Volunteer Programs in Zanzibar with African Impact

After spending the last 3 weeks in Jambiani, Zanzibar, I'm having a really tough time leaving. The days flew by with nursery school visits in the morning (where you played with the cutest of cute children and fed them porridge), adult English classes in the afternoon, and my favorite, Kanga ladies in the early evening. The people are warm, friendly, and so appreciative; it makes the experience that much more inviting. Well that and the abundance of activities on the island.
Though the island is conservative by nature, the project is the perfect combination of work and play... it's fun in the sun all weekend with snorkeling trips, scuba diving, dhow rides, scurfing, subwinging, sunset BBQs on private beaches, the list goes on... that's the magic of Zanzibar. This project is a MUST! Don't stay for anything less than three weeks, and enjoy every minute of it!

Let me first say to you, dear reader, that yes you should absolutely travel. Traveling opens your mind and informs your perspective in ways you would never expect. That's why I went to Moshi: to challenge myself, to immerse myself in a world unlike my own, and to learn, learn, learn about a place and a people that sparked my imagination. What I did not expect of my trip, however, and what I would like to express in my review, was the irrevocable bond I formed with this place, the inspired sense of community that my organization, African Impact, is cultivating there, and the beautiful beating heart of Moshi, its people.

I arrived in Tanzania around mid-March, the rainy season, just a year out of high school and gleefully nervous for what awaited me. There were only a few other volunteers at the house, and I was given responsibility and classes of my very own within the first week! (This initially frightened me, but I would soon realize how very lucky I was for it; I had an incredible amount of voice in the work that I was doing, which would make it all the more rewarding by month's end)

My day to day schedule went something like this. First thing in the morning, I'd head over to a Maasai literacy class (only after a delicious breakfast of Mendazi of course) where I instructed members of the indigenous Maasai tribe in basic Swahili phonics, reading and writing comprehension, and some useful English. These men were absolutely amazing, truly strove to learn, and will inspire me in the pursuit of my own education for the rest of my life. I taught that one myself with plenty, plenty, plenty of helpful support and guidance from my fellow volunteers and project manager. Around half past ten, I'd shoot over to nursery class, where around twenty five seven year olds were waiting for me with smiles and song every day. Here we worked on basic English vocabulary, accompanied by plenty of fun songs and learning games. I'd also see the children about the school outside of class, and I can't describe the feeling of having your name called out everywhere you go, the dances that you taught them performed right then and there, and the knowledge that even if only briefly, you occupy a space in their young minds as a respected teacher. As a student all my life, this was an especially enlightening bit of the my experience in Moshi.

Outside of those daily activities I spent plenty of time at the Wazee (an elderly community in Moshi) where we'd hear raucous and adventurous tales from the men and women who live there (and who were equally excited to hear our own stories as to tell theirs), the BCC, a center for children with disabilities, and various other project sites. Once you finished your preparatory work for the next week, weekends were yours. In my short time in Moshi, I was blessed to be able to go on a breathtaking and life altering Safari in the Serengeti, climb to the first base camp of Mount Kilimanjaro, and explore the vibrant city and gorgeous landscape of this wonderful place.

I cannot say enough about the imprint and progress African Impact has made with their work in this particular community. There are a lot of ways to do this kind of work wrong, that one can definitely feel when they enter a community such as Moshi, where people flock to help but may actually contribute to the problem more than aid in finding a sustainable solution. African Impact is in it for the long run, and has the devoted staff and hard earned experienced to do it right. I fully recommend this project to anyone interested in this kind of work and promise you that whoever you are, if you give yourself to Moshi, Moshi will give itself right back to you. There is nowhere a more beautiful gift.

In just a few weeks I will be heading back to the volunteer project for the third time in just under 3 years!
African Impacts project here, boosts the community in so many ways, if it is not teaching adults their ABC's or teaching children how to swim, it is cleaning the beach to make the village more attractive to tourists, or visiting the local diploma course on a Friday night to try the students fusion cooking. There is always some way to help the community, and they always make you feel like you belong.

Toni and Dulla are inspirations, having to cope with up to 15 volunteers coming and going constantly, with injuries, homesick people or just people who do not want to leave!

I could not recommend a more successful project than this, and if you ask my family they will definitely tell you that I do not shut up about this project.

I just have to say asante sana African Impact for introducing me to a country that I will never forget.

It was the most wonderful experience in my life so far. I would recommend it to everyone! It feels great to help te people and te community. You really feel important. And the most wonderful thing is when your kids from nursery school scream your name (Teacher Stephanie!)when they see you in the village. They really do need our help. It is really amazing what African Impact is doing there. It felt like a second home to me and I would love to go back (if I find the money :)). I really have a hard time getting used to my life back home. Africa was/is wonderful!