Location:

Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of

Program Type:

Volunteer Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Work Types:

Social Services

Duration:

1-3 months

Program Overview

Program Description:

Programs start every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, with arrival Sunday prior to the program start at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Upon arrival you will be picked up at the airport and driven to your accommodation. During the first 1-3 days, you will get an orientation in town and some Swahili lessons, while the coordinator organizes your work permit.

International human rights include the right to work, to an adequate standard of living, to participate in cultural and political life, to education and to freedom of religion. Even though Tanzania has ratified some human rights conventions, they are far from complying with them all in practice.

This Human Rights Centre in Arusha is run by a small, private NGO that aims to provide legal aid and counseling services to poor and disadvantaged women and children in both rural and urban areas. It operates by conducting seminars, workshops, camps and conferences, organizes legal aid, socio-economic support and Human Rights education, both at the centre and in the media. The Centre strives to help as many people as possible but focuses primarily on women.

If you have a relevant academic background and wish to volunteer or be an Intern, you can work in this Centre for Human Rights. Depending on your experience, education and interests, you will be involved in different activities like
- Visiting widows and get a better understanding of the legal and human rights problems they have to deal with
- Conducting research on policies and laws affecting women and children with the aim of using the findings as a basis for lobbying and advocating to advance gender equality
- Encouraging and supporting poor women in establishing self-help groups or projects that will help them to generate an income
- Building a joint network with other NGOs and government bodies with activities relating to the Centres’ aims, within and outside Tanzania

As a volunteer you will work on grass root level alongside experienced people to make a difference in the local community.

The longer you stay, the more interesting your task will be. We recommend you prepare your volunteer work by studying.

Most volunteers prefer to stay at the “House for Volunteers” in Arusha with: TV-room, showers and sanitary facilities. There’s a guard and a cook who prepares 3 meals a day. Here it is possible to have more of a social life with other volunteers. The coordinator – who also arranges Safari Trips – has his office in the house.

If you prefer more authentic surroundings, you can chose to live with a local host family instead, where you also will have 3 meals a day. Here you will share all facilities with the family members, of whom at least one speaks English.

Tanzanian food includes a little meat, chicken or fish with rice and some fruit. Showers do no not always have hot water. Don’t expect luxury!

Setting Description:

Tanzania has one of the most varied and unique landscapes in the world. Here you'll find mountains - amongst them, Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, great lakes and numerous wildlife reserves. Serengeti National Park is famous for its annual migration of millions of wildebeest and also has a large population of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and African Buffaloes.

Near the Park is the Olduvai-Ravine, where many of the oldest hominid fossils and artifacts have been found.

Arusha is one of the bigger cities in the north of Tanzania at the base of Mt. Meru, not far from the border with Kenya. It is well known as an African Congress center containing the site for the International Tribunal for the Rwandan Genocide. Tucked at the foot of Mount Meru, the town of Arusha is the first stop on the northern safari circuit and is the undisputed safari capital of East Africa. Moshi lies one hour and a half drive from Arusha, set on the edge of the plains which ascend tow