Volunteer Programs in Zanzibar with African Impact

I volunteered for 2 months in Zanzibar on the teaching and community project. Of all the amazing African Impact projects that I have done, this one had the biggest impact on me. At first I was scared teaching 5/6 year olds at nursery. But the education coordinator made sure I was comfortable with teaching before she left me teaching on my own.

She showed me how incredible the small children are and she definitely has changed my view on working with them. Now I love teaching at nursery! My all time favorite will always be teaching adult English class. The people who come to the class really want to learn and get better.

You can see it in their eyes. Their smiles when they get something just melts your heart. The people here have problably changed my life more than that I changed theirs. I made some really good friends who I never will forget. Zanzibar is definitely Paradise, but not because of the white beaches and the clear blue water.

It's Paradise because of the amazing, lovely people who live on the island!

The teaching and community project in Jambiani, Zanzibar, promises amazing surroundings and a true impact on the local community. That is partly true, the site is beautiful and the locals are interesting and normally fantastic to interact with!

The African Impact organization on site have cute ideas for how to make an impact on the community. Cute, but not sustainable. This is a very good destination if you are an unexperienced teen and requires detailed schedules in advance which you don't need to plan yourself. When you feel that the possibility to take part has to be more important than the actual impact. Unfortunately, African Impact tweeks that picture a little.

I am a teacher, educated in environmental sustainable development and multiple times volunteer. My conclusion was unfortunately that none of the activities offered at the site today is actually sustainable. However good African Impact makes it all sound, it is not sustainable to fly in people from across the world to paint houses (when a local painter of course would have done a better job and get a job opportunity) or litter picking without continously involving the locals as part of a long term and well planned environmental project. There are even environmental activities that are called 'recycling', even though they don't actually involve any recycling. Neither is it sustainable to fly people in to teach subjects they are not educated to do. To teach English in an European school requires several years of university studies, but at African Impact in Zanzibar it is obviously considered a hobby. The locals in Jambiani deserves the same quality of education as everyone else and there is no reason to see their education as 'whoever, however'. A positive attitude and even good knowledge in English does not mean that you know how to teach it. As a volunteer project, which is a form of charity, the African Impact teaching and community project is to much Hakuna matata and not enough professionality. Charity is not to lure as many volunteers in as possible, it is to secure the quality by engaging people with the right skills or utilizing different skills for different parts of the project.

Above is simply my honest analysis of the project. If you think differently and believes this project is right for you, then make sure you ask African Impact for a detailed description of how your money will be used. Do that before you pay the deposit, since you have the right to know.

I have done 3 African Impact volunteering trips and found the Tanzania education program in Moshi to be the best run and planned for those interested in teaching. I loved the variety of activities that were still clearly scheduled- work with adult English education in the early morning, nursery students in the late morning, and the elderly in the afternoon. There were also opportunities to work with a women's group or teach English to the elderly. A real cross section of the population!

I also really appreciated how helpful and understanding the people at the project were about my other travels. I was able to get a discounted rate to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro for volunteering, and later was able to take a day off of work to travel to the Serengeti for the weekend, again at a discount, with one of their travel partners. My flight for that trip had to be canceled and rescheduled and the staff was super understanding and helped me with everything. It allowed me to accomplish some major life travel goals along with having the experience of living and working in Moshi. There are also options to travel on day trips and safaris on the weekends once you get there. I recommend Lake Chala- super cheap and easy. The photos I took there of the scenery were some of my favorite of the trip.

The way the program was set up allowed for consistency and continuity so I never felt like my help was for nothing. You are part of a system that has existed before you arrive and will exist after you leave so all of the people you work with and teach will continue to grow even after you leave. You also get to work in a room with a staff member- this is so nice. I teach for a living and having someone else in the room who knew the people I was working with made it such an easy transition. It felt like fun, not work.

Finally, I have been in contact with the program even though I have left. I love keeping up with the people I met and with the group itself on facebook. There is such a community of volunteers and it is clear how much the experience meant to everyone who was there.

When I decided to make this trip to Africa, I had no idea what to expect. Where do I start!!! I did the education and community project. The African lmpact people are so friendly, with an amazing attitude and passion for what they do.The projects were great as it was equipping the community with the skills the require through everyday life. The Maasai are amazing people with the ergerness to learn English . They are so lovely and have such a generous spirit. And the wazee(elderly)!!!! I will miss them dearly. And the little ones!! They run to you calling you name the minute you walk through the school gates.

I got a good balance between work an play as Africa has loads to to in your down time. I did an amazing safari while I was there and when climbed the Kilimanjaro to base camp. All organised through AI and their counterparts. One of the highlights was actually getting my hair done by the Maasai guys while I was there. It was soo cool.

And the food!!!! Oh boy!!! That was amazing!!!!
Now words cannot express how good a month I had in Moshi with African Impact. The only way for you to find out Is to jump up and get yourself on this journey of a lifetime . I hope to get back again soon and hope to see you all there!!!!

I had contemplated on going to Africa to teach for quite a few years. Until one day I finally realized that it wasn't going to happen unless I got the ball rolling. That is when I found African Impact. The entire process could not have run more smoothly. It was stress free and I felt very comfortable with entrusting them with everything in regards to my trip.

Once I arrived to the lovely town of Moshi, from day one I was welcomed and felt right at home. The entire staff was amazing and everyone is just a big family. We eat together, hang out together after school gets out, go to town together, and on the weekends sometimes go on excursions with one another. I could not wait to go and meet the kids either! You literally fall in love with them immediately. You really do form special bonds with some of the children as well; which makes it even harder to leave them everyday when school is out!

I cannot wait for their to be a point in my life where I can go back to Moshi and see everyone again. I miss it everyday.

From the moment i arrived i felt welcome in the community. After introductions i was shown a presentation that outlined the things African Impact had already achieved and their future aims. Its safe to say after this presentation i was absolutely BUZZING to get to project.

First stop was teaching the Masai to read and write in Swahili you will never meet a more friendly group of people. Their main concern is making sure your welcome and they are so eager to learn its brilliant to see and to be apart of.

Second Stop was teaching the young children shapes and colours. Lots of singing, dancing and smiley faces, an excellent way to finish the morning.

After lunch it was off to the Wazee or now i would say off to visit my 15 adopted grand parents. They truly were the highlight of my volunteering experience. Hearing how the Wazee was before African Impact arrived and how the wazee is now this really does show how much of a positive impact the project is having on the local community.

On a Friday i attended a woman's group and if your interested in learning about the African culture in depth and learning about what their opinion is on what can sometimes be difficult subjects this is an excellent way to learn. I learnt many things about the African Culture during the group discussions that i never would have learned without attending this project. Its an excellent opportunity to ask questions relating to the subject being discussed and expand your knowledge base.

The house has an excellent atmosphere. The event nights are always good fun and a great way to get to know who you living with. The staff cook excellent food and your constantly looked after. Gill, Aoife & Alex make sure your welcome and are always there to give a helping hand if needed.

I cant recommend this volunteering experience enough. It's the best thing i've ever done and i'm so delighted i've been able to help out. I helped for 2 weeks but even in that 2 weeks i saw what a difference i made its such a rewarding experience. So if your worried your not going to make much of a difference in 2 weeks honestly you'll be amazed at how much of a difference you can make i certainly was.

During my 4w stay in Msaranga, Moshi, I got to be part of a variaty of projects and other activities! I worked in the elderly home, with the cutest children & with fun Maasai friends all together with helpful staff! Amazing all in all!

Weekends were never boring as there were many excursions to choose from like going on safari, walking up the hillside of mount Kilimanjaro, visiting a coffeeplant village, learning about the Chagga culture, etc. I filled my weekend with all above and enjoyed every minute of it!

I didn't know what to expect as working as a volunteer was totally new to me, but all in all I it surpassed all of what I could've expected. When I got back home to Sweden, where it was snow and cold weather, I still felt warm inside. I talked to and still talk to as many as possible about my experience. Anybody can do this! Single, in a family with kids, young or old. Just do it!

From the second of Februari till the second of March, I was volunteering with African Impact. It has been an incredible experience. Not only because of the cute kids, banana trees, warm sun and amazing view, but mostly because you're really making an impact in this community. When I was searching in Holland for volunteering programms, I absolutely did not wanted to join an organisation which was set up only to make profit. African Impact is nothing like that and I would definately recommend this volunteering organisation. You may be in Moshi for just 4 weeks, like me, but those 4 weeks are part of a 20 week curriculum. Within those 20 weeks, all the topics and grammar will be covered. This is what I wanted to do, taking part in a program with a clear structrue and a heart for the community. Not just learning the kids the alphabet over and over again. From the beginning of the day till the end, you'll be busy with the projects. It is hard work and the different projects take a lot of preparation time, but in the end I felt so much more satisfied with what I achieved. This is what I signed up for and African Impact completly lived up to my expectations. The staff is really helpfull and I felt safe all the time while staying with African Impact. Also I got experiences and connections with people whom I wouldnt be able to connect so closely, if I arrived in Tanzania as just a plain tourist. Believe me, you won't regret your decision!