Volunteer Programs in Rural Areas, Tanzania

Had a great trip to Italy. I met a ton of people from all over the world and we worked together educating about issues around refugees. We worked during the day and had fun at night and on the weekends. I am still in touch with many of the people I volunteered with. Thanks

Well-organized and available to support. If you are looking for a volunteer program provider who covers everything so you can focus 100% on your volunteer activity, they are a great choice. I assisted teachers in a public primary school where the high student/teacher ratio and the lack of resources make it highly challenging to provide every pupil the quality of education they should receive. They were grateful for my and my fellow volunteer's support and creativity in taking part in teaching and preparing materials.

I had a wonderful experience volunteering in Tanzania. The program was extremely well organized, and we received a lot of support from the coordinators throughout our stay. The volunteer house also had very good conditions (including hot water, reliable internet, and tasty meals) which made day-to-day life comfortable. However, I did notice that a local economy has developed around volunteering, with an expectation that volunteers will contribute financially or bring resources. While this is understandable, it’s something future volunteers should be aware of. Overall, though, it was a very enriching and eye-opening experience that I’m grateful to have been part of.

After spending three months here, I had the opportunity to get to know the community better and understand how I could contribute more effectively with the skills I had to offer. It was a beautiful experience, and I feel truly happy seeing how much the children enjoyed learning through different methodologies. The teachers' willingness to collaborate as a team was inspiring, and the whole experience was incredibly enriching for me as well. I’ve learned so much, and I’m taking all of these meaningful moments and lessons back home with me. The local team has been amazing. Always easy to reach them and willing to help you in any matter. The house was very cozy, the rooms have everything we need to organize our staff, the people (other volunteers) were in the same vibe as I was, which made of this whole experience something even more special. The mamas were the best of the best. Always caring about each member, the house was always clean and stunning, they were very concerned about every little detail to make you feel at home.

My adventure with ivhq was amazing! It is the first time that I travel as a solo female traveler. I encountered a lot of stress. But before the program starts you are already very well supported! I could always ask Marianne questions and I could always call her if I was stressed or needed reassurance. Also during my stay in Tanzania I was very well supported by the local team. They were always there for us. I really liked that someone came to check on the school every week to see if everything was going well. Even if you go alone, you definitely do not feel alone with all these warm people around you. I have built friendships for life here.If I could go again. I would enjoy every moment even more. I have been in Tanzania for a total of 3 months. In the middle of my adventure I sometimes had a hard time with homesickness. That is why I could not enjoy the full 100 percent. I regret it because now I want to go back every day. I miss it terribly.

Sure! Here’s a version that’s concise but still over 500 characters: ⸻ Volunteering in Tanzania was an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience. The program was well-structured, and the local team provided amazing support every step of the way. I felt truly welcomed into the community and appreciated the chance to contribute meaningfully to the projects. I gained new skills, made lifelong friends, and left with a deeper understanding of the culture. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and would highly recommend it to anyone considering volunteering abroad.

I love helping the old people , and I love those who do this because it gives them a spirit of life and enhances their psychology for the better. I also love animals and playing with them gently and I hope that I will enjoy this volunteering because it will have a great impact on my psychological state

My experience with VFP way back in 2009 was remarkable. Living in Germany and building a labyrinth at a World Heritage Site as the only native English speaker in my group was a truly immersive experience. I didn't feel like I was coming into a place from the outside so much as I felt part of a community. Our group really bonded and while we had a primary task, many of the day to day decisions were made by the group, one of my first experiences with really being responsible for myself.

I thought I was going there to teach but actually they taught me things more important than language or subjects at school. They taught me values for life like love and happiness. This was a life-changing experience that everyone should do at least once in their lives.

Do it and don't second guess it! Sometimes it's going to be hard and exhausting/demanding in terms of adapting to new environments and cultures, but the loving relationships and personal growth you get from it, if you come with an open mind, highly surpass all the challenges that may come up!

I feel as if I not only gained perspective and the opportunity to travel whilst supported by others and locals but also so many friends! We had so many different people whilst I was there volunteering and some of them have become my closest friends. The program in Tanzania is well set up and very supported and there were so many things to do and explore from Arusha including amazing safaris in the Serengeti and beach getaways to Zanzibar. I gained so much love for the children at my placement and felt so much love in return. This experience showed me the potential for travel and the ability to have fun and explore whilst helping and supporting others.

Any questions that we asked my Program Manager were answered very quickly which was a great help and put us at ease. Everyone from the local team was fantastic from the start to the very finish. I wasn’t sure what I could bring to my placement in order to help but my school and other volunteers put me at ease. I was given books and a plan to follow which really helped me. I am a plain eater so I was a bit concerned before arriving. I came with an open mind and I was willing to try foods but I didn’t have to worry as I never struggled with any of the food and there was a good variety. I can say that my last day of placement was my favourite! The whole school gathered and sang the national anthem to us to say thank you and it was a moment I will never forget. I loved learning Swahili and the culture. Our experience was excellent because we really had to immerse ourselves with the locals and learn from them which is the best way to learn. I will never forget the kindness of the Tanzanian people.

IVHQ and the local team were absolutely incredible in responding to all my concerns and needs. I couldn’t have felt more safe and comfortable. The mamas of the house were great, they cleaned every day and sorted any issues expressed with the rooms immediately. Meeting and interacting with local families and children and integrating into the community were the icing on the cake. It was a very beautiful and humbling experience that taught me how much I take for granted. Although many of these children had significantly less than what I see children have at home, they were still full of joy and had so much love to give. Push yourself and do it! This was my first time and it built my confidence incredibly and had changed my perspective on life.

Meeting new people from all over the world and immersing myself in the Tanzanian culture were my highlights. I learned to appreciate everything we have and to always be the happiest you can be. Volunteering will change your life forever for the better.

I loved the sense of community developed so quickly with other volunteers. The experience as a whole was a personal challenge for me that has allowed me to grow and develop as a person. Tanzania is the place to do it! Very supportive program in a fabulous volunteer house. No complaints about my experience here.

It was so nice giving the kids at my placement chocolate cookies and seeing them happy. I've learnt to appreciate of what I have at home and have motivation in spending more time helping the less fortunate. It was the most eye opening experience!

I really enjoyed seeing the kids' smiling faces when they saw me entering the classroom. This experience has opened my eyes to a whole new world. Understanding the culture, the values, the simplicity in everything and how easy it is for them to find joy in the small things. If you're afraid, do it anyways. You won't regret it, I promise.

I think the idea of the checklist of the actions to take before leaving for the trip was excellent, together with the reminders of actions still to be taken. I was very impressed with the response times to my mails from both and the information provided in the answers to questions I had. The support provided to us by THE during our time in Tanzania was outstanding. This included arranging a visit in the middle of the night to the emergency department of the local hospital as one of us had a blood infection. The THE rep was with us the whole time and acted very effectively as the interface between us and the administration at the hospital. We travelled as a couple and asked that we could have a room for ourselves at a homestay. This was arranged by THE, for which we were very grateful. The family we were with was great - very friendly, welcoming and easy-going company. If we needed anything they did their best to arrange it. The location was great and was within walking distance to my placement. It was on one of the main public transport routes into town. We had access to clothes washing facilities, as well as being able to get our clothes washed for a fee. The provision of meals was excellent. We stayed at one of the homestays (not a volunteer house). The food was very good and plentiful. At the beginning we were asked about general likes and dislikes. Our host was always willing to be flexible about meal times if we had activities that affected when we could eat. At the last day of my placement, it was very special to me seeing a message written on the chalkboard in the classroom saying 'We love you, don't go away (picture of a weeping face)'. It took 10 years off my age (70) and I felt thoroughly energised and stimulated. I found I could still do the things I used to, and thoroughly enjoyed doing them. I found I still love exploring and making my way, with my partner, in new and unfamiliar environments as East Africa was. Sure, it's a big step if you haven't done this kind of thing before, but it's absolutely worth it. You won't be on your own. Certainly where I was, there was an excellent and highly competent support network for those coming to volunteer. Go for it!

My Program Manager was very helpful with all of the questions be had prior to our trip to Tanzania. The local team was amazing and very helpful with anything we needed. From the local team to our host family and especially the volunteer placement, it exceeded our expectations! We absolutely loved our accommodations and our host family. They went above and beyond to make sure my family of 5 felt welcomed and at home. Our meals were made vegetarian for us, and they were very accommodating. At our placement, watching the kids in the classrooms who had very little in terms of supplies but came into school each day eager to learn, was very touching. It was very impactful to learn how little you really need to make a big difference in one's life. I love meeting the kids at the daycare and the impact we had on them each day we were there.

I love dancing with the kids at the daycare. It really amazed me seeing the big impact my smallest actions made and how much fuller I felt after being with the kids. It is unlike anything I have done before and the experience was so eye-opening to the living conditions of these people.