Location
  • Tanzania
    • Zanzibar
Length
2 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
18
Age Max
70
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
138
Price Details
$138/week (non-refundable).

Includes:
- Airport pickups and drop-off
- Accommodation (rent, water and electricity)
- Food (3 meals per day)
- PDS T-shirt
- General running cost of the projects.

Does NOT include:
- Medical/health services
- All types of insurances
- Relevant visas or permits
- Pocket money, free/leisure activities and other personal expenses.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare Equipment SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa Wifi
Dec 28, 2022
Dec 09, 2020
4 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Want to make your travel abroad meaningful? Join PDS, the most trusted and affordable volunteer abroad organization of Zanzibar.
You have 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months or more, come to explore the Island and contribute to a meaningful social cause at the same time for just $138/week.
Choose among different projects
- PDS Nursery School
- Public School
- Public Clinic/Hospital
- Small Scale Industries
- Language Classes
- Health, Environment and Gardening
- Sports and culture
You will be accommodated in a village, 30 minutes from Stone town (the capital). You will be accommodated in house for volunteers or local family

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here. Learn more about how PDS Zanzibar is promoting ethical volunteering.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Highly affordable fee of $138/week, including airport pick-up and drop-off, accommodation, 3 meals/day
  • Be part of a meaningful social cause and explore Zanzibar at the same time.
  • Design your own volunteering program: duration and dates of your mission are flexible, and you can mix different projects.
  • Design your own project and implement it with our local team
  • Live with local people and experience their way of life.

Program Impact

- Create new jobs in Zanzibar.
- Develop the economy and social well-being of the poorest people and vulnerable people of Zanzibar.
- Share your knowledge and develop new skills in Zanzibar.
- Increase environmental awereness.
- Develop the creativity and leadership skills of the children to make them confident enough to embrace their future.
- Help to develop a Center for Skills Development in Zanzibar.
- Help to develop a Vocational Training Center in Zanzibar, through the Small Scale Industries Program.
- Increase tolerance for distinct cultures.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 7 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Default avatar
Gabriela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience in Zanzibar

I’ve been volunteering for almost 2 weeks in PDS, Zanzibar and I’m incredible grateful for this experience. I had the chance to met awesome, warm and welcoming people. PDS has several ongoing projects with lots of ideas, actions, love and empathy for kids, teenagers and local families.
Very nice hosting, delicious local food and so much love, good energy that make you don’t want to leave that place anymore.
Due covid-19 I had to come back home, but definitely I would love to go back in PDS and stay longer.

65 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Malak
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I loved every moment

pds is my second family ❤️❤️
The place is amazing 🤩 the students are so smart
it’s so safe to travel to
the place is so clean and cozy , my room was good , the food is amazing 🤩
the weather is great 😊 zanzibar has beautiful beaches and people are so kind and pure
You can teach kid’s English/ Arabic / computer
i miss everyone 💕💕 can’t wait to come back , I totally recommend PDS for everyone to visit
If you want to meet people from allover the world go at pds and you will have the most amazing experience

65 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sandra
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Memorable experience

I have spent 2 memorable weeks in village Kibele with Abdallah and his crew. I wish I could stay longer but because covid-19 pandemic already started I had to leave. The project is led by wonderful, welcoming people who are open for creative volunteers willing to be part of their comunity. The enviroment is beautiful, local, simply authentic. Suitable for adventurous souls. You will have a chance to creative and be active in many different areas. I would recommend to stay at least 1 month to leave something behind. Highly recommended! :) Thank you again.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Travelling by over-filled bus back to the village. Cosy experience haha :)
63 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Aleksandra
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

PDS Zanzibar

I spent at PDS Zanzibar for a month and it was really great experience. I had pleasure to meet PDS members and enjoy daily life with them. They were very friendly and helpful since the first minute, when they picked me up at the airport. The program, they offer to volunteers is so much fun!!! You will get to know local culture and you will be able to get involved in different projects. They are very open minded, so it's quite easy to get on well with them. I will definitely go back there one day !!!

What was your funniest moment?
PDS members are very friendly with good sense of humour. I can say that all 4 weeks over there were full of laughs and nice moments.
65 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Doriane
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering at PDS School 6 weeks

I spent few weeks at PDS School to teach english to the children. I want to say thank you to the president Abdalla and his team for their warm welcoming. Teachers at school are very kind, i will miss them and the children !
I was a wonderdul experience and a good way to discover the Zanzibari culture. People are very nice, polite, and smiling.
I have also discovered swahili food which is very good. The most typical dish is 'ugali' that you eat with your hand. It is strange at the beginning but very good!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be patient and flexible ! Swahili rythm is pole pole (doucement, tranquille).
59 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Reda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience at PDS!

We (as a couple) have been volunteering for two weeks at PDS in the village of Kibele, Zanzibar. It has been an amazing and inspiring experience lead by Abdulla, the president and his amazing and talented team. Special mention to Zaghira and her family who have been THE perfect host.

We would have stayed much longer if Covid-19 didn't arrive in the country. We highly recommend this program as it is a great way to immerse in the Zanzibari culture while doing something very impactful (teaching and helping the organisation).

70 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Aude
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Join us in Two Weeks Volunteer and Travel Program in Zanzibar

My experience in Zanzibar was quite unique. I discovered a paradise-like island with white sand beatches and blue water. But what I remember the most was the people of Zanzibar: the nicest persons I have never met. They are so friendly and adorable, always smiling, singing a nice song with "Hakuna Matata" or dancing, in brief enjoying life. You will be part of the local life very easily with them.
The colors of this island, with its sun, its waters, its forest and the traditionnal clothes of its inhabitants (especially women) are so vivid that every photography lover will be in his/her element there.

I definitly recommend this experience !

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Octopus - You just go to the fish market and buy an octopus. You can see the seller squashing it on the ground and this is unforgettable. Then, the strangest thing is when you cook it with local people, when you cut it into pieces, its tentacles with this texture so peculiar.
65 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers