I feel like I gained great insight into how schools/ kindergartens operate in Africa and learnt a lot about the culture.
Childcare Volunteering in Tanzania - Arusha
Purpose
Provide a safe space for children to learn
Start dates
Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
Duration
Choose from 1-16 weeks
Volunteer hours
Up to 5 hours a day
Age
Volunteers aged 16+ and families
Accommodation
Volunteer house or homestay
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Enthusiastic volunteers who want to help provide basic education and childcare for young children. You’ll have the support of local staff so no experience in childcare is required.
Project details
Excited to be a Childcare volunteer in Tanzania? International Volunteer HQ’s Childcare volunteer project is a great way for volunteers to assist at kindergartens and early childhood centers in low-income areas where many families rely on them for support while they go to work. Volunteers gain childcare experience while helping staff at centers which are often lacking adequate funds and resources to provide the kind of high quality childcare which helps young children grow and learn.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Childcare centers and kindergartens in low-income areas of Arusha are often lively places, and many families rely on them for support while they go to work for the day. Volunteers can ease the workload of local staff and help them provide better quality care for preschoolers.
As a Childcare volunteer you will assist in daycares and kindergartens that are often underfunded, under-resourced and in need of extra help. Volunteers provide valuable support by:
- Assisting with teaching
- Caring for children
- Playing games and arranging activities
- Helping with feeding and mealtimes
- Interacting and engaging with children
- Other general duties.
You’re welcome to bring along books, pencils, basic first aid supplies and musical instruments to help entertain the children and assist with activities. These supplies can generally be purchased in Tanzania, which also helps to support the local economy.
School Holidays:
Schools in Tanzania operate year-round, with four typical break periods: the first two weeks of April (including Easter holidays), the entire month of June, the first two weeks of September, and from the second week of December to the first week of January. You should expect this schedule for 2024.
For 2025 onwards, the exact dates for school holidays are typically released by the Government near the end of the preceding year, at which point the official schedule will be confirmed and this information updated.
Despite that, many schools, daycares, and kindergartens remain open during these holidays, ensuring that volunteer placements are always available. However, volunteers should be flexible and willing to adjust to different placements if needed, and keep in mind that placements may have fewer children than during the regular school terms.
Why do Childcare volunteering in Arusha with IVHQ?
When you volunteer with children in Tanzania you’ll be helping teach the kids, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Teaching independently and/or assisting with teaching
- Improving early childhood education for disadvantaged communities
- Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
- Gaining childcare experience
- Immersing yourself in Tanzanian culture
- Discovering Africa’s incredible wildlife
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or friend who is over 18 to participate in this program
- Volunteers aged 16 or 17 on their program start date are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional document to the local team.
- All volunteers are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure, or if aged under 18 need to provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Tanzania photo gallery
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Construction project
IVHQ Sustainable Agriculture project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Medical project
IVHQ Sustainable Agriculture project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Sustainable Agriculture project
IVHQ Women's Education project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Sustainable Agriculture project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Construction project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Sustainable Agriculture project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Construction project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Women's Education project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Medical project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Construction project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Construction project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Teaching project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Women's Education project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ Maasai Immersion project
IVHQ volunteer orientation
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
ON
Oceane Nicol
22 Oct 2024
...
EM
Eva McLaughlin
13 Sep 2024
The local team were incredibly welcoming and from the moment I arrived they were sure to let me know that they were always available should I need anything.
I loved sharing a house with 30 other girls, it was an amazing experience and I have made so many friends for life. Being in such a close space to these people forces you to make real connections and bonds that will last forever.
I hope I have impacted the children and teachers from my daycare in the same positive, loving way that they have impacted me.
From this program I have gained so much! From friendships to experiences and amazing stories to tell for the rest of my life. It has made me realise how big this world is and how much there is to explore.
...
AS
Aimee Stewart
10 Sep 2024
I had an amazing experience volunteering with IVHQ in Tanzania. I have learned so much about the culture of Africa and the experience has opened my perspective to how people across the world live in comparison to how I live at home. I have also felt a sense of personal growth and fulfilment as I have helped development issues. I would recommend IVHQ to others as it was such an easy process to join and there is always someone to help you.
...
MB
Megan Benjamin
02 Sep 2024
This experience helped me decide my future career path - education! The teacher and children in my daycare were so amazing and appreciative of all the small things we offered.
I got to learn how to teach and I would advise everyone to just do it. I had no expectations of my placement or what I would be needed for, so that helped me be prepared and ready for everything. I am not a teacher but I tried my best and it was greatly appreciated. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself just being there and offering whatever you can is enough.
...
MM
María Fernanda Montoya Ortiz
29 Aug 2024
Words aren’t enough to explain this experience. It was challenging but definitely the best experience of my life. I just want to share a final letter I wrote to the girls from my placement, I think this describes the impact they had on me. Thanks IVHQ for letting me live this experience, it was amazing!
"Thank you very much for opening your hearts to me and letting me share these last 10 weeks with you. Thank you for opening your mind and allowing yourself to receive everything I shared with you, I really hope it is useful to you for the rest of your life. Also, thank you for showing me the power that women have. Without a doubt, now I understand that we are powerful and that we can achieve everything we set out to do.
In my time being part of the project, I understood that my mission in this life is related to the empowerment of women; help them find their own value and develop their abilities to give their best and contribute to this world... thank you for helping me discover this. I want you to know that I will never forget you and that you will always be part of my best memories in Tanzania... thank you for making this trip the best experience of my life."
...
MC
Maria Canizalez
23 Aug 2024
Always had a love for helping others. This was my first volunteering trip and I've always dreamed of doing it in Africa. Such amazing people and culture! Learned so much and most importantly personal growth. The kids always made me smile and always looked forward to going to school every morning and seeing them. The school director from my placement was such an amazing person, so caring and loved her ginger tea. I met so many incredible people from all around the world! I still keep in touch with many of them and looking forward to reunite! Already planning my next volunteering trip with my friends. I 10000% recommend IVHQ for any volunteering trips.
...
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditRecommended online TEFL course
Recommended online TEFL course
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified onlineLocation
Location
The IVHQ Tanzania volunteer program is based in Arusha, a small city often used as the base of many safari trips into the Serengeti and other national parks. It’s also near Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. Tanzania as a whole is known for its seemingly boundless areas of wilderness where African animals roam, sometimes migrating in vast groups across the plains; and also being the country where the oldest human skull and even older fossils of human ancestors were found.
Despite its many attractions, communities in many parts of Tanzania still lack access to the basic necessities of life. Volunteer projects based in rural and urban areas around Arusha and nearby help to provide better access to healthcare, education and childcare.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month and volunteers need to arrive in Arusha on the day before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) in Arusha. Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation. When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Arusha. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Tanzania prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Arusha on the day before your program orientation. Orientation is hosted by our local team at one of the volunteer houses in Arusha. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date. If your start date falls on a weekend or a public holiday, your orientation will begin on the Monday or day following the public holiday. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Tanzania – an introduction to Tanzania, Tanzanian customs, rules and expectations, language lessons (Kiswahili), safety, travel opportunities in Tanzania, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On the first day of the volunteering placement, you will be escorted to the project by our local staff and introduced to the staff at the project you will be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. A typical volunteer day would be as follows:
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer house or homestay. |
| 8:00 AM | Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. |
| 1:00 PM | Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home for lunch at their accommodation, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing. |
| 8:30 PM | Dinner at the volunteer house or homestay |
Weekends
Tanzania is a wildlife lover’s dream. In your free time you can venture out on a safari and see Africa’s Big 5 - lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhino - as well as the mind-blowing number of other species that call Tanzania home.
In Arusha itself you can find great markets, take a few days to hike up the nearby Mt Meru, or learn about the Maasai and Meru tribes of the area. You can also take take a short flight down to Zanzibar for a weekend of sun and sandy beaches or save some time before or after your program to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers in Tanzania are accommodated in dorm-style volunteer houses or homestays located in Sakina, Arusha. The local team currently hosts volunteers in three volunteer houses, typically for younger volunteers, and two homestays, often preferred by families and mature volunteers.
In the volunteer houses, volunteers share a room with one to nine others of the same gender, with most rooms accommodating up to six people. Homestays can accommodate up to 10 volunteers, with rooms also separated by gender and a maximum of four people per room.
Living conditions in Arusha are basic but comfortable. Both volunteer houses and homestays have running water and electricity. Toilets and showers are Western-style, though power outages are common, which can affect the availability of hot water and electricity.
During the busy months of January, June, July, and August, the volunteer accommodations in Arusha may reach capacity. To ensure everyone is comfortably accommodated, some volunteers may be hosted in a nearby hotel in dormitory-style rooms separated by gender. Volunteers can expect to share a room with up to seven people.
Wifi is not available at homestays, and although volunteer houses have wifi, it is slow and unreliable. To stay connected, we recommend purchasing an e-SIM before arrival or bringing an unlocked mobile phone and buying a local SIM card in Tanzania. The local team can assist you with purchasing a SIM card and data during your program orientation. Complimentary wifi is available at the hotel.
If you wish to arrive before your recommended arrival date or extend your stay, extra nights at the standard accommodation can be arranged for $40 (approximately $40) per person, per night. Extra nights include three meals a day, are subject to availability, and bookings can be requested by registered volunteers via their profiles.
For added privacy and comfort, private room upgrades are available year-round at a nearby hotel for an extra cost. These rooms can accommodate one or two persons and offer private bathrooms. They are subject to availability and can be booked as an add-on through your MyIVHQ account after registration.
Meals
Tanzanian cuisine varies across the country due to differences in produce found inland and along the coast. The immigration of Khoja Indians has introduced Indian flavors to local dishes. Staple foods in Tanzania include rice, ugali (maize porridge), chapatti, and beans. Rice and beans are significant components of meals, so expect to be served these often.
Volunteers are provided with three meals a day. Breakfast typically consists of eggs served with pancakes, mandazzi (deep-fried dough balls), or cake, along with plenty of fresh fruit, bread, and a selection of jams and other spreads for toast. Lunch and dinner usually feature a traditional meat dish (chicken or beef) alongside a vegetable dish, beans, lentils, or cooked vegetables served with rice, pasta, chips, or chapatti.
Meals are prepared for volunteers by host families at homestays and by cooks at the volunteer houses. Those accommodated in the hotel, whether in private room upgrades or during the busy season, will receive their meals on-site. Lunch boxes and sandwiches can be provided upon request if your placement is scheduled to finish after lunchtime.
Bottled water is readily available in Tanzania, and volunteers should budget approximately US$5 per week for 2 liters a day. Filtered water is also available at the accommodations, and you can choose between purchasing bottled water or using the free filtered water provided in the houses.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please inform us so that the local team can make arrangements for you. They can provide vegetarian meals and options that are dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free. However, vegan, halal, and kosher options are not available.
Keep in mind that your eating experience may differ from what you’re accustomed to at home. The local team will do their best to accommodate your needs and ensure volunteers are well taken care of, but it’s essential to remain flexible.
Typical volunteer bedroom
Typical volunteer bedroom
Typical volunteer bedroom
Typical volunteer bedroom
Typical volunteer room upgrade
Typical volunteer room upgrade
Typical volunteer bedroom
Volunteer living room
Volunteer living room
Outside of volunteer house
Outside of volunteer house
Volunteer kitchen
Volunteer kitchen
Typical volunteer meal
Typical volunteer dinner
Typical volunteer breakfast
Typical volunteer lunch
Typical volunteer dinner
Pricing
Secure your place for just US$299 (approximately $299), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately $299) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $370 Equivalent to $53/day |
| 2 weeks | $520 Equivalent to $37/day |
| 3 weeks | $725 Equivalent to $35/day |
| 4 weeks | $940 Equivalent to $34/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,155 Equivalent to $33/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,370 Equivalent to $33/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,800 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,230 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,660 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 16 weeks | $3,520 Equivalent to $31/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately $299) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Independent volunteers under the age of 18 will have an additional cost of US$80 per week added to their program fee to cover extra logistical support provided by the local team, including transportation to and from placement each day and airport drop-off.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Tanzania generally find US$75-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Transport to and from your placement each day
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Arusha
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Arusha program.
Kifaru Safari
A 2 day safari in Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater where you will have the opportunity to see amazing wildlife in their natural habitat.
$353
Maasai Village Tour
Gain an authentic insight into the Maasai way of life on a full day tour to Maasailand.
$120
Moshi Weekend Escape
A weekend getaway to Moshi Town, the last village before the Kilimanjaro National Park, and and its surroundings.
$120
Check what's required to visit Tanzania
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | Dodoma |
| Population | 58 million |
| Languages | Swahili and English |
| Currency | Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 |
Weather and climate
Tanzania is hot throughout the year and is humid on the coast and dry on the central plateau. The heavy rains last from March to June and can make unsealed road travel difficult. The hot, dry weather in January and February attracts the most tourists. The best time to visit the Serengeti is from January to March, when the grazers are calving and there are plenty of lions around. Or witness the wildebeest migration to and from Kenya, which occurs at the onset of the dry season and again with the first rains, usually around the beginning of June and mid-November.
Apply to check if you're eligible!
