Voluntary Project Overview

Career break volunteers working on our programmes providing childcare abroad are placed in a Tanzania orphanage in or around the city of Arusha.

MondoChallenge works with orphanages in Tanzania to identify the children most in need of childcare. With the prevalence of HIV/AIDS across the continent, there is an urgent need for the provision of childcare in Africa for orphans. These children might have lost either one or both of their parents, or they may be ‘social orphans’, whose parents can no longer support them.

In our child volunteer programmes, orphans are taken into a residential home, given a place to stay, cared for and provided with a basic education. This childcare volunteer project targets children aged 5-12 years old and aims to improve the prospects of orphans from underprivileged backgrounds.

The Volunteer Abroad Role

Volunteering in an African orphanage helps to provide essential childcare for children affected by HIV/AIDS. Career break volunteers on this can take on a range of responsibilities in the orphanage. These could include feeding and washing the children, changing nappies, teaching English, or stimulating them through fun activities.

On a MondoChallenge volunteers can teach orphans to live happily in a family environment, while providing the basic education and care that they have been deprived of.

Volunteer Work Impact

Spending your career break abroad on an orphanage volunteer project in Tanzania is a rewarding experience and allows you to make real difference to the lives of orphans in Africa. As an orphanage volunteer you can provide extra assistance to staff who often do not have the time to plan fun activities for the children.

Volunteering in childcare abroad also gives orphans an opportunity to interact with native English speakers who can teach them English and provide a valuable cross-cultural experience.

A childcare volunteer project in Africa allows career breakers to make a positive contribution to the daily operation of orphanages, while developing their own personal skills and experience. Volunteering in a Tanzania orphanage can be an emotional experience and volunteers often form close bonds with the children they care for.

Other Volunteer Abroad opportunities

Working as an orphanage volunteer abroad is a full-time commitment, but there are many opportunities outside of our childcare volunteer programmes in Arusha.

Career break volunteers can get involved in vocational training and women’s empowerment projects in the area or take the opportunity to explore Tanzania. With opportunities to hike or go on safari, we have a range of career break travel programmes to fit around your orphanage volunteer placement.

Voluntary Programme Requirements/Eligibility Criteria

Working as a volunteer in a Tanzania orphanage can be a challenging career break experience. To make the most of this we believe you need good communication skills, an open mind, plenty of enthusiasm, and a good sense of humour!Any previous experience of working with young children, either from childcare or from bringing up your own children, would be useful, but if you have any concerns, these can be discussed with our career break abroad team.

Volunteer Accommodation and Living arrangements

Our are based in and around the city of Arusha, which offers volunteers access to the internet and all the home comforts you could need.

As an orphanage volunteer you will have your own room in a homestay, which allows you to be totally immersed in African life and culture, while retaining your independence.

If you have any special requirements while you volunteer in Tanzania, please discuss your options while booking your career break abroad.

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 be sharing a room with another volunteer, however if you prefer to have a single room to yourself, this can be arranged but a cost supplement may apply. If you prefer totally independent accommodation, this may also be 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.

Not Included:

• International Flights
• Visa and Travel insurance Costs
• Vaccination
• Local Transport and Travel
• Personal Expenses

Project photos

Testimonials