Volunteer Care projects in Tanzania, work with children in orphanages, day-care centres, care homes and disabled centres

Volunteer Care Work with Children Overseas in Tanzania

Voluntary care work in Tanzania is a rewarding way to help improve conditions for disadvantaged local children. You can contribute towards this important development work during a gap year, career break, or during holiday time. Volunteers with qualifications and experience are welcome but you do not need to have either to volunteer. Energy, passion and a commitment to the underprivileged children that we work with should see you through.

Tanzania in East Africa is a country of ancient tribal traditions and rich natural resources. Tanzania is no longer one of the poorest five countries in the world, a position it occupied in the mid 1980s, however, due to the increase of HIV/AIDS in the country, and a life expectancy which remains low, many children in Tanzania still need extra help.

There are many thousands of orphans in Tanzania, about 40% of whom have been affected by HIV/Aids. With an HIV/Aids prevalence rate of 9%, and an estimated infection rate which is much higher, the situation is unlikely to improve significantly for years to come. In many of the orphanages and care homes staff struggle with limited resources to feed, clothe and educate the children in their care. Staff often don't have the time to provide the individual love and attention that these children crave.

Voluntary Community Development and Orphanage work with Projects Abroad

We have a variety of volunteer options for you in Tanzania, working in both orphanages and care homes with children aged from 0 to about 14 years old. Our care placements are located in and around the town of Arusha in northern Tanzania. Despite the initial impressions of a safari tourist hub many areas of the town are home to people who have yet to experience the benefit of the tourist dollar and there is plenty of work for care volunteers to participate in.

We have some placements in smaller care homes and day care centres that look after children from single parent families or the children of street beggars.

Volunteering Abroad on a Care Project in Tanzania

Whichever volunteer care project you join in Tanzania, you need to be ready for a challenge. Many of the children are desperate for attention and there may sometimes be children in your care who have health problems or who need special attention due to disabilities.

It is in your role as a volunteer - spending quality one-on-one time with a child, playing games with a group of children and finding a way to put a smile on their faces - that Projects Abroad volunteers are so valuable.

Whether you are feeding and bathing babies and toddlers, taking a group of children out for an afternoon trip, helping older children with English school homework or playing a game with the younger ones, you will be an essential part of their development. Please let us know about any extra interests or skills that you have which could be used in a care placement.