Support a Women's Empowerment Programme

Info request

The devastating impact of AIDS related diseases in Northern Tanzania is often felt by widows faced with raising children but who lose their family income when their husbands die. As a volunteer taking a career break, you have an opportunity to get involved with a livelihood programme which aims to empower these women through the provision of small start-up grants and simple business training. This is an opportunity to take a meaningful career break in Tanzania and to make a difference to the lives of some of the poorest people in society.

Voluntary Project Overview

Career break volunteers in Tanzania have been working for a number of years on our women’s empowerment programme. In this time, volunteers, together with our in-country teams and local partners, have helped around 300 women set up vital small businesses in villages around the towns of Arusha and Moshi as well as in the Pare Mountains. Business models are simple, often involving retail or food, and around 70% have proved to be productive enough to provide the women with livelihoods and the ability to support their families.

The Volunteer Abroad Role

Volunteer abroad Career break volunteers with business experience are critical to the success of this unique programme helping women from the poorest sections of society who have no other means of livelihood. This Women’s empowerment programme depends substantially on the creative and business input of volunteers for ongoing developments. Volunteers supporting the women’s empowerment programme contribute by reviewing and analysing the success of previous recipients, comparing business models and evaluating the criteria for success. Using previous business experience, volunteers are able to examine the processes and review the approach to constantly recommend enhancements and improvements to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme. Volunteers work on this programme to develop the programme itself and so enable future grant dispersal to be more informed and effective.

Other Volunteer Abroad opportunities

Volunteering abroad While this is a full time project, volunteer work abroad relies upon your initiative and interest. There are opportunities for experienced volunteers on career breaks to advise previous grants recipients and to provide suggestions and support to enable their business to grow further. Some volunteers also get involved with teaching English at nurseries and local schools and in after school clubs or even at adult English classes.

Voluntary Programme Requirements/Eligibility Criteria

Career break volunteers with business experience are critical to the success of this unique programme helping women from the poorest sections of society who have no other means of livelihood. This Women’s empowerment programme depends substantially on the creative and business input of volunteers for ongoing developments. Volunteers supporting the women’s empowerment programme contribute by reviewing and analysing the success of previous recipients, comparing business models and evaluating the criteria for success. Using previous business experience, volunteers are able to examine the processes and review the approach to constantly recommend enhancements and improvements to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme. Volunteers work on this programme to develop the programme itself and so enable future grant dispersal to be more informed and effective.

Volunteer Accommodation and Living arrangements

Volunteering in Africa These women’s empowerment programmes run across a number of villages in and around the towns of Arusha and Moshi as well as in the Pare Mountains. Volunteers are placed in an area depending upon the need. Living conditions are fairly basic in some parts with volunteers generally being accommodated with local host families where they have their own room. All meals are provided with the local family allowing you to be totally immersed in African life and culture and even learn some Swahili! For grants in and Arusha a wider range of accommodation options are available and if you are planning your career break do discuss your requirements and the options available while booking your volunteer programme. We also have a range of specially prepared travel opportunities to help you see and experience more of the country; it is useful to plan these ahead so you have your programme set before departure.

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Programme Management Fees:	£1390
Optional contribution (see "What’s Included" below):	£100
Total Programme Cost:	£1490

Duration	Programme Management fee	Contribution to livelihoods grant (optional)	Total project cost
1 month	1390	100	1490
2 months	1890	200	2090
3 months	2390	500	2890
4 months	2790	500	3290
5 months	3190	500	3690
6 months	3690	500	4190

What’s included in your Programme Fee?

Project selection and placement - Our in-country teams work constantly to identify and select projects that are doing exemplary work in developing countries but need your skills and effort. Our staff are in dialogue with you to ensure that we choose a project that really needs you, where you will use your skills and contribute, because at MondoChallenge, we believe that a great volunteering experience is largely dependant on matching you with the right project
Pre Departure Briefing - Before you leave, we will arrange for a pre departure briefing where we help you with small but extremely helpful details on your chosen destination. Things like: what to pack, local culture and customs, food, safety and precautions if any - simple things to make your life easier!
Guidance for processing visa - MondoChallenge will arrange for any relevant documents and guide you through the visa process.
Airport Pick Up - Arriving in a new city and not knowing where to go and how to go can be quite unnerving. A MondoChallenge representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your place of stay where you can put your feet up after a long flight.
In country Orientation and Welcome Pack - When you arrive in the city, you will be given an orientation where you could meet other volunteers from MondoChallenge, know all about the city, how to find your way around, where to get SIM cards for the phone, small bits that you will need help sorting out in the first few days.
In Country Support - Our local co-ordinators are there to guide you through out your stay. They will make sure that you are settled at your project, are comfortable with your accommodation and provide guidance on local culture and customs to ensure that you have a memorable and rewarding experience.
Accommodation - In most cases you stay with a local host family. It gives you a taste of the daily life of a local. You will have a single room on a non-sharing basis. However if you are travelling with a friend or partner we can arrange for twin/double accommodation. If you prefer independent accommodation, this maybe possible in certain areas at an additional cost and our Programme Managers will be able to assist you with this.
Breakfast and Dinner - Local home cooked food, will be provided at the home stays. This gives you a chance to experience local dishes.
Contribution to Livelihood Grant - The Livelihood Grant programme helps those who have lost breadwinners in the family due to HIV. The programme provides both monetary and advisory support to help these people build and sustain a livelihood, have two square meals and live a life of dignity. The monetary support for these people is made through our registered charity, FutureSense Foundation (Charity No: 1132101). We like all volunteers on the business programme make a financial contribution to the Foundation and this is used to help more people attain sustainable livelihoods. You can either provide a direct contribution or fundraise the amount through family & friends and we can help you with tips to do this. This can be made as a separate payment directly to the Foundation to claim tax relief on the same.