How do you Volunteer in Tanzania ?
Impact, Not Tourism: Project Needs
Join the Jabungu Foundation and move beyond traditional tourism. We offer a chance to truly volunteer in Tanzania, leveraging your skills to create lasting, sustainable change alongside local leaders. Our projects are defined by community need, not external convenience.
Current Urgent Projects: Focusing on Jabungu's Pillars
Currently at jabungu foundation we focus on four core areas where your help makes the biggest, most lasting difference.
1. Education & Youth Empowerment
Goal: Help children and young adults succeed.
Need: We need support for rural schools. This includes teaching literacy and building better classrooms and libraries.
Your Impact: You can mentor youth, teaching them leadership skills and helping them prepare for jobs.
2. Women Empowerment & Sustainable Enterprise
Goal: Strengthen communities by empowering women.
Need: We need help teaching local women entrepreneurs key business skills. This includes marketing online and managing small finances (microfinance).
Your Impact: Help women set up co-op businesses and find markets to sell their goods, giving them financial independence.
3. Permaculture & Environmental Conservation
Goal: Protect the environment and ensure food security.
Need: We are focused on setting up clean water solutions and training local teams to maintain them. This is vital in areas with little rain.
Your Impact: Teach workshops on permaculture (sustainable farming) and help with tree planting to protect the environment and improve soil quality.
4. Health Support & Community Wellness
Goal: Provide basic health care where it’s needed most.
Need: We need support for remote clinics and materials for community health talks. We teach about hygiene and good nutrition.
Your Impact: Help local health workers with simple tasks like record-keeping, running health programs, and improving the overall wellness of the community.
Skill-Based Opportunities: Where Your Expertise Fits
We seek skill-based volunteers who can contribute expertise, not just labor.
• Health and environment: Certified nurses, doctors,environmentalist and public health specialists.
• Tech: Web developers, social media managers, and basic IT trainers.
• Construction: Qualified engineers, architects, and skilled tradespeople
The Sustainability Focus: Ensuring Lasting Change
Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job. Every project is designed with a clear exit strategy, focusing on training local teams and establishing community ownership to ensure the positive impact continues long after your volunteer placement ends.
Application Requirements & Process
Who We're Looking For: Essential Skills, Mindset, and Minimum Age
We look for individuals who are flexible, culturally sensitive, and proactive.
• Minimum Age: 18 years old (unless accompanied by a parent/guardian).
• Mindset: Ability to handle cultural adjustments, resource limitations, and apassion for mutual learning.
• Essential: Clear criminal background check and proficiency in English.
Step-by-Step Application Timeline
1. Submit Inquiry: Complete our short online Contact form. CLICK HERE
2. Skills Interview (Virtual): A 30-minute chat meeting with a Jabungu staff member to discuss your skills and project fit. The meeting invitation will be given out after the submision of your volunteering interest.
3. Acceptance & Deposit: Receive your placement offer and secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit.
4. Preparation: Receive the Volunteer Preparation Kit (packing lists, visa info, etc.).
5. Arrival: Welcome to Tanzania. You will be taken from the airport by one of our trusted worker and taken to you respective area of volunteering.
Note:
- Before you depart, you’ll have a mandatory virtual orientation covering cultural guidelines, safety, and project specifics. We provide continuous support from the moment you apply until you return home.
- All volunteers from France who wants to volunteer with jabungu foundation should register themselves with Lifetime projects.
- An invitation letter will be provided after your acceptance for a proof of volunteering with Jabungu foundation before coming to Tanzania.
- Visa to applied for is the Volunteer visa or the business visa through the Tanzania migration portal or Tanzanian embassy in your country
Required Documentation Checklist
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after your intended departure date.
- Proof of return ticket.
- Two recent passport-sized photos.
Getting to Tanzania: Airport Pick-up and Arrival Instructions
All volunteers fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha International airport. Jabungu staff will arrange your reliable airport transfer
directly to your accommodation.
Essential Vaccinations and Health Advice
Consult your doctor about necessary vaccinations, including Yellow Fever (required if traveling from an endemic country), Tetanus, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended.
Financial Guidelines (Transparency is Key!)
We operate with 100% financial transparency. Your program fee is a direct investment in the local projects and the infrastructure required to host you safely and effectively.
Detailed Program Fee Breakdown
Destination | Percentage | Purpose |
Local Projects | 45% | Materials, supplies, and direct project funding. |
Local Staff | 30% | Fair wages for project managers, cooks, drivers, and local staff. |
Accommodation/Meals | 15% | Housing upkeep, utilities, and nutritious local food. |
Administration | 10% | Insurance, training, and logistical support. |
What is Included in the Fee
- Accommodation.
- All meals (Mon-Fri).
- Local transportation to and from the project site, 24/7 in-country support.
- Project coordination.
What is Not Included
- International flights, visa/permit fees, travel insurance (mandatory), airport tax, and weekend excursions/personal spending.
Cultural & General Guidelines
- Respectful Dress Code
We encourage volunteers to dress respectfully, reflecting local customs, particularly in rural areas. - Greetings and Etiquette
Respect for elders is paramount. Always use your right hand for giving, receiving, and eating. Learn a few basic Swahili phrases—it goes a long way! Jambo (Hello) and Asante (Thank you). - Photography Policy
Always ask permission before taking photos of people, especially children, and be mindful of privacy. - Health, Safety, and Emergency Procedures
Your safety is our priority. We provide comprehensive safety briefings upon arrival and maintain a 24/7 emergency contact line. Always travel with a partner after dark.
Volunteer Schedule
Volunteers typically work 5-6 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Evenings and weekends are reserved for cultural immersion, personal time, and exploring. NOTE: Please be advised that all external weekend expenses are the sole responsibility of the individual volunteer, and will not be covered by the Jabungu Foundation (JF).
| Time Slot | Activity Description | Focus/Notes |
| 08:00 AM | Breakfast | Chai (tea) and local bread, donuts, burns, chapati and some fruits (Starting the day) |
| 08:40 AM | Preparing for the project site | Preparing your self for the day activities |
| 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Morning Project Work / Skill Transfer Session | Core practical work session (e.g., teaching, health care, animal care, construction, training, office work) |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch | Midday meal, taken either at the project site or at the camp |
| 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Afternoon Project Session | Focused session, often involving planning, administrative tasks, or formal training/mentorship |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner and Cultural Activity/Swahili Lesson | Evening activity incorporating mealtime and local culture/language acquisition and making some stories |
Weekend Opportunities: Use your weekends to explore. Options include a quick safari trip, visiting local markets, or simply relaxing with your host family.
Our Accommodation Philosophy
We prioritize authentic experiences that foster genuine connections with the local community, keeping your spending directly within the local economy.
Volunteer Housing Details
Depending on the project location, you will stay in either:
• Host Family: The most immersive option, offering private rooms and all meals.
• Shared Volunteer House: A clean, secure house shared with other volunteers, managed by a local Jabungu staff member.
Amenities and Facilities
Expect clean, basic, and comfortable facilities. Electricity and mobile connectivity are generally available, but power outages and slower internet speeds are common.
Flavors of Tanzania
Prepare for a delicious journey! Your meals will feature staples like Ugali (maize porridge), chapati, sweet potatoes, beef, peas, rice, beans, fresh local vegetables, and chicken or fish. Vegetarian options are readily available.
NOTE: For any concern about personal diet restriction, you should state out for restrcted diets and which meals suite you the best.
Climate Overview
Tanzania has two distinct rainy seasons (long rains from March-May; short rains from Oct-Dec) and two dry seasons (June-Sept and Jan-Feb). Pack light, breathable clothing and a good rain jacket.