Assist Teaching at Pre & Primary School
Coordinator | Annabell Wolter &
Coordinator | Annabell Wolter &
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Learn everything about the school system in Tanzania and experience the everyday life of a school.
Set yourself apart with yourself and grow out of yourself.
Have a great time with the students and teachers at this school and become part of the team.
Immerse yourself in African culture by getting in touch with lots of locals.
Make new experiences and enjoy your African dream.
Help the teachers in their everyday routine and learn more about the Tanzanian school system. Bring in your own ideas and immerse yourself in the African culture.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+
The Ikirwa Pre & Primary School is an
English-language private school affiliated boarding school, where children from
pre-school (3 years) to 7th grade (about 14 years) are taught. Most of the students come from farming families
and the Tanzanian middle class, 54 of the currently 165 children at the Ikirwa
School come from very needy families and are supported by international school
sponsors.
The
school director Gasper Mbise wanted to ensure better education in his village and founded the school in 2013, which means that
this project is still very young and still under construction.
Because this is an "English Medium
School", the language of instruction is exclusively English (with the
exception of the Swahili lessons). Therefore, volunteers can actively
participate in all subjects and extra-curricular offerings. Here, the students learn all common subjects like maths, Swahili, English, history, science, art, sports, geography, biology and others.
Since the 2019 school year, classes 4 and 7 (and
students from more remote areas) are staying at school overnight. These two classes
complete National Exams at the end of the school year and special attention is
given to them.
The assignment at the Ikirwa School is a good place to be for teaching students, teachers and also school leavers who are seeking educational training - and, of course, those who would like to be socially involved in a school environment. You can support and assist the teachers and you are able to introduce some lessons yourself. The teachers will support you and welcome you warmly to their school.
Especially in exchange with volunteers, the teachers can also get new ideas for thought for their lessons. However, volunteers should also be aware that from the beginning students are primarily used to frontal lessons and memorization. Here, volunteers demand patience and assertiveness. Also, some teachers will initially be skeptical of new methods, while others will adopt them directly in their own lessons. The commitment is a valuable experience for both volunteers and teachers, and above all for the students, which adds to their own horizons.
Please note: The Ikirwa School is closed for school holidays for most of the months of April, August and December. Volunteers who are in Arusha for an extended period of time can use this time to travel / relax or, if they are interested, engage in alternative projects. Otherwise, volunteers may also become involved in the school during this time by teaching or preparing special projects, e.g. presentations, posters or Power Point presentation. These can then be used after the holidays by volunteers or teachers in the classroom. There is always something to do at Irkiwa School!
Typical day
Your day starts at the hostel around 7 am. The Ikirwa School is located in Ngulelo, a part of Arusha, which is located directly on the slopes of Mt. Meru. From the main road it is 8km on gravel roads, until you reach the picturesque school grounds. Fortunately, a school bus drives right along the main road near our volunteer house, which volunteers are allowed to use. The school calculates about 45,000 Tanzanian shillings per person per month.
Regular
class time is 8:00 to 15:45 from Monday to Friday. Lunch can be taken by
volunteers for a meal with the students in the school (approximately 3,500
Tanzanian shillings per person per day, which is approximately € 1.30). This
includes a cup of porridge in the morning and a typical African lunch.
After
a familiarization period, volunteers may also organize their own lessons, in
consultation with the class teachers. Special help is needed in the various
pre school classes, since only one teacher is responsible for each class. Here,
the need for individual tutoring and support for the younger students is
therefore particularly high.
Free-time activities
The project is based in
Arusha, Tanzania. There are several free time activities volunteers can engage
in. We organize Safaris, mountain climbs and shorter tours like hiking, horse
riding, visit to a nearby massai village, trip to the hotsprings and
waterfalls, coffee tours, etc. to the nearer surroundings at affordable rates.
We always make sure, that all guides and staffs are being paid fair wages. At
the same time there are lots of things you can do during your free time or at
the weekends in Arusha itself. There are different markets like second hand
market, spice markets or massai market, as well as typical african restaurants
and bars. Furthermore the area you will live is very beautiful and you can
either go to a lake and do canoeing or you can go to a lodge with a pool near
to the hostel to relax for little money. Our other
volunteers from the hostel will be happy to show you everything and if you join
them at your free weekends!
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Sports
Riding
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak English (basic level)
required
at High School level
CV und introduction letter
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
from
08:00
- 16:00
What's Included
The STEP Africa Program Fees are calculated as follows:
− A one time application fee which includes 2 way airport transfers, pre-departure support, preparation handbooks, orientation day and project support
− Program fees to stay at the STEP Africa House (including breakfast and dinner from monday to friday), on-the-ground support and supervision by the STEP Africa Team (our office is in Tanzania!) and 24h emergency contact.
Important Note: To keep it transparent we do not add any donation to our program fees (which are entirely used for your preparation, supervision and accommodation) but encourage you to raise some funds among your family and friends prior to your arrival or once you have arrived in Tanzania. Any small or big amount is highly appreciated and you are entirely free to decide on how you want to utilize your donation within the project. By doing so you will see how much of a difference donations can make and its a great feeling to see this first hand. We understand volunteering as a holistic approach of helping each other and learning from one another and while you will do amazing daily work as a volunteer we want you to also understand that no project can entirely survive if it wasn't for financial support as well.
Airport Pick-up is included in the costs. Volunteers can
be picked up at any day and night time. Possible Arrival Airports are
Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha Airport. Our arrival day is Thursday and our departure day is Wednesday. Please take this into account when booking your flights.
The STEP Africa Volunteer House is located 20 minutes out of Arusha Town and all projects are easily accessible by public transport from here. We have 6 dorm rooms, 4 bathrooms (western toilets and almost always warm showers), a big communal rooms and an outside area for sitting together and enjoying the leisure time with fellow volunteers. You will share your room with one to five person and all beds are equipped with a mosquito net. Our hostel dogs Robby and Congo are also part of the family and are responsible for your safety. We are sure that you will find new friends very fast and there will be always be someone to talk to and share the experiences with.
Food (breakfast and dinner) is provided from Monday to Friday at the STEP Africa House. The breakfast includes tea, white bread, butter, jam, peanutbutter and an african special of the day like Mandazi or cooked banana. Our house mother cookes delicious typical Tanzania dinner for you e.g. rice with beans or chapati. During the weekends volunteers can use the kitchen for cooking or eat in one of the several restaurants in and around Arusha. Safe filtered drinking water as well as the fridges in the kitche are available for all volunteers. Even as a vegetarian you will have no trouble in Arusha, neither in the hostel nor on the streets.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Kilimanjaro. We assist you to find cheap flights to Tanzania.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Tanzania provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Tanzania you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Tanzania.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
Our arrival day is Thursday and our departure day is Wednesday. Please take this into account when booking your flights. You can join our program throughout the year and on any month. Our driver can pick you from Kilimanjaro Airport at any day or night time. The airport shuttle is already included in our program fees, so we do not charge extra costs. The day following your arrival (Friday) you will receive a detailed orientation from us. Our supervisor will show you Arusha town, you will get a local SIM card, go together to an ATM and you will get the chance to go buy anything necessary at the supermarket. The weekday following your orientation day (Monday) is usually your first day at the project. On your first day you will be joined by one of our lovely team members.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 26 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$600
5 weeks
$720
6 weeks
$840
7 weeks
$960
8 weeks
$1,080
9 weeks
$1,200
10 weeks
$1,320
11 weeks
$1,440
12 weeks
$1,560
13 weeks
$1,680
14 weeks
$1,800
15 weeks
$1,920
16 weeks
$2,040
17 weeks
$2,160
18 weeks
$2,280
19 weeks
$2,400
20 weeks
$2,520
21 weeks
$2,640
22 weeks
$2,760
23 weeks
$2,880
24 weeks
$3,000
25 weeks
$3,120
26 weeks
(max. stay)
$3,240
Average fees
$137
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
STEP Africa
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with STEP Africa during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
Volunteer World is the world's leading comparison platform for international volunteer opportunities. We guide you through a safe and easy
application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
Quality Assurance
High ethical standards & transparent social impact
Flex Option
Change your reservation at no extra costs
Refund Guarantee
We refund your fees if STEP Africa cancels your trip
Support & Mediation
We cover your back no matter what happens
Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by STEP Africa.
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Assist Teaching at Pre & Primary School
Help the teachers in their everyday routine and learn more about the Tanzanian school system. Bring in your own ideas and immerse yourself in the African culture.
$137/week
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