Tanzania

This was my first experience volunteering overseas and it was challenging, rewarding, frustrating, satisfying, scary and joyful all at the same time! I don't think there is any way to understand what it is like and what it does for you other than to experience it first-hand. You will learn a lot about the daily realities of life in a developing country, learn even more about yourself and what you are made of, and most of all understand how even the smallest gestures of good-will and service go very far to help others in need.
My Favorite Memory: Meeting the 20+ youth at the Tabata Youth Center where Youth in Action does much of its work. I spent 2+ hours in a Q&A session talking to the youth about teen issues such as HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, religion, politics, and dating. I was their first visitor and they were so excited to perform one of their educational plays for me.
I was surprised that....
Resources are so incredibly scarce for local organizations; it seems to be the biggest limiting factor for getting things done and making progress. The organizations themselves struggle to stay in operation on a daily basis, and have virtually no support from within their own country.
The most difficult thing I experienced was....
Tourists and "mzungu" are rarely seen in the sections of town where I was, and it was hard to feel so conspicuous and stared at. People call out "mzungu" as you walk by, and you constantly feel eyes watching you. The "personal space" is also a much shorter distance, so people would come up pretty close to take a good look. It took several days to get comfortable with it. I can't say I ever got comfortable with it, but over time I was less uncomfortable!
My best received lesson...
Face each day with an open mind and a healthy dose of humor. There will be many times when you will ask yourself "what am I doing" or "why am I doing this" but if you put aside the critical thoughts and embrace the experience, you will be surprised how things always seem to work themselves out in the end.
Thank you A Broader View Team
http://www.abroaderview.org

For the record, I went to Tanzania recently and loved it. I know Daniel Radcliffe (the head of IVHQ) had just been back and the program was everything I expected and more. They had just done some major changes there and had completely new staff and a volunteer house... pretty cool. The orphanage I worked at was amazing and I would highly recommend this program to anyone. Some advice for abroadreviews.com Please try and add some sort of moderating function for this..... I didn't even have to add an email (or a name) and I'm guessing the other volunteers rubbishing IVHQ probably didn't even volunteer with them.

I have recently joined volunteer program in Tanzania, where I found several organizations placed volunteer in Koranga hospital, which is about 25 KM from Arusha. these organization includes Cross Cultural Solutions, Global Crossroad, I-to-I and so on. I found all they charge money but pay little to the hospital where they need most help. I found Cross Cultural pays USD 250 per month, Global Crossroad USD 400.00. i-to-i USD 300.00 a month. I don't know where the rest of the amount goes.

I spent my summer with CCS-Karanga in Tanzania and it was terrible. The program was very poorly run and the staff was very rude and inconsiderate. While I was there I met many other volunteers from other organizations that paid thousands of dollars less than I did to come and were getting a much better experience while there. The food there was amazing but that is about the only thing CCS was good for there. My placement was somewhere where they didn't really need/want me. The "cultural excursions" were terrible and not informative at all. I was very much looking forward to integrating myself within the local culture and really getting to know the people but that became very difficult with the staff I was with. I had such a terrible time with CCS that I decided to leave the program early and spent the rest of my time in the village along. Once I dissociated myself with CCS I was much more respected in the community and was allowed to really delve into the culture and actually feel like I was making a differences- which is what I came to do!

This program is fabulous! I volunteered in Tanzania at the Kilimanjaro location. (Moshi) It is more expensive than other volunteer programs but you definatly get your money's worth. Even before you leave they get you well prepared. Airport transportation is completly covered and it is reassuring that someone will be waiting for you when you land. All the staff (cooks, housekeeping, program organizers, guards, yard workers, drivers) are exreamly friendly and helpful. Many become like family. They serve 3 meals a day and it's delicious. You live at the homebase with the other volunteers and there are showers and toilets that flush. It's normally 4-6 to a room. There is typically about 30 volunteers at a given time but that can vary. They provide Swahili and cultural lessons and have guest speakers as well as excursions. (buffet one night with traditional dance and music, and a hike to a waterfall and visit a local chagga tribe) You always feel safe because there is a guard at the gate all night long. They find a placement for you after you request what field you want. You work the mornings at your placement (ex)school, orphanage, hospital, woman's groups, center for street children...)and your afternoons are either cultural/language activities or free time. Evenings and weekends are always free. On your free afternoons or on weekends you can go help out at an orphanage even if that is not your placement. The staff will help you make arrangements for safari's or a trip to Zanzibar or a day hike of Mt. Kilimanjaro. They also provide transportation too and from your placement. I cannot say enough wonderful things about CCS!

I have recently returned from my trip to Tanzania. It was life changing and wonderful. I am really amazed to see the community work carried out by the global crossroad. I worked for 4 weeks in Olof Palme Orphanage. Global Crossroad had partnered with this orphanage since last 4 years. In the last 4 years, orphanage had received nearly $20,000 donation to contruct buildings and schools. Before joining the global crossroad program, I have talked with many volunteers who had joined their program. And I also found them very happy with the program. so, I thank global crossroad for arraning such a excellent program for me.

I didn't receive all of my pre-departure information, not did I receive my travel insurance. All questions answered by Global Crossroads before my trip were answered vaguely. Global Crossroads did not make it clear to me the best way to get financial donations to my country, thus causing me to loose 1/5 of my donations to Global Crossroads' fees. I was treated rudely in country and overcharged by the Global Crossroads ground coordinator. I was told to apply for a tourist visa, despite being a volunteer. My host family was not paid the allocated money they were told they'd received. My ground coordinator was unsupportive when there were political and corruption issues taking place at my volunteer placement. I was forced to leave my project early when I was being threatened by locals for deportation because I was on the wrong visa. I have yet to be reimbursed for the money I lost when I had to return hom.

I’ve just got back from a project in Tanzania- can’t believe how quickly it went, the whole experience was amazing and I’m gutted to be home already. I’m already missing the crew out there loads, everyone got on so well and I’ll definitely be meeting up with some of them for a night out soon. The place it self is like something out of a film- unbelievably beautiful and the weather is bloody amazing- which meant the beach parties were very cool! I went from being an absolute beginner at diving to passing my PADI open water and I am hooked for life, its totally addictive and seeing seven whale sharks in one day was a once in a lifetime experience. Even working at the school which I thought would be boring was an unexpectedly mindblowing experience- the culture is so different from what any of us were used to but the people were legendary- really friendly and so appreciative of our work. The beach clean ups were knackering but spending time threre makes you want to help with environmental work. Would definitely recommend Frontier- staff were nice and no problems in terms of organization.