ACCOMODATION

ACCOMODATION AND MEALS

Volunteers electing to go to Tanzania have the advantage of staying with local Tanzanian host families for the duration of their stay. Accommodation of this sort provides a unique opportunity to experience first hand what life is like for the ordinary people of the country, while gaining an insight into customs and values. Another benefit is having members of the host family on hand to offer help and to introduce you to the local area.

Your host family will provide you with breakfast and dinner (and with three meals if you are at your accommodation during weekends). On working day, lunch can be taken at small inexpensive cafes or restaurants close to your volunteer project serving local food.

Considering the fact that hotels and guesthouses can be expensive for volunteers especially those wanting to stay for longer periods, we work on a program where we place our volunteers in a home stay where they live with a local family or a volunteer house with others.

For the home stays, we give that family money from your fee for support, food and board. It is exciting to stay with a family; that way you will learn the Tanzanian way of life, meet local people, eat local food and engage in local customs and traditions. Living is basic but all the home stays have electricity and running water and accommodate volunteers in SAFE and SECURE homes with at least two other volunteers.  All home stays have been inspected thoroughly by local staff and chosen because of their safety and security.  Do not worry about staying in a home stay—we would not place you somewhere that is unsafe.  Most volunteers here love their home stays and feel that they get a more authentic Tanzanian experience by staying there.Volunteers can expect to share a room with one or two other volunteers. While bedding is provided it is recommended that volunteers bring their own sleeping bag and towels for any trips away. Home stays are located in the town of Arusha and in the villages and surrounding country side of Arusha. Some home stays are very close from our Children centre.  Regardless of the tribe or culture your host family is from, they will be sure to give you a good Tanzanian treat and meals will be relatively varied.  Bottled water is readily available in Tanzania and volunteers should budget approximately US$5 per week for this (2 litres per day).  Breakfasts generally consist of Chai (tea), toast, fruit and mandazzi (deep fried dough).  A typical lunch can include meat and vegetables with rice, sandwiches and fruit while dinner usually sees traditional food such as ugali and chapatti accompany the meat and vegetables.  Breakfast is taken in the morning, then, lunch, which is served at about 1 pm (or you can take a packed lunch if you wish to eat at your project) and then dinner/supper served at 6 or 7pm.  If you have special eating needs, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you.  However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home.  We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but also as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible.

5-DAY URBAN HOME-STAY

DAY 1: After breakfast walk to street to see the real life of street children talk with them and observe physically what they are doing.

DAY 2 : After b/fast meet with street children interact with them by playing, coaching and getting to know more about them and what are they facing in everyday life i.e. Living style and to know their expectations and may be stumbling blocks they facing daily. 

DAY3: Life in the city center; To meet with street children who live at local centers, exchange ideas with them and know their expectations concerning their future life also is a time to know their problems, there is time for teaching them Non formal education and playing with them.

DAY 4: Walk to local primary schools to teach pupils to practice with them to the difference activities and to talk with them concerning their further education and whole future life. After lunch, walk to secondary schools, meet with students change ideas and know about their future education and life in general. Also to practice together in other programs at class room and school environments.

DAY 5: Meet for shortly time with local Kindergartens school talk with children, teach them, play with them and talk with their teachers and child care about what problems that they encountered.

5-DAY RURAL HOME STAY

DAY1: Travel from Arusha to the villages, arrive at late evening, Introduction to the village and dinner.

DAY 2: After break fast walk to a rural school, work with teachers in the school until lunch, and after lunch meet with local parents and children to see the challenges and comforts of a rural lifestyle – from collecting firewoods to learn how to cook and prepare traditional African dishes.

DAY 3: After b/fast, walk to school back for lunch and then help with farming for a day, i.e planting and how to irrigate farms.

DAY 4: After b/fast and come back from school will visit local Kindergartens school and then back for dinner (similar to Day 2).

DAY 5:The last day to say good bye to pupils, students, teachers and local community members of rural area, in late morning depart back to Arusha.

DAYS OF TRAVEL/ADVENTURE;

7-11 days of travel and adventure to Tanzania’s National Parks, including: Arusha National Park,Tarangire National park Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Serengeti National Park or Mikumi National Park ,Ruaha National park and selous game reserve.