from 663€

Perfect 4.6rating (38)

Special Needs and Assisting Disabled Children

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Heighten cross-cultural learning and global understanding.
  • Increase access to education.
  • Promote health and wellbeing
  • Support community development
  • Economic development of communities.

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

This project is a great way for compassionate and caring individuals to support disabled children across the country. This program welcomes everyone to volunteer.

The special needs project in Tanzania is a great way for compassionate and caring individuals to support disabled children. In this project, the volunteers are expected to assist professionals and the staff in the centers or work first-handedly with the children who have learning disabilities. These ...

About the program

The special needs project in Tanzania is a great way for compassionate and caring individuals to support disabled children. In this project, the volunteers are expected to assist professionals and the staff in the centers or work first-handedly with the children who have learning disabilities. These disabilities can include being deaf or mute, physical disabilities, down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. The activities include socializing, physiotherapy, speech therapy, teaching basic education, cleaning, and facility maintenance.


The challenges in the special needs centers are such as a lack of trained staff, a negative cultural perception by the community towards disabilities, and a lack of relevant information and training for various special needs cases.


This program has an extra fee of $100 that is given directly to the center to develop their facilities and service provision.


What to Expect

The project involves work. This program welcomes everyone to volunteer, especially those with medical experience or a professional background in special needs care. It is a very crucial project as there is an inadequacy of facilities and materials necessary for appropriate service provision in education, treatment and care. You will be working with special needs children in a supporting role; you will be observing, participating in assisting and nursing, assisting in the workload, as well as fun and games for the children’s play time. It is better to approach this project with limited or no expectations, as these centers have different conditions than what you may be used to. Any activity can be assigned to any volunteer. Expect to be proactive and prompt.


What NOT to Expect

Limit your expectations, the work is fulfilling but not easy as our conditions in Africa derive unique approaches to everything. The centers are underfunded and not well equipped to cater to all the needs that the special needs children require. We encourage you to embrace the norms and be a part of the change and ensure the locals learn from you as well.


What are the Centers like?

Some have qualified professionals, and some don’t. There are barriers to communication such as language and experience. The focus is to work together, share your knowledge, skills, and applicable resource utilization strategies. Participate in planning activities and create relationships with the professionals and the children;  they are friendly and love that you are there to work with them. The supportive role you play as a volunteer is temporary, so make sure you make the most of the chances you have. 


What are the Children like?

The children are playful and extremely fond of volunteers as they participate in lessons and games very willingly. In the special needs group, the children will have communication barriers; therefore it requires patience and dedication to work with them. It is important to cater to their needs, but that won’t make it impossible to work with them. They appreciate the attention given, and the time spent with them will be very memorable. Use relations and experience to nurture the childrens' will and esteem, as well as sharing the right skills and experiences required to ensure good living conditions for them.


Duties and Tasks

The project involves caring for the special needs children and catering to their needs and wants in accordance with their disabilities, playing with and caring for them, assisting the professionals and staff in action plans, cooking, and cleaning. Participation in any of these activities depends on how comfortable you are with tending to the task provided. If a volunteer feels uncomfortable with a task, it is okay to be substituted with a member of staff.


Challenges

  • Culture shock

  • Inexperienced care for special needs children. If you are not confident, you do not have to tend to them alone, but with expert supervision instead.

  • Firsthand experience on how poverty affects the livelihoods of the people, especially the disabled.

  • Expectations. With high expectations, it is easy to be disappointed by the lags and reluctance to be involved, especially with impatience to reach perfection.


Positives

  • Gain more experience and friends working with the special needs children as well as the local professionals.

  • Participate in making a better life for people who lack the resources to do so for themselves.

  • Attain new skills and experiences to further your profession.

  • Arusha is a beautiful tourist city with much to appreciate. The people are welcoming, and the landscape and scenery are magnificent.

  • Take the opportunity to travel and socialize on the weekends. There are many spots for leisure and fun.



THINGS TO BRING, DONATIONS

What can I bring?

Iif you feel like donating and sharing it will be appreciated. There are many needs due to the limited resources schools have  ranging from learning and playing materials, food, clothes, shoes and other requirements.


Personal Things to Bring

Those for your personal use like decent clothes, sunscreen, soap, towels, slippers, perfume, torch, nail cutter etc.


Typical day

In general, volunteers have the freedom to choose how they spend the day. However, a daily routine is recommended and may be coordinated with the project coordinators based on your program. A general day may look like this:

  • Breakfast between 6:30 and 7:30am
  • Commuting to placement via public ...

Typical day

In general, volunteers have the freedom to choose how they spend the day. However, a daily routine is recommended and may be coordinated with the project coordinators based on your program. A general day may look like this:

  • Breakfast between 6:30 and 7:30am
  • Commuting to placement via public transport 
  • During your time at the center, you will observe culture differences within the practice in Tanzania. According to your skills, qualifications, and experience, you will have many opportunities to interact with the children. 
  • The hours are usually from 8:30am-3:00pm depending on how busy the day is.
  • Lunch between 12:30am and 3:00pm either at the placement or at the accommodation
  • Placements end usually between 2pm and 4pm depending on the project
  • Free time for the rest of the day and preparation for the placement the day after (if necessary)
  • Dinner between 6:30pm and 7:30pm
  • You can visit an orphanage after coming back from your placement or during the weekend.


Free-time activities

Where can I go after my placement?

  • You can visit House of Babies, a home for orphaned and abandoned children.

  • You can go to the gym/ walk/ run.


Where can I go on weekends?


Arusha Town

  • Maasai Market & Souvenir Shops.

  • Museums and Historical sites.

  • Multi-cultural Restaurants and Hotels.

  • Swimming.

  • Parties & ...

Free-time activities

Where can I go after my placement?

  • You can visit House of Babies, a home for orphaned and abandoned children.

  • You can go to the gym/ walk/ run.


Where can I go on weekends?


Arusha Town

  • Maasai Market & Souvenir Shops.

  • Museums and Historical sites.

  • Multi-cultural Restaurants and Hotels.

  • Swimming.

  • Parties & Concerts.


Day trips

  • Napuru Waterfalls.

  • Hot springs.

  • Zip line Adventure.

  • Serval Wildlife Zoo.

  • Lake Duluti.

  • Materuni Waterfalls & Local Coffee making experience.

  • Maasai village visit.

  • Hadzabe community visit.


Tours and Safaris

  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

  • Oldupai Gorge.

  • Serengeti National park. 

  • Enduimet Wildlife Management Area.

  • Manyara National park.

  • Tarangire National park, and many more!


Hikes

  • Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

  • Climbing Mt. Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania.


Zanzibar Excursions

  • Zanzibar’s divine beaches, diving and water sports.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

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.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

at University level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV, Certificates and and Copy of Passport

Nationality Restrictions

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

Other Skills

This program welcomes anyone who is passionate and with compassion.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 12:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Natembelea Africa V Residence

The program fee includes:

  • Airport pickup from Kilimanjaro international Airport/ Arusha airport  OR Bus Station pick up.

  • Accommodation

  • Meals 

  • Wi-Fi

  • Orientation & Town tour

  • A basic Swahili lesson

Airport Pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport

The program fee includes airport pickup. It takes 45 to 60 minutes to Arusha from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). You will be picked up by a coordinator with a driver from our ground team. The ground team will be active to get to the airport on time and communicate well.

Note: When you exit the arrivals area you will see a coordinator with a banner with Natembelea Africa Volunteer Residence and Volunteer World logo. Please don't look for your name, look for the banner. Wave and our team will see you. On the way to the volunteer house, the coordinator will give you a short briefing about the country and Arusha in general. 

You will get to meet and know the ground team while giving you a house tour. We will show you your room. Depending on your time of arrival, you will have your program orientation the same day or the next day.

Accommodation

Volunteers in Arusha will be staying in a volunteer house. Volunteers can expect to share a room with one to four/six other volunteers of the same gender. The  house provides a comfortable and warm stay with tap water and electricity. However, it is important to note that there are often regional or countrywide power outages which may affect availability of hot water. Bedding is provided, which includes a pillow with pillow case, bottom and top sheet. You will need to bring your own towels, sunscreen, slippers and toiletries etc.

In the volunteer house, there is a cook who prepares meals and keeps the place clean and tidy. Safety is paramount, therefore there is also a security guard during day and night. There is also a coordinator who is your immediate contact concerning any inquiry or emergency while at the residence. You can reach the directors on mobile via whatsapp or local calls.

To access the internet during your program, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card in Arusha. The local staff will assist you with this upon arrival.

Food & Beverages

One of the greatest ways to explore Tanzania is to eat like the locals. To make things easy for you, your program fee covers the cost of your main meals, which will be cooked by the mamas in-house.

The mamas will usually be cooking Tanzanian cuisine as part of your cultural experience in Tanzania. This is an authentic way to get a taste of the wonderful flavors of Arusha, and immerse yourself fully in the local culture.

All programs will include options for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and other diets. You should give note to any dietary requirements in your application so we can make sure the program caters to your needs beforehand. 

You will get meals everyday, 7 days per week for all the time you will be with us. Meals generally consist of authentic Tanzanian cuisine, with some western style dishes. 

We are extremely mindful of food allergies, vegans and vegetarians. We will adapt to requests accordingly.

Internet Access

Limited 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

Program Start Dates: 1st and 15th of every month.

The Program commencement includes the night before your start date. If you choose to arrive before the starting date, you will have to pay extra according to the days of your stay.


The duration of your stay and program is counted in weeks. For instance, if a volunteer is registered for 4 weeks and the start date is January 1st, the program fee accommodates the previous night of December 31st until January 28th respectively.

Travel and leisure holidays are of no exception; they are within the program duration. If a day or more is taken for travels in the program dates, the end date will remain the same.

There is the possibility for program extension whenever necessary. A one day extension costs 30 USD, whereas a week or more would be assigned program fees in regard to the duration of the stay. It is advised that if volunteers require an extension, they should provide a notice prior to the end of their original program.


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

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 663€
5 weeks 812€
6 weeks 960€
7 weeks 1,079€
8 weeks 1,198€
9 weeks 1,317€
10 weeks 1,406€
11 weeks 1,495€
12 weeks (max. stay) 1,584€
Average fees 148€/week

Program fees

148€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Deposit

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

Your final payment will be agreed with Natembelea Africa V Residence during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Natembelea Africa V Residence

Perfect 4.6 rating (38 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2019

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Schola

Spoken languages: Swahili, English

About the project

We recruit and host volunteers from across the world with different passionate missions who come to volunteer and experience life with the local people. Karibu Tanzania!

Meet your organization

   
 Natembelea Africa Volunteer Residence is a registered non-profit organization located in Arusha, one of the busiest cities and a tourist destination in Tanzania, Africa. We recruit and host volunteers from across the world with different passionate missions who come to volunteer and experience life with the local people. The volunteers stay in our volunteer house as their primary destination while they are attending to their programs respectively.

Program Start Dates
Our programs start on the 1st and on the 15th of every month respectively. One night before the program starts is not charged.(Group of 5 people and above, 50$ off from everyone in the group)
   
What we do?
The organization is working in cooperation with other centers and organizations to provide specific placements according to the various volunteer projects we offer, and also offers accommodation and facilities as the primary destination for our volunteers.

Currently we have eight (8) Programs namely: Teaching and Educating Children, Medical Assistance and Medical Outreach, Empowering Women and Girls, Friends Childcare Supporter, Animal Welfare and Animal’s Shelter, Special Needs and Assisting the Disabled, Construction and Renovation Collaborator and Water Management Assistant.
   
Is Tanzania safe?
Tanzania is a rich and diverse country with different tribes, religions, and customs. Tanzanians are very friendly, conversational, and hospitable. There is a general safety that enhances the cultural experience. Our accommodations are also safe spaces provided by high security and are located at a safe neighborhood. 

Challenges
Majority in Tanzania are living in poor life and unsustainable income which made us to establish the volunteer organization to help the community and welcoming people with open minded with good heart.

Mission/vision
Realize shared values while engaging local societies first hand and dedicating abilities in making use of accessible resources to advance and sustain livelihoods.
 
Our goals
To provide volunteers with placements that enable them to show their compassion and utilize their skills, experience to improve and inspire as they engage the local societies. Exposure, tactics, values and experience sharing between volunteers and the locals. Creating new bonds and bridging cultures across the world with dedication to progress. Learning and appreciating applications observed and attained from the volunteer engagement projects.

What to expect
Expect to be proactive and prompt, as the experience will be out of your comfort zone in case of inadequate resources it will be on you to apply initiatives that would satisfy the particular situations. Expect to learn, be challenged, and to experience a sort of fun you have never known
while engaging with the children and the people.
 
What not to expect
Limit your expectations, the work is fulfilling but not easy as our conditions in Africa derive unique approaches to everything. The placements are underfunded and with inadequate resources, do not expect to change everything at the same time; be proactive and collaborate with the local coordinators and placement supervisors to improve the work condition and to cater to the needs of the project. We encourage you to be proactive and embrace the norms as part of a learning experience and ensure the locals team from you as well.

What to bring
You are not required to bring anything on your volunteer placements, but if you feel like donating and sharing it will be appreciated. In regard to the need and relationship created it is always important to choose a better fit for your donations given that there are many needs due to the limited resources the schools have ranging from needs and requirements.

Visa

All volunteers must have a Volunteer Visa to volunteer in Tanzania. This is because foreigners are not allowed to volunteer in Tanzania under a Tourist Visa.

A Volunteer Visa which is also referred to as Humanitarian Visa in Tanzanian airports. Once you have cleared your program fees, we will send you the Invitation letter and NGO Certificate. These will be required when applying for your visa on the immigration website. 

Vaccination & Treatment

We highly recommend you to consult your doctor for advice on immunizations. We all understand human beings get sick, we have several hospitals and clinics in town in case volunteer get sick and the organization will ride you to the hospital for free with a coordinator to assist , and there are many pharmacies available to get medicine.

Certificate of Appreciation

We appreciate your time! After your program ends we will provide you with a certificate of completion.

Criminal background check

Our first priority is safety. Safety for our volunteers and for the people receiving services in our volunteer programs. This is standard for any quality volunteer program.

Insurance

Tanzania is a safe country and we will do our best to ensure your safety and well-being but illnesses happen and sometimes unfortunate incidents such as theft happen. Travel insurance will pay for your medical bills if you become ill and will cover expenses if something were lost or stolen.

Speak local language (Swahili)

You do not need to know it but learning a few words and phrases will be helpful. There are many helpful sites that can help you before you arrive and we will help you when you are here.

What to bring with me,

We recommend to bring flashlight, long-sleeved clothes, mosquito repellent, copy of your passport and ID – best not to carry your identification with you, you can establish fundraisers, bring donations for the centers.

Going tours and safaris during your program

Of course! Tanzania is a beautiful country and we would not want you to miss out on seeing some of the wonderful places here. We can help you arrange tours and safaris at discounted rates for our volunteers!






38 reviews · rating4.6

Rebecca Graff rating5

2024 at Teaching and Educating Children

Dear volunteers, I guess you just arrived here at the Volunteer residence while reading these pages with all the experiences from other volunteers. Even though I was really excited about my time as a volunteer, it was a big challenge when I arrived but I promise you one thing: Schola and Happy ...
olivia huslage rating3.8

2024 at Teaching and Educating Children

Dear Future Volunteers, I have completed a 6 weeks program staying in the Volunteer house in Arusha. During my time there I was placed in the Ereto Pre and Primary School in Kimandolu. This volunteering experience made me grow so much as a person and made become more independent every single ...
Eva Bentein rating3.4

2023 at Teaching and Educating Children

This was an incredible experience for my daughter and me. Francesca, Anita and Zaccharia did everything to feel us welcome and safe at the residence. We got a good varied breakfast. We also learned a lot about the way of living and so realise that electricity, a good shower with lots of hot water ...
I stayed with Natembelea Africa in Arusha for 2 weeks, and I had the best experience from A to Z. Contacts with Schola and her husband were always good, and I felt ever more welcomed when in arrived in Tanzania. The place where we stay is super safe, in a beautiful place in Arusha. I loved to ...
Frank van Dijk rating1.6

2023 at Teaching and Educating Children

Hi all, I had a great time volunteering in Arusha, Nuru English school. However the organisation Natembele Afrika is simply a for profit organisation. You pay them for accommodation just like a hotel. None of the money you pay will go to charity. The price you pay is extremely high for a very ...
Edward Hues rating5

2023 at Teaching and Educating Children

My mate and I volunteered as teachers at Ereto Primary School in eastern Arusha. I volunteered there for 14 days and had the most interesting and fun time. We got to experience local cuisine through school lunches and it was a great insight into Tanzania, especially the street. I enjoyed going to ...

Location


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Contact Schola
  Very high response rate
Swahili, English

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