Volunteer Africa is a British charity (registration number 1097963). We aim to enable people to experience life in a developing country and to raise funds for the host projects volunteers work on. Every year, Volunteer Africa sends volunteers from all over the world to Tanzania. Volunteers work for ten, seven or four weeks on locally initiated community projects. Volunteer Africa works in partnership with the local Tanzanian NGO HAPA in Singida, a registered Tanzanian non-governmental organisation (society No SO 10892).

Projects are practical hands-on work, such as building school classrooms and health clinics. Here is an outline of how the volunteer programme works. If, after reading this, you have any questions, please contact us.

1. Application

Read all the information, choose a departure and fill in the online application form.

2. Assessment and Briefing

On receipt of your application form we will arrange a telephone interview and briefing for you by one of our team of local interviewers based in the UK, Ireland, Canada, USA, Australia, Europe, the Middle East or Hong Kong. The interview is your chance to find out if our programme is really for you and for us to see if you are suitable. If you are offered a place as a volunteer we will ask for a reference, a medical reference and a police check.

3. Training and Support

Once you have been accepted on the programme you'll receive advice and support throughout your preparations. You'll receive the Volunteer Africa Fundraising Manual, which is built up of over ten years' volunteer fundraising experience. It includes advice, ideas and examples of how to do press releases, events etc and many more valuable tools to make fundraising as easy and fun as possible. Fundraising is a challenge, but not impossible. In addition you'll learn many valuable transferable skills too. Closer to departure you'll receive the Travel Manual containing specific information on health, vaccinations, visas, kit, insurance, flights, language etc.

You'll be supported by the Volunteer Coordinator during your preparations. In addition, we can put you in contact with a returned volunteer who can answer any questions you may have. Volunteer Africa staff have many years experience of supporting volunteers. Training and support are done over the internet and telephone to keep our operating costs to a minimum.

4. Cost

Volunteer Africa asks you to pay a deposit and then the final payment is due one month before departure. For a detailed breakdown of where the money goes please check the costs page of our website. Approximately 40% goes on your costs as a volunteer such as language training and food and 60% goes to support the work undertaken by our Tanzanian partners HAPA, HAPOand Hisani/Watoto.

Please go our costs page for current programme fees.

You'll also need to raise the money for your flight, insurance and kit. You'll be expected to organise these yourself, working within parameters provided by Volunteer Africa. The amount that you'll need to budget will depend on where you are travelling from and if you want to travel afterwards.

5. Flights to and from Tanzania

You are responsible for arranging your own flight and insurance with help from Volunteer Africa. Training starts in Dar es Salaam at 8am on Monday mornings. Please arrive on the Saturday beforehand so that you can have a day to rest and recover from jet lag. At the end of the project please allow a minimum of 48 hours to get back to Dar es Salaam from Singida and Mwanza and we strongly recommend you give yourself some time to travel around Tanzania after the project (see below).

6. The Programme

You'll leave for Tanzania and will be met off the plane by our local representative. You'll spend the first week learning the skills and language you'll need to live and interact with the host community.

Rural Development Programme - Singida

Volunteers live together (groups range from 4-12 volunteers) in camp conditions and work alongside the villagers. You'll be fully supported during your time in the villages by HAPA staff backed up by Volunteer Africa. The conditions are tough and most villages we work in do not have electricity or running water.

Examples of Past Projects

• Matyuku Village School 2003 - Building school classrooms
• Mwisi Village Dispensary 2003 - Constructing a new health dispensary
• Mampando Village School 2004 - two classrooms, two teachers' houses, rainwater harvesting tanks, school desks and furniture for the teacher's offices.
• Kimbwi Village 2005 - two teachers' houses and two classrooms.
• Musambo Village 2005 - two teachers' houses and two classrooms.

7. Travel

Tanzania is a large country with plenty to explore once you have finished your project. Volunteer Africa strongly recommends that volunteers on the four week programme allow at least one extra week for travelling, whilst volunteers on the seven or ten week programmes allow at least two extra weeks. Many volunteers head off on safari in the Serengeti, one of world's most spectacular national parks. You'll want a good camera, as the scenery and wildlife are fantastic. You may want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain or relax on the beautiful beaches before heading home.

8. Returning Home

Volunteers return to their home country after a unique and wonderful experience. We ask all volunteers to give us feedback on our volunteer programme in order that we can continually improve it. Many volunteers keep in touch with Volunteer Africa and get involved supporting new volunteers. You'll have the experience of a lifetime learning a lot about yourself and life in a developing country.

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