Program Reviews

Volunteering with GHTA was such an amazing experience - I wish I had stayed longer! The people living in Moshi were incredibly welcoming and Monika and the staff made me feel at home. I made friends who I still keep in touch with and we even organized weekend excursions, such as going on a safari. The program is well organized and designed so you really feel like you are making an impact in the community. I felt safe and secure both in the town of Moshi and in the volunteer house. I would recommend this volunteer experience wholeheartedly.

I volunteered with GHTA a few years ago, but still remember the experience like it was last month. I was only eighteen when I visited, but felt supported and safe for the time I was there. The staff of the organisation were inspirational in themselves, their ambitions were so selfless. It was great to see real impact being made. Unlike other agencies, where you pay a lot without really seeing where your money is going (into bureaucrats pockets), this organisation gives back everything it gets. The teaching side of things was difficult to begin with, but with structured lesson plans, a translator and fellow volunteers to help you, it became easier. I came to really enjoy it. It was a big, incredible adventure. I met some people in Tanzania I will never ever forget, and I thank them for a wonderful experience, that was indeed life changing.

I volunteered for GHTA at the end of 2009. It was not an ideal time to go as the school itself was closed for most of my time there (Christmas break). I think I taught English for about a week, when the school-reopened. The students were great, and very eager to learn. Despite the bad timing, Monika arranged for my friend and I to volunteer in one of the student's homes, where she ran a make-shift school for children. That was a truly great experience and I'm thankful for that opportunity. I still keep in touch with the woman and her daughters to this day.

I'm not a fan of paying to volunteer (had a bad experience in Kenya that has left me quite cynical!), but I support this cause. It's small, it's legit, and I would/have recommended this program to those interested in international volunteering.

I also want to add that Monika introduced us to a good friend of her's who operates a Kilimanjaro trekking company. I kept in touch with her and two years later, returned to Moshi and did the climb. I don't think I would have ever considered climbing Kilimanjaro had I not talked to her friend. And that climb was life-changing. So thank you GHTA!

This is a relatively small project, that delivers great results, and because it is small, you are completely involved from the moment you arrive. I taught English at the school, and was completely humbled by these women, and some men, who turned up every day to learn, always impeccably turned out despite the often abject conditions they were living in. My experience with these wonderful people, in this wonderful part of the world, gave me a very different perspective on life, and I hope, made me a better person. It was also loads of fun and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

My first encounter with GHTA was when I volunteered as a teacher in the summer of 2011. I had participated in other international volunteer projects in the past but I was extremely excited about the opportunity to apply and share some of the knowledge I had gained throughout my business degree with the students studying business at GHTA. I was also thrilled that all of my volunteer fees would have a direct impact on the community in Moshi. During my time in Tanzania I experienced so many unforgettable moments. Monika ensures that volunteers have a fulfilling and diverse experience by providing opportunities to teach, help with the children’s program and attend home visits.

Tanzania is absolutely beautiful and the strength and warmth of the people is extraordinary. If you are looking for a meaningful volunteer experience with a direct and sustainable impact, GHTA is the place for you!

I had an amazing time teaching at GHTA. I never taught before and I was a bit hesitant to teach women who were older than me. But they made my experience unforgettable. They came to school early in the morning to sweep the ground, smiled, said hello to me, always mispronounced my name :-), they invited me to their home, they wanted to learn so badly. I understood for the first time what a privilege we have in the West to get free or affordable education. These women would do anything to study. Some came for an interview several times until they were accepted. They are so determined and eager to learn. They were truly a pleasure to meet and to learn from. I learned more from them and from living at the GHTA house, talking to Monika about life in Tanzania and having a chance to visit neighbourhoods I would never have a chance to visit as a tourist... than I ever expected.
It is a valuable, hands on experience that I highly recommend and I hope to come back next year again. My only wish is I could have stayed longer.

I am writing this review after my SECOND volunteer experience at GHTA. I cannot possibly say enough about the hearts and souls that drive this organization, nor the direct impact (which you can see while you are there) on the local women and community.
The practical stuff...the first time I volunteered at GHTA I had never before travelled solo across the world to volunteer in a developing country. Monika, the GHTA staff and volunteers made me feel at home and even now I think of Moshi, Tanzania as a second home. They provided support, answered questions, made recommendations, helped me arrange experiences and helped me gain confidence to navigate around on my own. The house is well cared for, the accommodations very clean and comfortable, the food is made with love by Margret, and you get lots of support as you become a teacher. The NGO is small, but that also means that the funds go directly to the program and it's participants.
The heart...I have been so greatly impacted by my experience at GHTA and the people in Tanzania. Even though I was there as a teacher, I feel I learned so much...about myself, what is important, honouring the experiences of others, the complexity of social issues, the resiliency of spirit and what amazing places GHTA, Moshi and Tanzania all are! (oh...and I can also piece together bits of conversation in Swahili!) I loved my teaching time everyday, I loved playing with the local kids in the afternoon (we made playdough, goo and played lots of games), I loved exploring on the weekends and I loved spending time with the students, other volunteers and Tanzanian staff.
There are lots of places that want your money and time. I have no regrets giving mine to GHTA. I suspect I will go back again soon! So, I can recommend GHTA without any hesitation! You will get to help the women of Tanzania gain the skills they need, learn about a different part of the world, experience the culture and meet other phenomenal volunteers from around the world. Maybe you will leave a piece of your heart behind as I did.

Volunteering at GHTA was incredibly special experience for me.

The students are so eager to learn and truly appreciate your time. Teaching was such a new experience so I was nervous, but I had an ex-student as my translator who was by my side every lesson. There was also a curriculum which was a fantastic guide.

Fridays was home visit day- this was my favourite day as you got to meet the students family, get quality time to get to know them better and really get an understanding of the local culture.

The volunteer house was great, I always felt safe and it was fun living with the other volunteers. I would spend weekends doing different activities which was always easy to organise. I went camping, coffee tour, local markets and even visited a Maasai village!

Monika (GHTA founder) is an inspirational woman and I felt privileged to be part of of such a great project. She is passionate and totally committed to GHTA.

I still get very emotional when I reflect on my experiences at GHTA. While I feel worlds away now that I'm back at home, I hold onto those memories that will last a life time.

I had the opportunity to volunteer with GHTA after graduating from university. I had spent a few months researching different organizations, and was turned off by the large size and high costs often associated with volunteering. GHTA was recommended to me by a friend, and it was the perfect fit. I was put in direct communication with the founder and executive director, Monika Fox. She was so wonderful and helpful from the moment I first inquired about GHTA, up to the day I left Moshi. My experience teaching was amazing. The small size of the organization allowed me to really get involved with every aspect of the school. I felt like I was given plenty of direction, but my opinions were also highly valued. The students were so dedicated, driven, and excited to be in school. Every day was a new experience, and although I was there to teach, the students were eager to share their experiences and culture with the volunteers. Home visits were also arranged once a week with a different student from class. These were a great way to really get to know an individual student, and experience first hand what life is like in Tanzania. No two home visits were the same. Finally, working side by side with the founder and executive director of a nonprofit is an invaluable experience. There is nothing like it. I was able to see how dedicated Monika is to this organization, and how her passion for education and women's equality translates into her work. Give a Heart to Africa is a truly unique and inspiring organization, and I feel lucky to be a part of that. I highly recommend this organization to anyone looking for a new and wonderful organization.

I always struggle to put my experience at Give a Heart to Africa into words. I spent two months volunteering with this very special organisation and I cannot express enough how important those two months are to me and how much I miss being in Moshi.
As a teacher I was overwhelmed at how much the students loved learning and coming to class. We shared language, culture and laughter everyday and I feel as though I was able to give many of them the opportunity to improve their skills and gain confidence in themselves. As learners, the students gave me an experience that has had a significant impact on my teaching. As friends, they gave me a warmth that stays with me still, and I believe always will.
At GHTA I felt supported and safe 100% of the time and I would recommend anyone to go there. I loved meeting and working with my fellow volunteers, all of whom were interesting, gorgeous people. From my perspective, GHTA is making a very positive contribution to the community and meeting its goals to empower women of Moshi. I can't wait to be at GHTA again at some point in the future and hope that many other volunteers do the same.