Volunteering at the Rift Valley Children’s Village is a wonderful experience for volunteers as well as for our children. Volunteering involves hard work, doing without many comforts or luxuries to which you might be accustomed and throwing yourself into tasks and projects that may be completely new to you.

Our days begin early (6:15a.m.) and do not end until our last child has been put to bed (about 7:30p.m.). The “work” you will be asked to do may vary according to what you are assigned to. Everyone at the Children’s Village is expected to chip in whenever a gap needs to be filled – soothe a child who has just scraped his knee, assist with afternoon and weekend activities, help with bath time, and help with tutoring our children. Our main goal of the Children Village is to assure that our children feel loved and valued each and every day. In short, this may be the most difficult and the most rewarding work you have ever done. Still interested? Read on...

If you have chosen to volunteer, then you are clearly someone who loves children, likes to participate and take initiative, doesn’t mind getting dirty, and who thrives on a group setting. Volunteers are assigned to a specific job(s) during their time here based upon your skills and interests and our needs, but are expected to pitch in whenever a need arises. Our Volunteer Coordinator and our other volunteers are always there to help guide you through your first days until you are comfortable with our routine. You are rewarded daily for your efforts – a smile on a child’s face, a group hug from the kids, an appreciative word from other members of the staff – whatever amount of yourself you choose to give, you will get back tenfold in so many wonderful ways.

 

Before arriving, you will have committed to one of the jobs described in more detail below. We have developed both long term and short term volunteer positions that have been designed to meet both the time frame of your stay and our needs. While your job assignment(s) will be your daily priority, you will often find yourself willingly drawn into other duties as well. Job placements are handled on a case by case basis taking into account your background, interests, the currents needs of the Children’s Village and the timing of your visit with us.

The volunteer opportunities are as follows:

Long Term Volunteers - a minimum commitment of 6 months (January-June or July-December) or a commitment of one year:

Gyetighi Primary School has about 450 students and only 15 teachers! The teachers have limited English skills and few teaching tools at their disposal. Offering yourself as an English, art, or music instructor will benefit these dedicated but exhausted professionals as well as the children of the community. We ask that long term volunteers interested in placement at Gyetighi commit to a semester or year long position. The Tanzanian school year begins in January, the first semester ends in early June and the second semester runs mid-July-November.

Volunteers are responsible for developing lesson plans and in most cases, providing any special teaching materials you require. Keep in mind that this school’s budget is limited. They grow vegetables behind the school and sell them to buy chalk!

We have created a teacher’s library which has books for teaching English as a Second Language, easy art projects, games and activities and successful lesson plans from past volunteers. However, we strongly recommend that you plan to provide any special teaching materials you feel you might need. Poster board, paper mache ingredients, stickers and drawing materials can all be purchased inexpensively in Arusha.

The Gyetighi Primary School plays an integral role in Oldeani Village as well as in our children’s lives at the Children’s Village. Children six years old and up attend the Gyetighi Primary School. You will be working in a typical Tanzanian village school: this means that there is no glass in the windows, no electricity (no copy machine or computers) and no running water. What you will find are 450+ students who are eager to learn, desperate for your attention and anxious to form lasting relationships with you.

Given the importance of play in children’s lives and the need in Tanzanian schools for various enriching games, we feel this is a very important position. This volunteer will organize an Athletic Program to supplement the students’ day at school, and to enliven weekend playtime for our children at the Children’s Village. Athletics class at Gyetighi Primary School is offered once a week for Standards 1-2, twice a week for Standards 3-4 and three times a week for Standards 5-7. Those with extra energy can also organize an after school program for older children and villagers (4:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.) utilizing the net ball, soccer field and volleyball court at the school.

Pre-school Teacher – at the Children’s Village-Long term volunteer position
Most of the children who come to live with us at the Children’s Village have never been to school. To ease their transition to primary school, we provide an ongoing preschool program for our younger children. As funds become available, we will open this program to all the children of Oldeani village. The school program runs from 9a.m. to 12p.m. five days a week. Volunteers will be helping our children take their first critical steps towards preparing for formal education – listening to a story being read to them; coloring with crayons and markers; sitting in a circle and following the teachers instructions; learning the alphabet; using numbers and letters; and singing.

English and Confidence Class Teacher – at the Children’s Village-Long term volunteer position
In this rural, impoverished environment, there are many children who finish primary school, pass the Standard 7 National Exam, and are then unable to afford private or qualify for public secondary school. Twice a year we select 12 Tanzanian students (ages range from 15-20 years of age) for a year long class where they improve their English skills, gain confidence interacting with foreigners and are introduced to simple computer skills. The goal of this class is to help these students acquire the skills necessary to find employment. We offer two sections of this class; Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons January-November and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons July-May.

If you have limited time but really want to help this may be just the slot for you. Our long term volunteers all need time off. As a general helper you will be asked to step in as an assistant and/or substitute for any of the aforementioned jobs during your stay. In addition, there are a variety of jobs that you might be assigned to supplement the efforts of long term volunteers and staff at the Children’s Village. For example:

What is required to volunteer?

How do I apply?

The first step in volunteering with us is to complete either our short-term volunteer application or long-term volunteer application depending on the length of time you are interested in volunteering with us. Once completed, please attach and send, along with a copy of your resume to Christy Slice, our Volunteer Coordinator, at tanzanianchildrensfund@habari.co.tz. Please include Emily Poole, epoole@tanzanianchildrensfund.org, on all correspondence so ensure that your emails reach Christy. Emily can also be reached at 207-553-2924.

Short Term Volunteer Application

Long Term Volunteer Application

Please also complete the release agreement. This should be sent along with your application.

If you have questions you would like addressed prior to submitting an application, please contact Christy Slice at tanzanianchildrensfund@habari.co.tz. You may also contact Emily Poole in our Maine office at epoole@tanzanianchildrensfund.org or 207-553-2924.

How much does it cost to volunteer and when are my fees due?

$100 non-refundable Administrative Fee

$100 (for U.S. citizens) or $50 (for non-U.S. citizens) Tourist Visa fee to enter the country-applied for and received by the volunteer prior to arrival in Tanzania
$170 (6 month stay) or $400 (year long stay) Class C Residence Permit Fee - applied for once you arrive at the Children's Village
$130 per week (6 month stay) or $100 per week (year long stay) Room and Board
$15 per week Internet fee

$100 non-refundable administrative fee

$100 (for U.S. citizens) or $50 (for non-U.S. citizens) Tourist Visa fee to enter the country-applied for and received by the volunteer prior to arrival in Tanzania
$120 Class C Residence Permit Fee-applied for once you arrive at the Children's Village
$200 per week Room and Board Fee
$15 per week Internet fee

Your $100 non-refundable Administrative Fee should be sent in to our office in Maine as soon as your volunteer dates have been confirmed with our Volunteer Coordinator. Receipt of your Administrative Fee will reserve your volunteer dates.

Your Tourist Visa can be purchased in your home country through the Tanzanian embassy, prior to your departure. You can also purchase a visa at the airport/border of Tanzania. We strongly recommend you apply for a visa prior to arriving at the airport/border.

A Class C Residence Permit is also required for all volunteers staying three weeks or longer and needs to be obtained once you are in Tanzania. We will apply for your permit once you arrive at the Children’s Village. The fees for your Residence Permit should be submitted to our office no later than 3 months prior to your arrival in Tanzania.

Your Room and Board fees are due in full, to our office, no later than 3 months prior to your arrival in Tanzania. You should also submit payment for your Internet fees at this time.

All checks should be written to Tanzanian Children’s Fund with a note indicating it is for your Administrative fee, Class C Residence Permit fee and/or room and board. If you are a U.S. taxpayer and the primary purpose of your trip is to provide services to the Tanzanian Children’s Fund, then your unreimbursed volunteer fees may be tax deductible. However, you should discuss the question of tax deductibility with your tax advisor as the Tanzanian Children’s Fund does not provide tax advice.

Please send all checks to:

Tanzanian Children’s Fund
Attn: Volunteer Coordinator
45 Exchange Street
Portland, Maine 04101

We ask that all volunteers contribute to room and board fees. Cooking, laundry and cleaning are all time consuming chores in Tanzania. As a result, we have included the costs to hire people dedicated to looking after these things for you.  Your time is better spent if your day is free from constant clothes washing and room cleaning. All food for meals is provided. We live a 45 minute drive away from the closest town, Karatu, and so your fees also help to cover our transport costs of getting your food to you. You will have to pay for drinks like beer, wine, and soda during your stay here. All of these things can be purchased locally in Karatu.

Who do I contact for further information?

Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator via e-mail at tanzanianchildrensfund@habari.co.tz for more information. Please note that since our Coordinator is located on site in Tanzania, there can be difficulty sending and receiving email. If you submit an application and/or an email and do not receive a response within a week, please contact Emily Poole in our Maine office at 207-553-2924 or email epoole@tanzanianchildrensfund.org.

If you would like to contact one of our previous volunteers to learn more about our program and our children, here is a list of volunteers who will try to answer your questions.

Laura Armitage lsarmitage@mac.com cell (912) 660-3663(volunteered in 2007, 2008 and 2009)
Sara Boisvert saraboisvert@mac.com cell (908) 230-7294 (volunteered in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009)
Peggy Wiles peggywiles@gmail.com cell (207) 651-0576 (Trustee, volunteered in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009)
Elissa Zirinsky ekzirinsky@gmail.com cell (516) 297-2499 (volunteered 2007-2008 and 2009)
Beth Currier currier5@yahoo.com cell (207) 883-1751 (Trustee, volunteered 2008 and 2009)

What is a typical day like at the Rift Valley Children’s Village?

The day may begin at slightly different times for different volunteers depending on their job assignment. (We ask that all volunteers finish with breakfast by 8:30a.m. so that the house staff can clean up.)

Weekdays: Our children are up at 6:15a.m., eat breakfast at 6:30a.m., and do their morning chores until 7a.m. Volunteers help with breakfast for our children. From 7a.m. until 11:30a.m. all school-age children are occupied either at Gyetighi, the local primary school, in our on-site preschool or in on-site tutoring (both of which begin at 9a.m.). At 11:30a.m. our children in kindergarten, Standards 1 and 2 go to the local primary school for the remainder of the school day. Our pre-school children finish at Noon and then at 12:30p.m.head to lunch and an hour and a half of naptime from approximately 1p.m. until 2:30p.m. When our preschool children awaken, it’s PLAYTIME. Playtime usually runs from 2:30p.m. until 4:15p.m. This time may be free play or organized play and is an ideal time for volunteers to just have fun with our kids: kick a soccer ball, paint some pictures – use your creativity and imagination. During this afternoon time we run two sections of our English, Computer and Confidence class for local Standard 7 graduates. At 4:30p.m. our children return from school and everyone has bath time. With the help of the housemothers, student teachers and volunteers, every child has a bath and changes into clean clothes. At 5pm we put on a movie (the children take turns picking the movie for the day) and our kids are given a snack. Dinner for the children is served at 6:30p.m. and bedtime is at 7:30p.m.

Weekends: On Saturdays and Sundays volunteers plan longer, fun activities for our kids. In the past, we have taken walks, done scavenger hunts, held dance parties, and organized soccer games with the village children. This is a great opportunity for our kids to learn a bit about nature, get some real exercise and spend time with our volunteers. On Sundays, all of our children attend Sunday School, which runs from 9:30-10:30a.m. We are lucky to have a small playground, a wide variety of balls and active toys (soccer, badminton rackets, whiffle ball, etc) for our children to use during their free time. In all cases, volunteers are asked to participate and play with our kids during these times.

Where do I eat and sleep?

Since the Children’s Village is located a 45 minute drive from the closest town, all volunteers live here. Each Children’s House is a family of 12 children, 2 Tanzanian housemothers, and 2 volunteers. There are two children’s bedrooms-one for girls and one for boys. In addition, we have one bedroom for our live-in Tanzanian housemothers and one bedroom for our volunteers. Some volunteers may live in the Volunteer House.

Volunteers living in the Children’s Houses have their own bathroom with a shower, flushing toilet and sink. There is hot water most days, and there is solar powered electricity, which should be used sparingly. Should the power be used up, there are kerosene lanterns as a back up light source. Our volunteers eat their meals together in the Volunteer House, which is also the place for them to hang out and watch a movie or take a break.