from 974€

Excellent 4.8rating (852)
  • Quality Education

English Teaching Substitute

location
222€ per week  ·  4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 17 - 50+

  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • 70% of volunteers are 17-22 years old
  • Enhance future opportunities for students in Tanzania
  • Gain teaching experience within a supported network
  • Witness the staggering Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Amazing destination for safari national parks

Especially suitable

Age 17+
Singles
Groups

About the program

Teach in a school in one of the most extraordinary places in the world. Help the children build a positive, constructive future for themselves.

In 2002, primary school education fees in Tanzania were dropped. The Tanzanian government’s push to get all children into school has seen unprecedented success. It is estimated that 96% of children at primary school age are enrolled in school. However, is a high level of enrolment enough? Schools ...

About the program

In 2002, primary school education fees in Tanzania were dropped. The Tanzanian government’s push to get all children into school has seen unprecedented success. It is estimated that 96% of children at primary school age are enrolled in school. However, is a high level of enrolment enough? Schools have an average ratio of one teacher to 53 pupils, which is much worse in rural areas, and international aid is faltering since the global recession. The quality of education in Tanzania is a growing cause for concern.

Over a third of people in Tanzania live below the national poverty line. Education is one of the essential skills for children to develop and is their doorway to a bright future. Tourism is big business in Tanzania, and so the ability to speak English dramatically increases the opportunities for young people to gain meaningful employment. To make matters worse, teaching methods in Tanzania are largely based on learning through repetition and aimed at passing exams. This has led to a situation where, though the children can reel off information, they have very little understanding of what they are saying, particularly in relation to learning English. As most secondary school classes are taught in English, this causes problems later in the education system. Improving the methodologies of learning at this level can lay the foundation for increased learning potential in later life and thus improve the employability of Tanzanian students.

PMGY’s English Teaching programme in Tanzania aims to provide local schools and orphanages with support in a variety of ways, helping to teach children English, Maths and other subjects, at the same time transferring skills and sharing cultural perspectives. No previous teaching experience is required. All you need is to be creative and proactive and we will help you settle into a role that will be beneficial to the children you work with, while gaining valuable skills yourself.

IMPORTANT VISA INFO

On-arrival into Tanzania you will need to obtain a Tourist Visa. This costs $50 ($100 for US Citizens). You do not need to worry about this in advance as you can purchase the visa at the airport on-arrival.

Tanzanian law stipulates that all volunteers must have a work permit. If you’re joining PMGY in Tanzania for less than 90 days then you will need a CTA Work Permit. This costs $200 (£130). Our local team will process this on your behalf when you arrive in Arusha. Please make sure you have $200 in cash. Our local team will process this for you within the first couple of days of your arrival and return your passport to you with the work permit stamp inside it. Therefore, you do not need to obtain this work permit prior to arriving in Tanzania. If you are volunteering for more than 90 days then the work permit fee is $550 (around £345).

The total visa and work permit fee for the trip is $250 (approximately £160), or $300 for US citizens. You should bring this amount with you to Tanzania in cash (US dollars). The cost would be $600 for volunteers joining us in Tanzania for more than 90 days.

VACCINATION

It is also mandatory to have the Yellow Fever Vaccination to enter Tanzania. Therefore, you must ensure you allow yourself plenty of time to arrange this immunisation before you go, as you will need to show your Yellow Fever Vaccination record to the immigration officials at the airport. There has been a lot of debate on this issue, as some health officials say it is not necessary to have the Yellow Fever Vaccination. However, from the personal experience of the PMGY team we have always been asked to show proof of our Yellow Fever Vaccination on entry into Tanzania and so strongly advise all our volunteers to do so as well to avoid any complications on-arrival. More recently, our UK team have been in direct contact with the Tanzania embassy who have now confirmed to us that the Yellow Fever Vaccination is now mandatory on entry into Tanzania.

TRAVEL TIPS

You should arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport (airport code JRO) on the selected Sunday start date. Programmes start on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. You will be met at the airport by one of our local staff or an appointed driver who will be holding a named sign. They will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the rest of your day at leisure.

The programme ends on the Sunday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day

ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

For the majority of our programmes you can apply at any time. However, we advise that you apply as soon as possible to ensure we have availability on the programme – particularly if you’re looking to travel between June and August, as spaces can fill up very quickly during this period.

It is best that you apply sooner rather than later as some of our programmes only have a limited capacity and spaces get filled very quickly. 

Can I use this program as part of a university or college placement? 

It is certainly possible to use one of PMGY’s programmes as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. PMGY regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects around the world and we have ties with some of the leading universities.

If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of PMGY’s programmes could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us.

Is it safe to travel to PMGY destinations?

Although our volunteers work in the developing world, we always ensure our host locations are safe. Each programme has been extensively researched and has passed our strict vetting process. Our UK team undergo an extensive routine when establishing our in-country infrastructures and we continue to monitor our safety procedures on a regular basis. Furthermore, we monitor the stability of our volunteer destinations on a daily basis. Through our constant contact with consulates and embassies and our reports from our overseas teams, we are able to ensure that our volunteers are never placed in unstable regions.

The PMGY team have visited and participated in every programme we offer and verified them based on our own independent criteria. We carefully inspect every little detail of our set-up. From inspecting the living conditions, checking out the neighbourhoods you’ll be staying in, to tasting the food you’ll be eating – each and every programme we establish has gone through a lengthy and rigorous vetting process. Risk assessments have been written for all areas in which PMGY operate and our experienced local coordinators are always on-hand to manage any emergencies that may occur. Our UK team are always on the road reviewing our risk management procedures in the field and monitoring local conditions. 

In emergency situations we have the necessary protocols and equipment in place and we are able to evacuate our volunteers from potential dangers. Our local coordinators are trained to deal with emergency circumstances. 

All volunteers will receive a PMGY Volunteer Handbook once they have paid their deposit and confirmed their place on the programme. We will send you an email entitled ‘Welcome to PMGY’ which will include a link where you can download the Volunteer Handbook. Please note that we DO NOT send a hardcopy of the PMGY Volunteer Handbook.

This Handbook contains literally everything you need to know – from what to pack, to how to obtain a visa, to local language guides. It is really important that you read through the Volunteer Handbook carefully once you’ve downloaded it. If you require any further information not covered in the Volunteer Handbook then our team are always on-hand to assist you. 

Typical day

Volunteers work as assistants to the local teachers, although there maybe times you need to lead your own lessons due to staff shortages. All lessons are taught in English apart from Swahili language lessons. The schools have a basic curriculum, which is followed, however volunteers have the freedom ...

Typical day

Volunteers work as assistants to the local teachers, although there maybe times you need to lead your own lessons due to staff shortages. All lessons are taught in English apart from Swahili language lessons. The schools have a basic curriculum, which is followed, however volunteers have the freedom to introduce new ideas/topics. It is important that volunteers spend an hour or two each day preparing for the following days lessons. We support primary and secondary schools. Furthermore, many of the orphanages we support have nursery schools for children of pre-school age – PMGY volunteers also assist at these projects. Nurseries and primary schools are suitable for volunteers with no teaching experience. If you have teaching experience or a TEFL qualification, then it is recommended that you teach at a secondary school where the children are aged from 12 to 16 years of age.

Free-time activities

PMGY volunteers are based in the quiet suburbs of the city of Arusha, near the foot of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain at 4,556m (14,947ft).

This vibrant African city is an excellent base and for the most part, it is lush, green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year ...

Free-time activities

PMGY volunteers are based in the quiet suburbs of the city of Arusha, near the foot of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain at 4,556m (14,947ft).

This vibrant African city is an excellent base and for the most part, it is lush, green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year thanks to its altitude. You will find all the amenities you could need in Arusha including banks, supermarkets and international standard hospitals as well as excellent restaurants and night life.

Arusha also has its first real coffee house, Africafe, a great location to chill out, people watch and sample some home baking with famous brands of teas and coffees grown on the fertile slopes around Mbeya, Southern Tanzania.

MAASAI MUSEUM
This informative Maasai cultural museum comes complete with mock-ups of home and bush life, which you visit with a real life Maasai warrior. You can then take a 30 minute camel ride towards the Monduli Mountains, and visit a local Maasai village where you’ll get the chance to chat to the local Maasai and learn about their culture.

MT MERU CURIOS & CRAFTS MARKET
There are quite a few markets in Arusha but this one (often referred to as the Maasi Market) has some great souvenirs and some higher-quality items. You will need to practice your expert haggling skills though and be persistent as this market is one of the best in central Arusha.

FURTHER AFIELD

ZANZIBAR
Just a 1hr 40min direct flight from Arusha, the exotic island of Zanzibar, locally known as Unguja, has amazing beaches and resorts, decent dive spots, acres of spice plantations, the Jozani Forest Reserve, and Stone Town.

Stone Town, the archipelago’s major metropolis, is a maze of narrow streets lined with houses featuring magnificently carved doors studded with brass. There are 51 mosques, 6 Hindu temples, and 2 Christian churches. And though it can rightly be called a city, much of the western part of the larger island is a slumbering paradise where cloves, as well as rice and coconuts, still grow.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 17 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 17 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Plan My Gap Year

  • Accommodation 
  • Meals (Breakfast & Dinner)
  • Airport Pick Up
  • In-Country Orientation
  • 24 Hour Support

Airport Pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport

You should arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport (airport code JRO) on the Sunday. The airport pickup is available 24 hours. 

On arrival, a member of our local team will be at the waiting area for you holding a ‘PMGY Tanzania’ sign. They will drive you straight to the Volunteer House in Arusha where you can relax and settle in. This journey takes around 1 hour.

Accommodation

You will stay at our Volunteer House in Arusha. This is a cosy house located just 5 minutes walk from central Arusha in a quiet neighbourhood.

Rooms are shared, up to 6 people per room. Each volunteer is provided with a mosquito net. The shared bathrooms have warm showers and western toilets. The house has a living area with a TV and comfy sofas to relax in during the evening. There is also a communal kitchen where you can prepare meals and store food in the refrigerator. Please note that power cuts are fairly commonplace in Tanzania although they tend not to last more than a couple of hours.

The house does not have Wi-Fi but there are internet cafes nearby where you can get online for around £1 per hour. Alternatively you can purchase a USB internet dongle for £15 and this will allow you to connect to the internet at all times via your laptop. A weekly laundry service available for £3 per person, or you can choose to hand wash your clothes. We have a cook who will prepare your meals and a cleaner who will maintain the house. There is also a night guard employed for extra security.

A member of our local team will regularly visit the house to ensure everything runs smoothly. There is a great atmosphere at the house and you will meet some wonderful people to share your experience with.

Food & Beverages

Volunteers receive breakfast and dinner at the Volunteer House, which are freshly prepared on-site by our cook. Meals are a mixture of Tanzanian and western cuisine. You should budget around £2 per day for lunch if you plan to eat local meals or £4 to £5 for western food.

Generally, we have a two-week rotating menu, which offers a varied choice of meals. For breakfast, you will receive cereal, or fruit salad, or boiled eggs, or a Spanish omelette, or pancakes.

For your evening meal you may have pasta, lentils and chapatti, burgers (beef and veggie), or banana and potato stew. We will always have a vegetarian option available and can cater for the majority of dietary requirements.

There are western supermarkets in Arusha where you can purchase food and store it at the house if you’d like to prepare your own lunch/meals.

*Please inform us in your application if you have any dietary requirements.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Kilimanjaro. We assist you to find cheap flights to Tanzania. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

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. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Tanzania you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Tanzania. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This program starts on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 974€
6 weeks 1,331€
8 weeks 1,687€
10 weeks 2,043€
12 weeks (max. stay) 2,400€
Average fees 222€/week

Program fees

222€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 17 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Deposit (15%)

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.

Final Payment (85%)

Your final payment will be agreed with Plan My Gap Year during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your host

Plan My Gap Year

Excellent 4.8 rating (852 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2011

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Josh

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK.

Meet your host

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK. We provide safe, affordable, need-driven volunteer programmes from 1 to 24 weeks in 11 countries worldwide.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US…

Founded by volunteers for volunteers, Plan My Gap Year works with local communities in the developing world towards long-term sustainable goals. We know there is no better way to travel and make a positive impact on the world.

We work extremely hard to ensure that our opportunities are affordable for everyone who wants to make a difference. So fees are 100% transparent, something our volunteers really appreciate.

Plan My Gap Year structured programmes create the perfect platform for you to see the world, meet like-minded people and engage in meaningful volunteer work. We have teams in the UK and in our host destinations who will support you 24/7 throughout your time with us. Furthermore, every project on our network is regularly risk-assessed by our UK team to ensure our set up is safe and that our volunteers are making a positive impact.

There is also a great social element to our programmes. Plan My Gap Year puts you in touch with all your fellow volunteers via Facebook before you set off. Our projects receive volunteers from around the world throughout the year, so even if you’re travelling solo, you’re going to meet heaps of people along the way. Plus you’ll have plenty of opportunity to travel the country with your newfound travel buddies – it’s all part of the PMGY experience!

So if you’re thinking of doing something a bit different on your next trip abroad, then why not drop us a line and find out what extraordinary things you could be doing.

AFFORDABLE & TRANSPARENT FEES

Our aim is to make our programmes accessible to motivated travellers irrespective of their financial capacity. Plan My Gap Year focuses on providing the core requirements of a volunteer programme: safety, structure and sustainability.

We are 100% transparent with our fees. That way you know exactly how much of your money goes towards the local community.

Compared to the large majority of volunteer organisations out there, even most charities and not-for-profits, PMGY’s opportunities are significantly cheaper. Furthermore, as our reviews will testify, our support service and structured programmes are second to none.

SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT

Your safety is our top priority. All of Plan My Gap Years' programmes have been personally inspected and vetted by the PMGY team – which is not an industry standard by any means. We carry out independent risk assessments on an annual basis and our local teams constantly review the safety precautions we implement. This includes regular staff and safety appraisals.

 Our local teams are made up of highly experienced volunteer coordinators. They have hosted international volunteers for many years and are prepared to react in the unlikely event of an emergency. Whatever the problem, big or small, our local teams are available around the clock.

As part of our commitment to your safety, we keep in constant communication with local embassies and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to ensure we can identify potentially dangerous situations and act upon them immediately. Our UK team are available 24/7 to assist volunteers and their families.

TRAINING & SUPPORT

We support our volunteers every step of the way. Before you go we will provide you with a detailed Volunteer Handbook, which will guide you through how to prepare for your trip. This Handbook contains literally everything you need to know – from what to pack, to how to obtain a visa, to local language guides.

Our experienced UK team are always available to provide assistance. Plan My Gap Year is always available to answer our questions and support you in anyway we can. 

On arrival, a member of our in-country team will collect you from the airport and help you settle in. Your orientation course will teach you everything you need to know about the country, how to stay safe and what to expect from your upcoming volunteer experience. 

Our local team are on-call 24/7. Whether you’ve lost your passport or just want some help in planning a weekend trip, our friendly in-country coordinators provide that safety net to ensure you are well looked after.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Plan My Gap Years' responsibility is not limited to our travellers but also the projects we support. That is why all our volunteers must provide a Criminal Background Check before they travel.

It is essential that our projects are need-driven and sustainable. We work closely with our local partners to ensure that our volunteers are contributing to bring about long-term development.

PERSONAL TOUCH

We really know our programmes. Our UK team have stayed in the accommodation, volunteered at the projects and met the volunteers. We carefully assess each application we receive so that your personality and skills are suited to the project. Whatever your query, you can feel assured that you will be speaking to someone who can tell you exactly what to expect.

HAVING FUN

One of the best aspects of volunteering is meeting some amazing like-minded people. We place over 2,000 volunteers every year so wherever and whenever you go, you have the peace of mind in knowing you will be living and working alongside other PMGY volunteers. In many of our destinations, we run our own Volunteer House accommodation, which ensures all volunteers live together, and therefore guaranteeing a strong social element. In addition, our local team are always there to help you plan any independent travel or give you some tips for what to do at the weekend.

852 reviews · rating4.8

My stay at Pmgy india was really enjoyable! The medical project was so interesting and such a good experience. Vishy was also great at helping us organise weekend trips so that we could travel and see different parts of ...
Sarah Van Rensburg rating5

2023 at English Teaching Substitute

I had the best time with PMGY Tanzania. The PMGY staff there are absolutely incredible. Not only are they helpful in everyday queries regarding volunteering and nearby travel opportunities, but they were really there for us when we needed them. We got into a bit of trouble with a dodgy safari ...
Connie Davies rating5

2023 at English Teaching Substitute

I couldn’t recommend PMGY Tanzania more! It was such an incredible experience :) From the moment we arrived, all of the coordinators and mamas were so friendly and it felt like a home from home. We did the teaching project and had so much fun teaching and caring for the kids. There were also lots ...
Chloe Doherty rating5

2023 at English Teaching Substitute

Such an amazing experience teaching in Tanzania for four weeks. With 24hr assistance, the coordinators and the hostel made it so easy to explore all that Tanzania has to offer. I felt really comfortable, safe and welcomed. It definitely is a home away from home, asante ...
Elisabeth Rebrov rating5

2023 at English Teaching Substitute

I loved my stay in Tanzania from the first day. I felt really welcomed and at home there, the coordinators cared for all of us like we were their family. I will remember this experience and my new friends for my whole ...
Lettie Johnson rating5

2023 at English Teaching Substitute

I volunteered teaching English in Tanzania and it was the best experience of my life. I was there for a month and I had the most amazing time. The coordinators made me feel so safe and looked after it felt like a family, especially Angel and Halima they were like my Tanzania parents I couldn’t ...

Location

Africa > Eastern Africa > Tanzania > Arusha

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Volunteer Abroad  >  Education  >  English Teaching in Tanzania
Contact Josh
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English

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