Tanzania Volunteer Programs from $24/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

Tanzania - more than ten thousand miles from my home, more than 12 hours spent on the plane, more than 60 days of preparation. Having safely come back to Poland, it still overwhelms me that I had a chance to do exactly what I love to do in a country that turned out to be my second home. Winston Churchill once said that "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give" and he was so right! Anachronistic as it may sound, his mantra has been resonating down the years and has been of such a special meaning for me that it enabled me to live my Tanzanian dream!

Ever since I launched my interest in travelling to Tanzania, I have been very impressed how well IVHQ's website works. Thanks to a very detailed description of available programmes I never had any doubts that taking part in AIDS/HIV programme was the best possible decision. A brief explanation of volunteer week, accommodation and meals gave me a general idea of what to expect upon coming to Tanzania. A thorough and elaborate explanation of what to take with me calmed my parents who were more than apprehensive when I made my way to Africa for the first time in my life! Had I not read it before my trip, I wouldn't have been aware of visa and work permit costs or general vaccination tips.

But the best part of living in Arusha was getting to know people from diverse backgrounds, different cultures and countless races and ethnicities. I felt best when exposed to the vibrancy and diversities of points of views and perspectives and it really gave me power to act. Every day I happily walked to work at my placement where I could see how much women suffering from HIV virus struggle in Tanzania. Even though they had nothing, they were still more than willing to do everything to spread love and make me - a 18-year-old Pole - feel like home.

On the way down the dirt road near my placement, a lot of kids were running out of their small huts yelling 'Teacher Rafal, Teacher Rafal' and went on to hold my hand and say how thankful they were for fixing them a simple cup of porridge earlier that morning. Everywhere I looked, I would hear local people asking 'Mambo rafiki?', which helped me to settle down in Tanzania in a matter of 3 days. I am more than convinced that all volunteers coming to this country should do a little research on Swahili and arrive with a massive smile on their faces as Tanzanian people are one of the most benevolent nations I have ever seen!

To prove my point, I still do not know how to express my sheer gratitude to Nelly and Angella (Tanzania Volunteering Experience directors) who helped me cancel my flight tickets to Zanzibar after political riots broke up there following presidential elections. Having found out about my upcoming trip to Zanzibar, Nelly called me directly to tell me I should avoid travelling and remain in Arusha. The following day Angella took me in her own car to Arusha Airport where I managed to persuade one of the Coastal Aviation agents to cancel my ticket and received 100% refund. Nelly and Angella did something I would have never expected them to do and that is why I am immensely grateful for their help. They became good friends and made me feel important and wanted as a volunteer.

Tanzania has helped to make me who I am now, opened my eyes to the world, given me extreme opportunity to explore the world, meet new people and involve in the community. I lived there for a strong purpose and that is why hard work was a necessity - a necessity that reinforced the belief that I should walk through my life with a smile on my face. Now I am more than ready to follow my plans to pursue a professional career at university. But then again, I want to come back next year to live my Tanzanian dream again!

Asante sana!

I had the best time! I really changed and expirienced amazing things,met new friends and lerned so much! I came alone an 18 year old girl to Africa!
My father came visit me there and I took him to my rogram and my house and it was such an amazing exirience and bonding ;)

For long time i have seen images of Africa on television and always asked myself if i would ever be able to go there one day and help their community somehow.
Through IVHQ i had the opportunity to live a real volunteer experience in Arusha, in Tanzania for 9 weeks this year.
I worked in an orphanage called Women's Christian where i had an unforgettable time teaching basic english to 20 lovely kids aged 2 to 14 years old. I was there every morning to teach them and I ended up learning from them as well. We had a lot of good and fun moments together, the only sad time was saying goodbye in my last day.
In these 9 weeks I stayed in one of the volunteers houses in Arusha which had nice and big rooms, good food, a helpful staff, and was perfect to make new friends. I culturally grew up a lot by living with people from all of the world during this time. It was nice to have met so many people and be involved in different projects with them.
I have no words to describe how much this program changed my life, my acts, and my thoughts. It is not always easy, each day was a new challenge and at the end of all i feel completely blessed for have lived all that.

That was amazing. I volunteer in an orphanage with around 15 kids, they are very cheerful and energetic, but living in very bad condition. We played games with them and taught them simple English songs, and all of us enjoyed some much there.
The support of IVHQ prior the program was very systematic, with very helpful online consultation. The local NGO got very friendly staffs.
We lived out of town but it was safe in our house, although sometimes there is no power which I understand, it's Africa.
It's always better to go and understand the real need of the world then just to donate.

Its hard to describe with words the best experience of my life. I didnt think i would learn and have so much fun at the same time. I found IVHQ because its really the cheapest company and I couldnt be happier with my choice. I went to Tanzania for the medical placement and end up helping at a health center and living at a volunteer house with awesome people. I learned about new diseases, helped doctors and also visited orphanages with so many cute kids. I recommend IVHQ and Tanzania with no doubt.

My two months in Tanzania were two of the best months of my life. I had the most amazing time and met some fantastic people. Learned about a completely different culture and pushed out of my comfort zone.

My day to day consisted of waking up going and catching the dala to placement- this being an experience in itself with the sheer amount of people they would jam in the dala. There would also be the odd chicken on a persons lap or a goat in the boot.

Once at placement I would help with teaching the kids by either taking lessons or working 1 on 1 with kids to help them understand what the teacher is teaching. The kids would then get porridge and play time until lunch. I would also help with doing dishes.

Placement tended to finish around 1 or 2 after the kids had lunch. Then u would head home or into town.

The volunteer house was great we were living with roughly 20 people at a time, it was a fun social environment which always had something going on! The friends I made here will be friends il hold on to for life.

The house mamas were great, we always had heaps of delicious food around and they were always friendly! Our house managers were the same so friendly and helpful if you needed anything, there was not a time I didn't feel comfortable approaching them.

Some highlights from my trip were safari - it was amazing, just seeing all the animals in their natural habitat was fantastic! And also Zanzibar with all my friends was a really fun trip!

I wouldn't change my experience in Tanzania for anything. I fell in love with the country, the culture, the kids at my placement and everyone else in between. Highly recommend giving it a go!

Ivhq was a great program. I stayed in a volunteer house with about 20 other people. It was great to meet people from other countries around the world. My daily activities included waking up in the morning and taking a dala to my orphanage placement. I helped serve porridge and played with the kids. I also helped some with the teaching. My afternoon/evening activities included going into town for restaurants and wifi.

I went alone and was really nervous to fly by myself for the first time and meeting everyone already there in the volunteer house, but I had nothing to worry about. The staff, cooks and other volunteers were amazing and I formed some great friendships till this day. I enjoyed experiencing the local culture, meeting new people, trying new things, picking up some Swahili and enjoyed every single second of my placement. I loved the balance between independence and the comfort of feeling like you were part of a big family.
My days at the orphanage consisted of some teaching, marking, playing with the kids at break, reading and doing some smaller group activities and also helping to prepare lunch. Spending time with the kids was amazing, getting to know them individually was priceless.
Downside-I didn't spend enough time there!! That's why I'm going back again in a few months! Nakupenda Mtanzania!