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Volunteer Teaching in Tanzania – Zanzibar
Under this project volunteers are placed in different schools, nursery, primary or secondary to teach English to the local students in the historic Stone Town area of Zanzibar.
This program places you in a nursery, primary, or secondary school in the Mbweni or Chukwani area, just outside Stone Town, Zanzibar. Day to day, you work alongside the school's English teachers to co-teach lessons, run small-group activities, and help students with pronunciation, vocabulary, and basic Maths. It suits volunteers who want classroom experience with children and have no prior teaching qualification, since none is required.
Placements run 1–12 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next intake on 27 Sep 2026. You stay with a host family in Mbweni or Chukwani, sharing a room with other volunteers, and eat three meals a day with your host. Prices start at $874 (deposit included). Weekends and weekday evenings are free, so you can use the island's location to visit Stone Town, take a spice tour, or spend time at the beach between teaching days.
- The English Teaching Project aims at educational development of underprivileged children in Zanzibar
- English as a language yields high returns professionally in tourism dependant economy of Zanzibar thus assisting students helps better their future
- Volunteers at the project are placed in different primary and secondary schools in and around the region
- During weekends, volunteers can travel around in Tanzania and explore the region with fellow volunteers
Your role on this program
- Work alongside the school's English teachers to lead classes and improve students' pronunciation and conversational skills
- Make daily lesson plans and keep the class engaged
- Teach basic Maths alongside English
- Give extra attention and support to weaker students
- Track the progress of the students you work with
- Help build students' vocabulary through practice and repetition
- Prepare test sheets for regular assessments
- Run interactive, activity-based sessions and involve students in out-of-class learning activities
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You assist the school's English teachers and staff rather than teach unsupervised or replace qualified staff, and duties may vary with the placement's needs. The local coordinator and school teachers supervise your work, and because this placement involves children, a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date is required before you begin.
A typical day and week
As a volunteer for the English Teaching Program in Zanzibar, Tanzania, your general schedule would be:
- Sunday – Arrival at the destination (Zanzibar)
- Monday – An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering the major topics such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestions for things to do in Zanzibar.
- Tuesday to Friday – Volunteer work at the placement.
- Weekends – Free to explore the city.
- Breakfast – 07:00 am onwards.
- Working hours at the placement – 08:30 am to 01:00 pm.
- Lunch – 01:00 pm to 02:45 pm (volunteer work post-lunch depends on the requirement)
- Dinner – 07:00 pm onwards.
The same work schedule continues from the second week onwards (Monday – Friday).
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the project the volunteer is participating on. Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim and can have a significant impact on any participant who happens to volunteer during the time of Ramadan. The participant schedule shall vary during this time of the year.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- No teaching qualification required, but a genuine interest in working with children
- Open-minded and flexible attitude toward a new environment and culture
- Proactive approach with the ability to take initiative in the classroom
- Clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of the start date
- Valid travel and medical insurance (your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges)
The placement, its limits and your part in it
You are placed in one of several nursery, primary, or secondary schools in and around Zanzibar's Mbweni and Chukwani area, close to Stone Town. These schools work with local teachers who are short-staffed and often stretched across large classes with basic facilities, so volunteers are brought in to add extra support in the classroom rather than to run it alone.
Your work is supervised by the school's teachers and the local coordinator, who also runs your orientation on arrival. Because the placement involves children, a background check is required before you start. Realistically, your contribution is to give students more one-on-one attention, practice speaking English, and support the teacher's existing lesson plan, not to set curriculum or take over a teacher's role.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in TanzaniaCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $874 | |
| 2 weeks | $1,069 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,289 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,494 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,724 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,954 | |
| 7 weeks | $2,184 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,414 | |
| Each additional week | +$300 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
- Personal collection upon arrival at Zanzibar airport or ferry terminal
- First day introduction at the project and surroundings
- Accommodation in host family or shared housing with other volunteers
- Meals (3 meals a day)
- Guidance and supervision during your stay
Not included
- Flights
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- Personal Expenses
- Local Transportation
- Visa Fee
Accommodation & meals
Find a beautiful abode away from home in Zanzibar. Volunteering Solutions ensures that our volunteers get the “at home” atmosphere while volunteering.
Airport Transfer
As Zanzibar is semi-autonomous and part of Tanzania you can fly straight to Zanzibar (over Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or other international airports) or fly to Dar es Salaam. If you fly to Dar es Salaam you need to take a cab to the ferry to Zanzibar, where you can buy a ticket for the relaxing 40-minute boat ride to the island. It is very important that we know about your travel arrangements so the coordinators can be ready for you to arrive. Upon arrival at either the airport or ferry terminus, you will be welcomed by the coordinator who will show you around and take you to your accommodation.
Daily Transport
Most volunteers use the daladalas or buses, which have specific routes from your accommodation to Stone Town and onto other destinations. There are direct buses to Stone Town from Mbweni and Chukwani where the accommodations are located.
Orientation
All volunteers are given an orientation about their project and the location by the local coordinator.
Accommodation
Accommodation is offered with host families in the safe area of Mbwemi and Chukwani just outside Stone Town and close to the airport. You can expect to share a room with other volunteers. Mostly 2-3 volunteers share a room together.
When we receive larger groups of volunteers or during busy months of summer volunteers are also accommodated in volunteer housing. The house would be usually a fairly large Zanzibar home with a living room/dining room, as well as the kitchen. It can usually accommodates up to 8 -12 volunteers in different rooms.
Bedding is provided in the form of sheets, but you need to bring a towel for personal use. Mosquito nets are not provided so you can bring one if you choose to. If you don’t have enough space in your suitcase; it is cheap to buy things locally.
The accommodation can be basic, standards are very different in Zanzibar then back home most probably, and showers do not have hot water, but the weather is hot enough to shower cold!
Zanzibar has the most amazing fruit selection and you will find yourself spoiled with the availability and affordability of fruit on the island.
Meals
Meals are provided 3 times a day by your host. Meals are based on local ingredients and will include meat, chicken and vegetarian dishes, as well as most favorite Tanzanian dishes. Breakfast will generally consist of tea and coffee, toast, jam and peanut butter with some fruit while lunches and dinners are cooked meals which you can eat after work and at your own preferred time.
During your Free Time
Volunteers will have a lot of free time during the weekend. During weekdays too, your evenings would be free. Some of the activities that you can get involved in during your free time in Zanzibar.
- Visit the old forts, museums and beautiful streets of Stone Town
- Eat all the seafood you can at Forodhani Gardens in the evening
- Go on a spice tour to see how cloves, nutmeg and much more are grown
- Go swimming in crystal clear water
- Snorkel or dive to some of the most beautiful reefs of the world.
- Relax and live the island lifestyle!
All free time activities are at the participant’s own expense.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Tanzania
Airport or ferry pickup
You are collected at Zanzibar airport (ZNZ) or the ferry terminal by the local coordinator, who takes you to your host family accommodation in Mbweni or Chukwani.
First night
You settle in with your host family on arrival day (Sunday), with dinner provided at the house.
Orientation
On Monday, the local coordinator runs an orientation covering safety, culture, language basics, food, behavior, and things to do in Zanzibar.
First project day
Teaching placements begin on Tuesday, running through Friday each week with the same schedule from week two onward.
Ongoing support
Local guidance and supervision continue throughout your stay, alongside the standard 24-hour emergency contact.
From volunteers in Tanzania
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually be doing in the classroom?
You co-teach with the school's English teachers, running pronunciation and conversation practice, small-group activities, and basic Maths, while focusing extra attention on students who need more help.
Do I need a teaching qualification or experience?
No experience or teaching qualification is required; the program suits volunteers with an open, flexible attitude and a genuine interest in working with children.
What is a typical day like?
Breakfast starts around 7am, teaching runs Tuesday to Friday from 8:30am to 1pm, lunch follows, and dinner is served from around 7pm; some afternoon work may be required depending on the placement.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
Placements run for 1–12 weeks, with new starts every week (sundays); the next available start date is 27 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what's included?
Prices start at $874 with the $249 deposit included; this covers accommodation, three meals a day, airport or ferry pickup, orientation, and 24-hour local support. Flights, insurance, visa fees, personal expenses, and local transport are not included.
Where do I live and what do I eat?
You stay with a host family in the Mbweni or Chukwani area near Stone Town, usually sharing a room with two or three other volunteers, and you eat three meals a day with your host family based on local Tanzanian dishes.
How does airport pickup work?
You are met at Zanzibar airport or the ferry terminal by the local coordinator, who takes you directly to your host family accommodation; if arriving via Dar es Salaam, you take a ferry across to Zanzibar first.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
Local guidance and supervision are provided throughout your stay, plus a 24-hour emergency contact from the local team.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Visa fees are not included in the program price, and travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges; specific visa and vaccination guidance is sent to you before departure.
Is a background check required for this program?
Yes, because the placement involves children, you must provide a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date before joining.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits volunteers aged 18 and above who want hands-on classroom experience, are comfortable with basic living conditions, and are flexible enough to adapt to local teaching resources and schedules, including changes during Ramadan.
What can I do in my free time?
Weekends and weekday evenings are free; past volunteers have used this time to explore Stone Town, visit Forodhani Gardens, take a spice tour, or swim and snorkel, all at your own expense.
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