Mount Meru community projects

Product Details

Volunteer in Tanzania as a care worker at the Living Water orphanage, an English/ sports/ music teacher in one of five schools or work on an Aids awareness program in the Bourka district. Oyster has carefully selected a variety of suitable placements in and around the town of Arusha in the north of the country. You are based on the slopes of Mount Meru within reach of a bustling town, game parks and Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. The vast majority of our volunteers choose to extend their time in Tanzania and it's easy to see why.

Rewarding work with children

We have a variety of projects that have evolved since our first volunteers arrived in 2000. Many people choose to teach in village schools that genuinely need volunteers. Volunteers can support the local English teachers and your passions such as sport, music, drama and singing will all be hugely appreciated.

There are two local orphanages (Living Water and Bourka) that have welcomed our volunteers as care workers and provide a permanent home for unwanted children. If you are interested in healthcare we have volunteer places on a local Aids awareness program as well as at a local hospital.

Journalism

Oyster has arranged a work placement with Arusha Times; the most widely distributed paper in the town.

Oyster organised Safari

As a well earned reward for your voluntary work our Oyster representative organises a fantastic four or five day safari for your group. You will visit the Serengeti, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro crater to see the big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) as well as fantastic migration.

Life in Tanzania

You will be based in and around Arusha and its neighbouring villages. Arusha is a bustling town that lies on the foothills of the snow capped Mount Meru. You will be living with at least one other volunteer in local housing within the school grounds or near your community project. All volunteers are within easy reach of each other and meet in Arusha at weekends.

Your free time

Tanzania has the very best of Africa - snow capped Kilimanjaro, tropical coastline and the world’s finest game parks. Most volunteers opt to go on the Oyster arranged safari to see the fantastic wildlife. The famous spice island of Zanzibar is where many of our volunteers have relaxed after their placements swimming with dolphins, snorkelling and sunbathing!

Oyster Worldwide Support

Our friendly UK team will be there to help you up to your departure, making sure that all the arrangements are in place. Shortly before you leave we’ll hold a pre-departure course where you’ll meet fellow volunteers and get thorough preparation to help you with working and living in Tanzania. Your placements have been arranged by Madeline Oosterhuis, a New Zealander who has lived in Arusha for many years and who has been responsible for over 200 volunteers since the program began. Madeline will meet you at the airport and you will have the first couple of days to visit the various projects and find your way around Arusha.

Madeline will run a short orientation course for you and your fellow Oyster participants, be a helpful friend to you throughout and she will keep us updated in the UK. Madeline lives in Arusha with her young family who you will get to know.

---

Our users say...

‘To say it was truly fantastic is a complete understatement' Rhiannon Horsley 2004

‘Tanzania was amazing-100 times better than I could have hoped. Thank you for everything.’ Rosamund Hatfield 2007

‘Aim to be a volunteer, a teacher and a friend and you school will remember you. I promise you won’t forget them’ Laura Scott 2007

‘Art is something that is close to my own heart and the highlight for me was the after school clubs. My class would end a session by teaching me African songs- by the time I left I knew the Tanzania National anthem off by heart!’ Becky Holland 2007