Tanzania

I traveled to Tanzania with Global Lewdeship Adventures for two weeks in August 2017. I am someone who is very attached to the their friends and family, and couldn't imagine traveling with a group of strangers for two weeks abroad. As my trip neared, I thought I was crazy for signing myself up! But I wouldn't have wanted to go with any other program. Global Leadership Adventures made my trip the most amazing thing I have ever done. I made friends I still talk to and hope to see soon, and I made relationships with Tanzanians that I hope to never lose touch with. This program made me realize how incredible the world around us is, and forced me to put myself out there and engage in this wonderful world. I could not recommend this program enough. The staff and experience made me appreciat life more, and gave me a bad case of th travel bug. I'll be back, Tanzania!!

I feel so grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel with Projects Abroad to Tanzania this past summer. I have say that this program will definitely change your perspective on life.
I did the medicine in Tanzania High School Special, for volunteers between the ages of 16-19. I was the only 16 year old on my trip; most volunteers were 17 or 18. However, I really didn’t have trouble fitting in. As most did other volunteers, I came by myself. If you’re worried about coming by yourself, it really doesn’t make a difference whether you bring a friend or not because everyone wanted to meet new people and have a great time! As for the flight, I travelled from Canada to the Netherlands to Tanzania. It was my first time flying alone and getting around the airport was fairly simple. Knowing that the Projects Abroad support was available 24/7 really made me feel safe!
My accommodation was perfect! I stayed at the Haus. The family, the food, the beds and the rooms were way above the standards I had in mind! We became very close with Mama’s kids. One of her daughters was my age and it was extremely fascinating to have so much in common with a teenager across the world.
The culture shock was easily managed with the support of the other volunteers and our guides. The best part was definitely my project itself! It’s truly incredible how much knowledge I gained over two short weeks. Each day, we would have a workshop or a medical outreach. The workshops were very educational and we would be able to actually apply each workshop to our outreaches. For example, we had a workshop on first aid and then an outreach where we visited a school to teach teachers first aid. With Projects Abroad, I really felt like I was making a difference and that I was actually helping others. I definitely want to return to Tanzania as an adult volunteer (maybe even in Medicine!) when I’m older. I’m still in touch with the other volunteers on my trip and we hope to someday meet up! The experiences and the friendships you will take with you from Projects Abroad will really last a lifetime!

I am a 15 year old girl named Lily from Los Angeles, California, United States. I spent a month in Arusha, Tanzania volunteering on the medicine project. And to any one reading this, I want you all to know it was whole-heartedly the most amazing time in my life.

To start, it was incredibly difficult to find the perfect program for me. Not only was I worried about going to a foreign country halfway across the world, but my parents were reluctant to relinquish their ability to help their 15 year old daughter in the case of an emergency. After much research, however, I landed upon the one month High School Special program run by Projects Abroad.

After making the 25-hour journey to Kilimanjaro airport, I was met warmly by both fellow volunteers and the staff. We drive about an hour, seeing many beautiful small towns and the towering Mt. Kilimanjaro on the way. Once we landed at “The Haus”, the host family’s hostel I stayed in, I was met with Mama Vikki and her precious children. It is important for me to tell you I have formed such a tight bond with these people that they are one of the many reasons I am going back this following summer.

Throughout the days I spent in Moshono (my village in Arusha), I rotated between going to educational medicine workshops, social events, and most of all volunteering in my hospital or local, extremely poor villages. The joy I was able to feel after helping people who couldn't help themselves was incomparable.

My biggest advice to any incoming volunteers is to take absolute advantage of this amazing experience you have in store for you. Yes, the plan ride is Long but you have so many amazing things waiting for you in Tanzania. And, yes, the food is different and may seem odd to you at first but if you take a chance, then you really may like it. I know I did! Also, the people are part of the sweetest and most loving society you could ever imagine, and they will constantly try and help you to be a part of it.

So, all in all, if you are deciding whether or not to go, I truly implore you to take a chance, for you will reap the benefits of one of the most amazing experiences of a lifetime. Especially, because Projects Abroad is the best organization to do this with. Good luck and safe travels!

I spent ten weeks in Tanzania this year for my elective rotation in my final year of medical school. I spent two weeks at Mwananyamala Hospital in Dar Es Salaam, four weeks at West Meru Hospital in Arusha, and four weeks at Endulen Hospital inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

As a sixth year medical student I was able to have a very hands on experience. This included ward rounds with doctors, working patients up for admission, seeing patients in the emergency department, practical work such as taking vital signs (blood pressure, pulse etc), antenatal care and assisting in labour in maternity, wound care and dressing, setting and casting fractures, and more! I also was able to observe different surgeries, including Caesarean sections. The extent of your involvement depends on your past experience and abilities, as well as your willingness to put yourself out there and ask questions and ask for opportunities!

With Projects Abroad, volunteers stay with host families, normally with other volunteers at the same house at the same time. I absolutely loved this. All the families were so welcoming and willing to make me a part of their home. I think this let me see Tanzania like a local as much as possible. Eating their food, using their public transport, meeting their neighbours and friends and getting personal recommendations on what to do in the area. Plus it was so lovely to come home at the end of the day at work to your host Mama giving you a big hug and a cup of chai tea to ask about your day.

I met volunteers from every continent during my projects, and formed fast friendships that have so far lasted the distance! The social aspect of volunteering with Projects Abroad can't be overstated, and local staff are great for recommendations and to help organise activities. Some examples of what volunteers get up to in their time off: Swahili lessons, cooking classes, dance classes, coffee plantation tours, exploring the area like waterholes/waterfalls and hikes, visiting markets, cultural trips to Maasai villages, trips to nearby beaches and islands (Zanzibar!) and of course safari!!!

Projects Abroad has local offices in each of their locations, with local staff available in person everyday during the week, and 24/7 via text or WhatsApp or phone call. I felt the staff were all really invested in us volunteers and in making sure we got the most out of our placements, and the social and cultural aspect as well.

Overall, I can't recommend the medicine elective enough. Particularly for students with some experience (medical, nursing, physiotherapy etc), to really get the most out of your project. The Projects Abroad staff (local and international) are truly amazing, so if you're interested or have questions, get on the website and get in touch!

There are two things I’ve always remained passionate about—two things I know I’ll be involved with for the rest of my life: children and traveling. I was in my first year of university and I knew I wanted travel again, but this time I wanted to do something in which I could give back. I’ve worked in early childhood education for three years, nannied for five, and started studying developmental psychology. After researching programs online, I came across Projects Abroad and it was everything I could ask for; immersion in the culture, quality volunteer work with children, safety tips and cultural information, and an accommodating staff that worked with my sister and I to place us in the same host family. After looking through all of the countries, something stuck out about Tanzania and before we knew it, we had received all of our placement details and booked our tickets.

The volunteer placements are very organized and often you find yourself working with other volunteers from Project Abroad. They also have a child database so that volunteers are able to monitor and track benchmarks for the children at the orphanages. This allows for consistency despite volunteer turnover. I was placed at a wonderful orphanage with 50 children where I worked in the middle classroom. Every morning we sang songs and danced before we started our daily lessons. I spent five days a week with the children which really allowed for me to bond with almost all of them despite only being there a month. At any point in my placement if I had questions, the Projects Abroad staff was very responsive and helpful. My time in Tanzania allowed me to meet lifelong friends, travel to beautiful locations, and walk into work while being bombarded by hugs.

My two months volunteering at Give a Heart to Africa (January-March 2017) were more amazing than I can put into words. Organizations like GHTA are hard to find. Educating and empowering women in developing countries is sadly not always a first priority. When I was researching organizations to volunteer with and I found GHTA I was thrilled. An organization that not only educated women in subjects like English and math, but also vocations and business, was exactly what I was looking for.
The application process was simple and very informative. I talked to everyone involved in the organization and I felt very safe about my traveling plans.
Before I knew it I was landing in Tanzania! This was my first time traveling alone internationally so I was pretty nervous going somewhere completely new. However once I landed and met the people I would be working and living with for the next couple of months I knew that it was exactly where I wanted to be.
GHTA started feeling like a second home within a matter of days. Everyone involved in GHTA, especially the women who are the leaders of the organization, are more than passionate about helping not only women, but anyone in need, in and out of school. Over the years GHTA has been in Tanzania it is clear that they have worked and continue to work effortlessly towards empowering and bettering the lives of women in need. The change is clear. GHTA creates a huge impact in bettering the lives of their students and the community.
Volunteering for GHTA is an experience I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested. I made so many relationship and met people that I will never forget. Moshi is a safe community filled with the kindest people. Teaching at the school is a large responsibility and it is crucial that all volunteers commit their time and are serious about school, however outside of classes there are lots of opportunities to go on day trips, hiking, safari trips, exploring town, and many more things.
Volunteering at GHTA is an opportunity I am so unbelievably grateful to have experienced. If you have the chance, please please please go. It will be worth every minute.

In the month that I was there I first spent time at a hospital, where I was able to move around to some of the different departments. Here I was able to see health conditions and procedures that I hadn't seen before. I enjoyed learning from the Doctors, Nurses and other volunteers at the hospital. I then spent time on a HIV and care programme, where I would assist staff with daily tasks at an orphanage for children with HIV. On this programme I also went into communities where I enjoyed seeing people receive support and donations.

I was fortunate to visit a school where the pupils were educated on health matters such as HIV, the class was translated to me and I was shown around the school. We also went to people's homes where it was sad to see people live in poor conditions but it was nice to whiteness how donations were helping families. On these visits I was told that I may have been the first white person that some of the children may have seen. The time I spent with children had been some of the most fulfilling and enjoyable experiences of the trip.

It was interesting to discover the culture and traditions. I also enjoyed seeing wild animals on safari and meeting other volunteers and tourists. Overall the experience was amazing and made me more of an independent person. The only issue was with the dala-dalas (local taxis) ask the price for the ride before getting on.

My trip to Tanzania with Projects Abroad was the most valuable thing I've done in my life! The support with this program is amazing. One of the best parts is that they had an office on the ground that was totally accessible to everyone in Tanzania involved with their program. You can see Projects Abroad really does great things for the community and gives back. Whenever we needed extra plants for orphanages or decided we wanted to give food to students as a gift they supplied it all happily. I always felt accounted for and listened to in this program, and the itinerary had a broad range of activities for us so I feel like I really got to know everything there was to know about my country. One of our group leaders was born and raised in Tanzania, and that was such a valuable thing because we got to learn about his country from an insider perspective. Projects Abroad was very well organized but also let us adjust our day to day based on what the group wanted/needed. I recommend this to anyone looking to volunteer around the world, and I personally can't wait to go on another Projects Abroad Trip!

The "NGO" that Love Volunteers works with in Tanzania is a total scam. The man that runs it gave me and 3 other volunteers at the time (and to countless others before us) fraudulent visas and lied to us on several occasions. He was also extremely rude, aggressive, and made our stay at the hostel quite uncomfortable.
The work that they do in the community is not at all meaningful or impactful. The director himself said that the schools and orphanages don't care about the projects. Volunteers are often told to do gardening work at a school or orphanage, where as soon as they leave the work falls into disrepair and the NGO does no following up and will simply wait until another volunteer shows up and then send them off to do the same project over again.
The director of the NGO spends his time running the hostel and arranging safaris for guests, and takes on volunteers so he has money coming into the hostel. He sends them off to schools or orphanages and isn't concerned with the work they're doing.
I absolutely would not recommend this program or any others with Love Volunteers. After I, along with the other volunteers went to them to explain everything that had happened, particularly the scam with the volunteer visas, they said they were "investigating" it, but ultimately let this guy get away with it all and continue scamming and abusing foreigners' goodwill. They continue to send him volunteers. Love Volunteers does not truly care if you are making an impact abroad. The bottom line is this: if Love Volunteers allows their Tanzania program partner to engage in corruption and fraud, and turns the other cheek to their mistreatment of program participants, none of their other programs can be trusted to do any better. Absolutely don't even consider volunteering with them.

I worked for 4 weeks in Arusha, Tanzania with the HIV/AIDS Awareness and Care program. Most days were spent at an orphanage in a nearby village that housed children, all of which are HIV positive. Other days, we would go to remote villages and provide villagers with donations, support, and medical products as needed; most of the villagers we visited were also HIV positive. I definitely worked hard, and there was always a list of tasks that needed to be completed. I felt like I made some valuable contributions, and I really had a positive and rewarding experience.
In country support was excellent. On our first day we were given a tour of the city and shown the highlights of where we might need to go, and were taken to the cell phone store to buy SIM cards. Transport to and from the airport was handled by the local ABV staff, and they also helped us arrange our safaris. They were also accessible the entire time whenever we had a question.
My favorite memory of the trip was being with the children at the orphanage. These children come from many different backgrounds, but they all have HIV, and have burdens I can only imagine. However, they are very loving, energetic, and thankful, and took to me when I first walked in the door. I'll definitely miss spending every day with them.