coast or on the islands).

HIV and AIDS are the biggest problem - it is estimated that up to 16 % of the population are HIV-positive. The resulting problems are the countless orphans and street children, neglected people of retirement age and sick people, about whom no one cares because of lack of money. The other problems are poverty-related - lack of access to education, health care, infrastructure, and destruction of environmental resources such as deforestation.

Things to do in Moshi

Moshi is conveniently situated for safaris in all the Northern National Parks of Tanzania; you can travel over a weekend (Tarangire, Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara) or a multi-day tour (incl. Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area, Lake Eyasi, Lake Victoria, Lake Natron). The Kilimanjaro rises directly in front of your door - for a climb you need physical fitness and 5-7 days’ time.

As a day trip, you can visit the Marangu Waterfall and the village of Marangu with coffee plantations, the even higher Materuni waterfall, the Arusha National Park, a Maasai village, Lake Chala, swim in volcanic hot springs and hike on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. In Moshi, there are several cafes, restaurants, internet cafes, bars, discos, swimming pool and even an open- air cinema with karaoke.

Getting There

Getting To Moshi

You book your flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). If the flights to Dar-es-Salaam (DAR) are much cheaper, you can also fly there and then book a separate connecting flight from DAR to JRO. From JRO airport, we pick you and take you to your accommodation in Moshi.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?

No, you can arrive at any date and you can hence, plan your trip according to your availability and the prices of flights. We can pick you up from the airport even at night.

Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?

Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.

During my stay, can I travel around the country?

Of course you can travel around, almost all of our participants do so. In Moshi and Zanzibar, we ourselves often offer day trips, for which you can join other volunteers and interns when you travel there. We share these trips with you in our monthly subscriber list and you can book them. Participants often organize on-site travel together. In Moshi and Zanzibar, you can stay at the same low rates as our Zanzibar or Moshi participants in accommodations provided by us. If you plan to travel during your volunteering/internship period, you should seek permission in advance. We recommend that you plan your travel after your volunteering/internship. For this, you can also stay longer in your accommodation at affordable rates.

Is it safe to travel in Tanzania alone as a single female traveller?

Approximately 80% of our participants are female and many of them, only about 20 years old. Not a single instance of a serious security breach has occurred. Our coordinator will advise you on how you should conduct yourself in order to avoid problems - your dressing style, valuables, and in dealing with local men. Our preparation materials elaborate on this matter. If you follow these basic rules that apply equally to many other places, the risk in Moshi is not great.

Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Moshi?

The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants in Moshi, who you can meet in your spare time, if you desire so. Moshi is a small town, where you walk around quite a bit. In addition, there are well-known places such as the Coffee Shops, where you actually meet with other participants. We also have regular meetings with all participants and you will get a list of participants in the country at the same time, with their contact information. You need not be worried about being "alone" in Moshi, nor should you avoid contact with the locals because you spend all your time with other foreign participants.

What vaccinations do I need?

Our Info-PDF that you get as a participant gives detailed information on health care. Also refer to Recommended Vaccinations

Where will I live?

You can find details in the tab "Accommodation".

Can I choose my accommodation?

We give you choices (Most popular!, Comfort +, Adventurer) and you can tell us if you prefer a shared accommodation or homestay; we will then seek an accommodation for you. We organise accommodation, taking into consideration the distance from your work site. However, since Moshi is not a very big city, is relatively easy to reach locations in other parts of the city by public transport ("Daladala") or by bike.

How free or bound am I in my accommodation with the host family?

With the host family, you can have your freedom, and do not need to join them during meal times or have any other obligations. If you will return late in the evening, you need to let them know in advance, so that they can unlock the doors for you (which are locked at night for security reasons). Bringing home casual acquaintances is taboo. They look to integrate our participants into their family life, but you can determine to what extent you want to be part of it.

Does my accommodation have internet facilities?

In Tanzania, Internet is accessed via the mobile phone networks. With smartphones, you can use the Internet. For laptops, there are USB modem sticks for about 10 EUR. There are no flat rates; you use data packets, depending on your needs. You might consume 2 GB of data in a week, which costs about 4.50 EUR. In the centers of cities (Moshi Town, Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar Town, Karatu, etc.), the connection is good, the speed is satisfactory and sufficient for Skype phone calls. In the suburbs and in the country, there is connection, but usually almost impossible or very slow and unreliable. We will provide you information on the use of mobile Internet in Tanzania. At Twiga Home, internet is available to our participants at a small additional fee.

How can I do my laundry?

In general, laundry is washed by hand in Tanzania. You can ask your landlord or host family if they have someone who can wash your clothes. Usually, someone offers that to you for a small fee. Please ask your local supervisor, what the appropriate thing to do is. You can use the washing machine at Twiga Home, even if you live elsewhere, for a small fee.

I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?

Tanzania is a meat-eating country and Tanzanians do not usually understand that someone who could afford meat and who is not sick, volunteered to give up meat; but the host families are familiar with participants, and understand that some are vegetarians, and prepare appropriate food. In Dar-es-Salaam, there are Indian vegetarian restaurants, with a wide choice of dishes. In the market, there are a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. Special dietary needs (e.g. Vegan, allergies to certain foods) can be expressed to the host families, and many foods are available in the supermarket.

What language skills do I need?

You should be able to make yourself understood in English. The national language of Tanzania is Swahili, but knowledge of English is widespread, especially among people who have a better education or work in tourism. In everyday life, there is usually no problem to be able to communicate in English; if you should come across someone who can not speak English, you can almost immediately find someone who offers to translate in English. If you are in a social project for a longer duration, you will have to deal with people who have little or no education. For this, it is useful to acquire at least a basic knowledge of Swahili before your arrival through any book (or audio CD). You can also take basic Swahili lessons while on site. We also have vocabulary lists with useful words that can help you.

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