The Program Benefits and Perks?
• Accommodation with breakfast and dinner is EUR 175 per week, a personal expense. However, the cost drops to EUR 125 weekly after the first 13 weeks.
• Airport transfers from and to is EUR 120 is a personal expense
• A charity visa for immigration is USD 50 and is a personal expense. For less than 12 months, a multiple-entry charity visa is USD 250.
• We pay you a USD 50 per month stipend. It is small but 2x Tanzania’s national minimum wage.
• Flights are a personal expense
• Local transport, if any, is a personal cost
How about WIFI?
We have unlimited WIFI in the compound office. However, it is not as fast as at your home place as we are in Africa, and we commonly have 20+ people sharing it. Therefore, you will be online throughout Tanzania by purchasing prepaid internet using your local SIM card.
Safaris and Tours?
We arrange guided safaris and tours, such as Mt. Kilimanjaro climbs and Zanzibar trips. During the program, you cannot attend third-party tours, which is our safety policy per the signed Participation Agreement. However, you can participate in free-time activities before and after our program.
Money?
For money, you may exchange Western currencies, such as EUR or USD. However, ATMs are available, and when you have a local SIM card, you can use it as a mobile bank account and send money from your bank accounts and against your cards with systems such as Worldremit and Remitly in more or less real-time.
Language?
You manage well with English. English is the official language in Tanzania, with Kiswahili being the official language. The young generation speaks English well enough, so you hardly need a classroom translation team. Maybe for more complicated topics and wordings, though.
Food?
The Lodging package includes accommodation with breakfast and dinner. The menu lasts one- or two-week cycles and comprises various Western and African dishes. The vegetable option is available. We do not provide lunches as most participants are not at the compound during the daytime.
Security?
Tanzania is a very safe travel destination overall. The village community we mainly work with knows us well, as we have been around since 1996. You make many new local friends, and it is enjoyable to socialize with the local community. We also have a third-party security company at the compound.
Diseases and Vaccinations?
You do not need add-on vaccinations to travel to Tanzania if your basic shots are valid. Maybe check hepatitis ones. You do not require yellow fever vaccination. Malaria is always present in the tropics but has not been harassing too much. You may consider taking preventive for malaria. Tanzania was never severely harassed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medical care?
Tanzanian medical care is relatively good. Two dispensaries in the village manage outpatient care, and larger hospitals are about 20-30 minutes away from the compound. There are also low-cost medical care services.
Clothing?
The clothing is tropical casual. In Dar es Salaam, it is much like Western clothing with African colours. In Zanzibar, clothing needs to be more conservative. Remember to wear formal dress in the classrooms and other workplaces. Remember to avoid black clothing in the evenings, as it attracts mosquitos.
Nightlife?
Dar es Salaam is a hectic town that is lively day and night. You can find live music in the bars everywhere.
VISA?
After paying the deposit and signing the participation agreement, we will send you a charity invitation letter and a charity status certificate to apply for an online visa.
You process the permits online at https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/
Interns:
When staying less than three months (13 weeks), you must apply for a volunteer student visa (C2), and the fee is USD 50. For less than 12 months, the charity multiple entry visa is USD 250.
Volunteers:
You can apply for an ordinary visa (C1) for a period of not exceeding three months (13 weeks), and the fee is USD 50.
Airport transports?
It is good to take our airport transfers as you are probably unfamiliar with hectic African transport systems. Airport transfer per car is EUR 60 and can be shared if you are a group.
Electricity and Water?
Lately, we have encountered several power breaks as climate change affects hydropower plants. We have a generator that we use when necessary. We are expanding solar power systems to the compound. We have outlets for different types of power cables. Showers are bucket showers to save water, but the system works well. Shower water and urine are collected to be used as grey water for garden irrigation.