Childcare Volunteering in Tanzania

Work in a Tanzanian childcare programme to help give disadvantaged, bright young children the care they need

Successfully sending volunteers abroad for 10 years

Volunteer With Children in Tanzania

Make a REAL difference to the lives of disadvantaged children

Agape Volunteers supports a number of children's homes in Tanzania, providing assistance to overworked local staff and helping to give children a brighter future. Although local staff are extremely committed and do brilliant work supporting young children, childcare volunteers are integral in supplementing their stretched resources. This is where you come in!

Whether you work in childcare, social outreach or are a student, you could share and gain a lot of knowledge from this inspiring opportunity to volunteer with children in Tanzania.

Our placements are properly referred to as care homes or children’s homes. They exist to provide support and care for vulnerable and at-risk children. These kids may have living parents or a family who are not currently able to care for them. They provide care when a child’s family cannot, and aim to return the children to a stable family environment once the vulnerable period has passed. We place volunteers at a number of care homes and initiatives supporting children from the ages of 1 up to 16 and beyond.

What will I be doing?

As a childcare volunteer in Tanzania some of your duties will involve teaching small classes, as many children’s homes have schools attached. You will also help with running structured games and activities. Helping to foster a sense of family and community at the home is hugely important – some of the children will have lacked this all their lives. In addition, you will be expected to engage in a wide range of other activities, depending on the specific needs of your placement. This will include plenty of practical work such as cleaning, laundry, cooking and the dishes, as well as painting classrooms and gardening.

If you'd like to find out more about volunteering at a children's home in Tanzania, apply now to hear from our specialist trip adviser.

Typical Week

Volunteers are generally expected to work at their placement five days a week. Weekday mornings will start with breakfast with other volunteers at our guesthouse, before you head to the children's home for around 8.30am. Children tend to learn best during the mornings, so your initial duties may well involve teaching a small class of children. At around 12pm you’ll get a break for lunch, which you can take with other volunteers and local staff. Afternoons are often devoted to games and activities and it will be your job to help run these.

You will generally finish your placement at around 5pm, though you’ll find that the children will often want you stay around to play more! After your placement you’ll get a chance to unwind with other volunteers and local team members over dinner, and we often organise games and activities of our own in the evenings. Weekends are also your own but there are always plenty of extra Adventures to do in Tanzania!

Living With Agape

Tanzanian volunteers stay in our lovely volunteer hostel in the city of Arusha. It's a comfortable and fun place to live same and you'll generally be staying in a same-sex dormitory. Bed linen is provided but you please bring your own towel. The hostel has hot showers, WiFi, and plenty of communal space for you to share with other volunteers.

Breakfast and dinner will be provided for you as part of your programme fee. Breakfast will normally be bread, butter, jam, tea, coffee, fruit, eggs or pancakes. Dinners will be a mixture of western and African meals, so expect things like rice, beans, mixed vegetables, chapatis, curry and stewed meat. You are encouraged to try out the local vendors and stalls near your placement for lunch; they provide food very cheaply and you will be promoting Agape’s support for the community, as well as having the opportunity to sample local cooking. Alternatively, you can make your own lunch with food from the local supermarket.

Optional Extras

Agape Volunteers offers several excursions for volunteers in Tanzania, including overnight safaris on the Serengeti and a weekend visiting the beautiful Moshi Waterfalls and Chemka Hot Springs. We also offer a week long trip to climb Africa's highest peak - Mount Kilimanjaro - including all transportation and an experienced guide. To find out more about the trips on offer, apply now to be put in touch with our Tanzania trip adviser.

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The Application Process

1: Start Your Application

Once you have chosen where you would like to volunteer and you will need to fill in some basic details about yourself as well about the programme you wish to participate in, so that we can get back to you with the relevant information.
2: Your Own Trip Advisor

Your own personal trip adviser should contact you within 48 hours after submitting your application. They will be responsible for your entire booking, including: answering any questions you have, helping you to source flights and giving you important safety.
3: Select Adventures

Your trip advisor will provide you an adventures guide for the country you will be volunteering in. This includes some extra trips you can take on top of your volunteering; these vary from safaris, weekends at beach resorts to a hike up Kilimanjaro!
4: Pay and Depart

Your trip advisor will talk you through how to pay your programme fee and for any extra trips. Shortly before your departure we will be in contact to give you some information about airport pick ups and safety procedures, from there you are all set for your African adventure.