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Fantastic 4.54rating (29)
  • Reduced Inequalities

Support Children with Cerebral Palsy & Autism

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Work at a centre that opened only in 2023 and accepts children with every kind of disability - around 80% of them have cerebral palsy, and many have more than one condition.
  • Bring a professional skill if you have one: special education teachers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers are what this centre needs most.
  • Come with no experience and still be useful - the children mostly want someone to talk, dance, sing, colour and play with them, and there is never enough of that.

Highlights

  • Work at a centre that opened only in 2023 and accepts children with every kind of disability - around 80% of them have cerebral palsy, and many have more than one condition.
  • Bring a professional skill if you have one: special education teachers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers are what this centre needs most.
  • Come with no experience and still be useful - the children mostly want someone to talk, dance, sing, colour and play with them, and there is never enough of that.
  • Understand what you are walking into: the building needs work, funding is short, and some of the staff are parents volunteering because wages cannot be paid.
  • Work the shifts you can genuinely sustain. The team would rather you did one good morning a day than burned out by week two - the children read your energy.
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Work with children who have cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome and sensory impairments at a young, seriously under-resourced centre in Arusha.

    An honest description of the place

    This centre in Arusha opened in the summer of 2023 and takes children with disabilities of every kind. Roughly 80% of them have cerebral palsy. Others are deaf, blind, deaf-blind, autistic, or living with Down syndrome, and many have more than one condition at ...

    About the program

    An honest description of the place

    This centre in Arusha opened in the summer of 2023 and takes children with disabilities of every kind. Roughly 80% of them have cerebral palsy. Others are deaf, blind, deaf-blind, autistic, or living with Down syndrome, and many have more than one condition at once.

    It is a genuinely good place for the children who go there, and it is also in serious difficulty. The building needs substantial work. The children are meant to have structured classes but the centre lacks the specialist equipment that would let them learn in the ways their conditions require. Funding does not stretch to full staff wages, and some of the people working there are parents giving their time because there is no alternative.

    We would rather tell you that now than have you discover it in week one.

    Who the centre most needs

    If you are a special education teacher, physiotherapist, doctor, occupational therapist, developmental psychologist, social worker or behavioural therapist, you can do things here that nobody else on site can. Volunteers with those qualifications may also help with physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and with training parents to continue that work at home – which is where the lasting difference gets made.

    If you have no relevant training

    You are still welcome, and still useful. Come in shifts, ask questions, and take direction from the staff on how to interact with each child. With minimal resources, what the children enjoy most is simple: talking, dancing, singing, colouring, and playing with whatever is to hand. Attention is the thing in shortest supply.

    What is asked of you

    • Bring energy, and a lot of it. When the children arrive they are ready to play.
    • Be patient. The children do not speak English. They will follow your physical cues, and many of them cannot read facial expressions or social signals at all.
    • Manage your own limits. If one morning or afternoon shift a day is what you can sustain, do that. Do not burn out – the children feel the energy you bring, and a depleted volunteer helps nobody.

    Requirements

    Minimum age 18 for this placement. A clean criminal background check is required for all participants. You need a flexible, open mind and a genuine willingness to take the initiative.

    Please note: Volunteer World requires a minimum stay of four weeks on programmes working with children. Given how much these children rely on familiarity and routine, that continuity matters here more than on almost any other placement we run.

    Typical day

    Morning

    Breakfast at the volunteer house, then out to the centre with your coordinator.

    At the centre

    The first day or two is mostly watching and asking. Every child here has different needs and the staff will show you how to approach each one – what they respond to, what distresses them, how they ...

    Typical day

    Morning

    Breakfast at the volunteer house, then out to the centre with your coordinator.

    At the centre

    The first day or two is mostly watching and asking. Every child here has different needs and the staff will show you how to approach each one – what they respond to, what distresses them, how they communicate. Take that seriously; it is the difference between helping and getting in the way.

    After that, a day might involve feeding and personal care, one-to-one attention, sensory play, music and dancing, colouring and craft, and helping with mobility and movement. If you are qualified in physiotherapy or special education, you will be given far more scope – including working with parents.

    Shifts are deliberately flexible. Many volunteers do a morning, break for lunch and come back; others do a single session. Both are fine, and the team would rather you were consistent over four weeks than heroic for four days.

    Afternoons and evenings

    Back at the volunteer house with the other volunteers. This is a placement where talking your day through with other people matters – some days are hard, and the house is where that gets processed.

    Weekends

    Free. The team will help you book safaris to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire or Lake Manyara, or shorter trips to Materuni waterfall and the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro.

    Free-time activities

    Shifts here are flexible by design, and weekends are entirely free. Given the nature of this placement, taking that time properly is not indulgence - it is what lets you come back the next morning with something to give.

    Safari - the reason most people come to northern Tanzania

    Arusha is the staging ...

    Free-time activities

    Shifts here are flexible by design, and weekends are entirely free. Given the nature of this placement, taking that time properly is not indulgence - it is what lets you come back the next morning with something to give.

    Safari - the reason most people come to northern Tanzania

    Arusha is the staging post for the whole northern circuit and the local team will help you book. The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater are the classic two- or three-day trips. Tarangire, with its elephant herds and baobabs, and Lake Manyara, known for tree-climbing lions, are both doable in a day. Arusha National Park is close enough for a spare afternoon.

    Kilimanjaro and around

    Day hikes on the lower slopes, the Materuni waterfall and the coffee-farm tours near Moshi all work as short trips. A full summit attempt needs proper planning and a real budget, so save it for the end of your placement.

    In Arusha itself

    The Maasai Market is the place for carvings, fabric and beadwork, and haggling is expected. The Cultural Heritage Centre is worth an afternoon. There is a good cafe and restaurant scene around the clock tower, and volunteers from all our different projects tend to end up in the same handful of places - which on this placement is genuinely valuable.

    Further afield

    Zanzibar is a short domestic flight and makes an excellent end-of-programme week - beaches, Stone Town and the spice farms.

    Safaris and weekend trips can be arranged through your in-country coordinator, and add-on tours can also be booked in advance through your online account.

    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.

    Education Requirements

    at High school level

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Required Documents

    Criminal background check

    Nationality Restrictions

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

    Other Skills

    Qualifications in special education, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, developmental psychology, social work or behavioural therapy let you do far more here, and are what the centre needs most - say so on your application. No experience is also fine; come in shifts and take direction from staff. Minimum age 18. A clean criminal background check is required of all participants.

    Time Commitment

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

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    Included

    • Airport pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), or from the bus station in Arusha if you arrive overland
    • Accommodation at the volunteer house for your whole stay
    • Meals as provided at the volunteer house
    • Orientation on arrival and your placement at the centre
    • 24-hour assistance and support from the in-country team
    • Help booking weekend safaris and other trips
    • Comprehensive pre-departure information
    • Certificate of participation, on request

    Not included

    • Airfare
    • Travel and medical insurance – mandatory, and available through us at extra cost
    • Visa and volunteer permit fee – Tanzania charges a permit on top of the visa, so budget for both
    • Return airport drop-off – can be arranged locally at extra cost
    • Local transport, vaccinations and personal spending
    • Safari and weekend trips – the team will book them for you, but the cost is yours

    The price shown already includes your application fee – there is nothing further to pay us on arrival. Programme fees can be paid in interest-free instalments, with the balance due 45 days before departure.

    Airport Pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport

    Airport pickup is included. Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), roughly an hour from Arusha, and a member of the local team will meet you and drive you to the volunteer house.

    If you are arriving overland – from Nairobi, Dar es Salaam or elsewhere in Tanzania – you will be collected from the bus station in Arusha instead, and that is included as well.

    The return drop-off is not included in the programme fee, but the team can arrange transport for a small additional charge. Give them a couple of days' notice of your flight.

    Note that Tanzania requires a volunteer permit in addition to a tourist visa. The team will confirm the current fee before you travel; it is payable by you and is not part of the programme fee.

    Accommodation

    You stay at the volunteer house in Arusha, shared with other volunteers and interns from around the world working across our different Tanzanian projects. Rooms are shared, and on this placement in particular that matters – having other people to talk to at the end of a hard day makes a real difference.

    The house has the basic amenities you need rather than luxury: running water, electricity, communal living space and somewhere to eat together. A local coordinator manages it and is on hand throughout your stay.

    Arusha town centre is close by, and the house is the launch point for weekend safari trips out to the northern circuit.

    Food & Beverages

    Meals are provided at the volunteer house and are included in your fee. Expect Tanzanian home cooking – rice, ugali, beans, stewed vegetables, chapati, and fruit that is far better than anything you will get at home.

    If you are vegetarian, or have allergies or other dietary requirements, note them on your application form and remind the house team when you arrive. Tanzanian cooking accommodates vegetarians easily.

    Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water. It is cheap and available everywhere. Budget separately for meals out in Arusha and for food on safari weekends.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    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

    Start dates: weekly, year-round – choose whichever week suits you.

    Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about an hour from Arusha. You will be met on arrival and driven to the volunteer house. If you are travelling overland from Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, you will be collected from the bus station in Arusha instead, and that is included too.

    Airport drop-off at the end is not included, but the local team can arrange it for an extra charge. Give them a couple of days' notice.

    Visa: most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, and a volunteer permit fee is payable on top. The permit is not part of your programme fee – the team will confirm the current amount before you travel, so budget for it.

    Health: yellow fever vaccination is required if you are arriving from a country where it is present, and antimalarials are strongly recommended.

    Bring what you can. If you have room in your bag for sensory toys, picture cards, art materials or simple therapy equipment, they will be used every day long after you leave.

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

    Program Fees

    $274 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

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.5
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Location

    Africa > Eastern Africa > Tanzania > Arusha

    Meet your project coordinator

    Sahil
    29
    reviews
    4.54
    Fantastic
    2007
    Founded

    Verified

      Below average response rate
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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Education  >  Special Needs in Tanzania
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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