Volunteer abroad in Tanzania with Raleigh International - Best Gap Year Program

I found Raleigh International on a job board and originally thought I was applying for a job. I found out in the interview that it was a volunteer position and had to make a split second decision whether or not to continue. I'm beyond happy for choosing to go.

I learned about sustainable development and was able to actually be a part of making a difference. I made friends with people from all over the world who share ideals for making this world a better place to live for everyone. I've seen parts of the world that I never would have had the opportunity to see otherwise. I volunteered for 13 weeks as the staff photographer and ended staying for a total of 7 months. In fact, the photos you see to the right are all photos that I took.

Raleigh helps you become a global citizen that is willing to take charge to make life and the planet a better place to live. They help you develop your confidence, leadership skills, and adaptability while you are helping communities better their lives by working with them, not for them. Raleigh Tanzania is not voluntourism, it's sustainable development to create a better world for your future.

The connections I made, the people I met, and the work we accomplished has helped shape me into the person I am today and I couldn't be happier. I am stronger, smarter, and more aware.

Being an American and volunteering for a U.K. based NGO was the most eye opening experience I could have ever asked for. I learned about cultures that I never would have learned about and met individuals I am proud to call friends.

Raleigh is a fantastic sustainable development charity who are so focused on their objectives. I travelled to Tanzania as a dual role of Volunteer Manager and Expedition Medic. Prior to going this was about developing medical skills and knowledge in a remote environment, working with young people and along the way making a positive impact for the local community.

However I soon learnt that you cannot put into words the real feelings and impact that you have whilst on Raleigh whether that's with the national and international volunteers or your homestay families or the school children or the field base team. It honestly will have a lasting impressive on me for the rest of my life and I highly recommend this to anyone. You are made to feel part of the Raleigh family from day 1. How much you get out of the programme is completely up to you, the more you invest the more you get out.

Raleigh consider your safety as a number one priority which is great for those first time travellers who may be anxious about travelling to a new place. There is lots of travelling time and Raleigh do their best in a developing country to reach the safety standards that we have in the U.K. with regular vehicle checks and driver checks and any concerns are tackled early to prevent any risks.

You will meet a huge variety of people which is fantastic for life skills particularly when times are tough and moods are low or tempers short which often are only brief and as we discovered 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!' Much stronger. And also gives you TONNES to talk about at job interviews!

If I was a recruiter for a company I would look very favourably on anyone who had taken part in a Raleigh Expedition or ICS programme as it takes a certain kind of person to donate their time for a selfless and worthy cause and I would know their work ethic and ability to tackle challenges would be a positive one.

As you can see I am struggling to find a fault....

Going on an expedition with Raleigh was an amazing experience. They support you from the beginning and the whole time you're in country you're with experienced and dedicated staff and volunteer managers who will be able to make your trip a truly immersive experience. I made some amazing friends from all over the world and learned so much about different cultures. The highlights for me were working in a primary school with the children to teach them about sanitation and hygiene, getting to know our host families and the host volunteers who taught us so much about their language and culture, and finally trekking through Tanzania with some of the best friends I've ever made. The sense of achievement you get from completing a Raleigh expedition is amazing. I was a first time traveler and I was always made to feel safe and thoroughly enjoyed all the new experiences. Raleigh, unlike other providers of similar trips, places volunteers in home stays with the local community. This means you're fully immersed in the culture and you have a privileged access to many things normal tourists would never get the opportunity to do.

I feel so lucky to have spent some my summer in Tanzania meeting like minded people from all over the world and really making a difference to small rural communities.

If anyone is sitting on the fence about whether they should go on expedition with Raleigh I would just say go for it! You won't regret it.

I had heard about Raleigh from a friend and at the time was feeling like i was stuck in a routine, unsure if my course at university was right for me and whether i was on the right path. I had never traveled before and Raleigh provided a safe environment in which i could fully immerse myself in the rich culture of a developing country while doing good and giving me the chance to isolate myself safely and figure out what i wanted.
Arrival couldn't have been more welcoming! A large number of people who had never met and came from such diverse backgrounds bonded instantly. I had never felt so comfortable in such a strange new environment. We were immediately introduced to the rich Tanzanian culture as well as being made very aware of the poverty and the situations the locals had to deal with on a day to day basis.
My expedition was split into three phases: Trek, Environmental and Community phases. Both the environmental and community phases involved being immersed in the community, teaching in schools, going to support groups. In my particular phases we focused on building an early learning centre for a community that would allow the children to learn and a safe place for the community to hold support groups. I was also a part of a group that constructed beehives around the perimeter of farms that aid in diverting elephants from the framers crops. Both projects although they seem simple impact the community in so many amazing ways.
The trek is simply that, a 200Km trek with everything you need on your back, i can truly say this was one of the most mentally and physically challenging tasks i have every taken on and really gave me a chance to find myself and discover that i was in fact on the right path at home and i was so grateful for what i had and where i was.
Raleigh International provide safe expeditions where you can explore, be truly free, and learn about life in the most inspiring and beautiful way possible. It let me discover who i was and opened my eyes to true poverty, illness and hard work. It has inspired me to become a better person and help, even if it is the most simple ways it can have a huge impact.

I decided to go on a Raleigh expedition during my gap year after hearing about them through a friend. I had never travelled to a developing country before, so Raleigh's good reputation and safety record made travelling independently less daunting. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made!
Arriving in Tanzania was a massive culture shock. The busy streets, vibrant colours and music really opened my eyes to a world beyond textbooks and exams. On our sanitation project, we built tippy taps and taught the children the importance of hygiene. The school was so remote, it was never somewhere that you would be able to visit as a tourist. The work we did at the school really did make a difference and it was great fun to interact with the children!
What is truly unique about a Raleigh expedition is its combination of helping rural communities in developing countries, at the same time as developing volunteers as individuals. The volunteer managers (aged 25+) are exceptional in offering advice in life. They recognise the potential of 17-24 year olds and their importance in ensuring that future generations are developing in a sustainable way.
On my gap year I also travelled independently to New Zealand and completed more volunteer work in Fiji. My experiences in these countries were fantastic, but nothing compares to the Raleigh spirit and ethos on expedition. It is truly a unique environment combining people of all ages and backgrounds from countries around the world. I made friends for life on my expedition; I even went on holiday a year later with 3 girls I met in Tanzania. I am proud to say that I took part in a Raleigh expedition: quite simply it changed my life. It gave me time to think and evaluate my life at the same time as helping those in need rural communities and helping to conserve their stunning environment. I would recommend Raleigh to anyone!

Raleigh Tanzania changed my life. This amazing adventure was made even better by all the great people I met in the communities and who were on phases with me. You get to do some fascinating and very rewarding things, such as helping families by building stoves that mean they won't have to walk over an hour to collect fire wood and carry it all back. Also working with farmers to protect their crops from elephants. Although the trek is tough it teachers you so much about yourself, and gives you leadership and team working skills. The trek is probably the most self rewarding thing you can do. A lot of the people I was in Tanzania with I am still friends with and talk to regularly, even the ones I was on any phase with I got to know very well because of the time we spent together at base.

Basically this was the best thing I've ever done and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you want a great adventure with great people in a beautiful and welcoming country, look no further than Raleigh Tanzania.

Raleigh Tanzania gave you the opportunity to see very remote and interesting cultures and achieve both personal and physical challenges in a fun and exciting way! It was a great cultural experience and I would highly recommend it.

This was really one of the best experiences of my life. For my first phase, we went to a small village called Usevya and built firewood-efficient stoves for the locals there. We also got to interact with the community, who was apprehensive at first, but very receptive. I grew very fond of the kids and youths there.

Second phase, we went on a character-building trek through the mountains of Iringa. This was tough. But seeing my teammates pushing through it beside me motivated me and we all completed it in the end. You really find out that are capable of so much more than you think in this expedition.

All in all, I felt like what we were doing was really going a long way to help the local community. Also, great character development.