In Tanzania there are an increasing number of children born with either mental or physical disabilities as well as many children and adults who become disabled through the course of their lives.
Volunteers on the Special Needs project are placed in day schools for individuals with special needs or in a special needs treatment center handling both in and out-patients. Volunteers work as teacher aids, assist with vocational training, provide care and play games to interact with the individuals in their free time.
Volunteers on this project do not need to have previous experience or training as they are working closely with local staff, although adequately trained volunteers can also occasionally assist with speech and occupational therapies, physiotherapy, social work, orthotics, prosthetics and wheelchair making.
Volunteers who are specialized in particular areas are encouraged to include these details in their application to assist the local staff in placing volunteers where they will be most effective, however volunteers do need to be flexible and willing to work within other areas as needed.
Tanzanian volunteers stay in our lovely volunteer hostel in the city of Arusha. It’s a comfortable and fun place to live same and you’ll generally be staying in a same-sex dormitory. Bed linen is provided but you please bring your own towel. The hostel has hot showers, WiFi, and plenty of communal space for you to share with other volunteers. Breakfast and dinner will be provided for you as part of your programme fee.
Volunteers are generally expected to work at their placement five days a week. Weekday mornings will start with breakfast with other volunteers at our volunteer house, with work starting at around 8.30am. At around 12pm you’ll get a break for lunch, which you can take with other volunteers and local staff, if you have something to do, you may finish your work at this time, but; will generally finish your placement at around 5pm.
Lifted Strong offers several excursions for volunteers in Tanzania through our trasted Partenrs, including overnight safaris on the Serengeti and a weekend visiting the beautiful Moshi Waterfalls and Chemka Hot Springs. We also offer a week long trip to climb Africa’s highest peak – Mount Kilimanjaro – including all transportation and an experienced guide. To find out more about the trips on offer, apply now to be put in touch with our Tanzania trip adviser.
Arusha is a city in East Africa’s Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, 5,895m Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Red more about arusha HERE
Special needs volunteer program in Tanzania can include many different aspects depending on the children and adults you get to work with. Serving with the special needs volunteer program in Tanzania is a highly rewarding and challenging experience at the same time. In Tanzania children and adults with mental or physical disabilities are often overlooked by the government and the general public and always do not receive the care and support they need.
Lifted Strong’s special needs volunteer program projects range from general caregiving to assisting in therapy and teaching special education lessons, volunteers can use their specific skills and gain valuable experience. Take action, help those with disabilities and volunteer to support people with special needs!