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Volunteer Teaching in Tanzania – Arusha
Volunteers in the Teaching program work mostly in primary schools in and around the region of Arusha which aims at educational development of underprivileged children. Volunteers also help out in an E-learning initiative where students are given educational tablets for learning.
You are placed in primary and secondary schools in and around Arusha, Tanzania, working alongside local English teachers to run lessons, small-group activities and, where available, tablet-based e-learning sessions. Day to day you help with pronunciation and conversation practice, teach math, geography or science alongside the regular teacher, prepare test sheets and lead out-of-class activities. No teaching experience is required, but you should be open-minded, flexible and comfortable working with children, and be at least 17 years old.
The program runs for 1–24 weeks, with new starts every week (sundays) (next start 27 Sep 2026). You live at the Volunteer House in Arusha, sharing rooms with an option to upgrade to a private room, with three meals a day cooked at the house and lunch usually packed for the placement. Prices start at $574, deposit included. Alongside the regular school placement, the program includes the option to support an e-learning initiative using tablets, and weekends free for trips to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- The Volunteer Teaching Project aims at educational development of underprivileged children in Arusha
- English as a language yields high returns professionally and thus assisting students helps better their future
- Volunteers at the project are placed in different primary and secondary schools in and around the region of Arusha
- During weekends, volunteers can travel around in Tanzania and explore the region with fellow volunteers
- Get to witness game drives and safaris at the world famous Serengeti National Park and also witness the Big 5 of Africa
Your role on this program
- Work alongside English teachers to improve students' pronunciation and conversational skills
- Plan daily lessons and activities to keep the class engaged
- Teach math, geography, or science alongside the regular class teacher
- Help run tablet-based e-learning classes where provided at your placement
- Help build students' vocabulary through conversation and games
- Prepare test sheets for regular student assessments
- Lead interactive, activity-based learning sessions rather than straight lecturing
- Involve students in out-of-class activities to build practical knowledge
- Assist teachers and staff with day-to-day duties and organize special events for children
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You assist the school's own teachers with lessons, small groups, and activities, and you are not a substitute for qualified teaching staff. The class teacher and the local coordinator supervise your work throughout, and duties may vary with the placement's needs. A criminal background check is required before you start work with children.
A typical day and week
As a volunteer for the Teaching Program in Arusha, Tanzania, your general schedule would be:
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Sunday – Arrival at the destination (Arusha)
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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 Tanzania
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Tuesday to Friday – Volunteer work at the placement
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Weekends – Free to explore the city / Head out for wildlife safaris and much more
Breakfast – 07:30 am onwards
Working hours at the placement – 08:30 am to 12:30 pm and 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm
Lunch – 12:30 pm onwards
Dinner – 06:30 pm onwards
The same work schedule continues from the second week onwards (Monday – Friday).
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.
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 17 (a parental consent form is required for participants under 18)
- No teaching qualification or prior classroom experience required
- Open-minded, flexible attitude and a genuine interest in working with children
- Proactive approach, able to take initiative in a classroom setting
- A clean criminal background check report, issued within 12 months of your start date
- Travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The teaching placements are primary and secondary schools in and around Arusha, arranged through Volunteering Solutions' local partner team on the ground. Schools in the area are short-staffed, and volunteers work inside the existing timetable, co-teaching alongside qualified teachers rather than running classes alone. Some schools also take part in an e-learning initiative, using educational tablets as an added tool within the normal curriculum, not a replacement for it.
You are supervised by the class teacher and the local coordinator throughout your placement, and a criminal background check is required before you start work with children. Your contribution is additional support in the classroom, extra hands for small groups, conversation practice, and lesson materials, rather than a substitute for trained teaching staff, who remain responsible for the students' progress.
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 | $574 | |
| 2 weeks | $699 | |
| 3 weeks | $824 | |
| 4 weeks | $999 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,174 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,344 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,519 | |
| 8 weeks | $1,694 | |
| Each additional week | +$175 / 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
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Airport Pickup at Kilimanjaro Airport or Bus station in Arusha
- Orientation
- Food
- Accommodation at Volunteer House
- Assistance in booking weekend safari trips and other tours
- Travel & Medical Insurance(Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
- Airfare
- Visa and Work Permit Fee
- Return Airport Drop(Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Local Transportation
- Vaccinations
- Personal Expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
You will be met by our representative at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Kilimanjaro region from where you are transferred to the volunteer house accommodation in Arusha.Volunteers can also arrive in Nairobi and take a direct shuttle or bus to Arusha. They will be picked up at the bus station.For those participants arriving from Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar, pickup can also be arranged from the much smaller Arusha airport, which serves only domestic flights currently.
Accommodation
Volunteering Solutions offers accommodations for volunteers in a dedicated volunteer house located in Arusha.The housing consists of shared rooms, with options for private upgrades available.The volunteer house includes several rooms and apartments where volunteers can live together comfortably. A well-equipped kitchen is staffed with cooks, and security personnel ensure a safe environment.
Conveniently situated about a 25-minute walk from the main clock tower, the heart of Arusha Town, the house features a spacious common area where volunteers can unwind, socialize, and engage in games like snooker or table tennis. Wi-Fi access is also provided throughout the house.
For laundry needs, there is a designated washing area for volunteers where you can hand wash your clothes. Alternatively volunteers give their clothes for washing to house helpers at an extra charge or give it to the laundry.Safety is prioritised with CCTV cameras installed and a security guard on duty. The volunteer house has the capacity to accommodate over 50 volunteers.
Orientation
All volunteers will be provided with an orientation session by the local coordinator. Areas like safety, locations, transportation, things to see etc will be covered in the Orientation. After your orientation is over, you will be introduced to your project and given a tour of the local area and town.
Meals
Volunteers are provided with 3 meals in a day. Typical meals include a mix of western and Tanzanian dishes. Sample of meals at the volunteer house are :-
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For Breakfast : Hot water with option of black tea and coffee,Toasted Bread with Butter, Jam and Seasonal Fruits, and Eggs
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For Lunch and Dinner : Rice,Spaghetti, Salad,Mashed Potato,French Fries, Chapati as well as other Tanzanian dishes and fruits.
Breakfast and dinner are at the volunteer house while lunch is usually packed for you to eat the placement or can be taken if you are back at the accommodation from the project.
During your Free Time
While in Arusha you will also be interested to travel around and see some of the best and most popular tourist locations. Majority of the participants travel to Masai lands as well go for a safari trip. Going on a safari trip is a must on the trip to Tanzania. The country offers some of the best Safari and wildlife trips in the world. You can travel to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park. Some other local sightseeing options include snake park,Arusha National Park,Lake Duluti,Chemka Hot Springs and Materuni Waterfalls.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Tanzania
Airport pickup
You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport, or at the Arusha bus station if you travel by shuttle from Nairobi, or at Arusha's domestic airport if you fly in from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. From there you are transferred to the volunteer house in Arusha.
First night
You settle into the volunteer house, meet other volunteers, and have your first meal there, cooked by the house cooks.
Orientation
On Monday the local coordinator runs an orientation covering safety, culture, language, behavior, food, and things to see in Tanzania, followed by a tour of the local area and town.
First project day and ongoing support
Volunteer work starts Tuesday and runs through Friday each week, following the same pattern from week two onward. Coordinators, cooks, CCTV, and a security guard are based at the volunteer house, with 24-hour emergency contact available throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Tanzania
Frequently asked questions
What do I actually do on this program?
You work in a primary or secondary school in or around Arusha, co-teaching English conversation and pronunciation with the class teacher, and helping with math, geography, or science, tablet-based e-learning where it is offered, test sheets, and out-of-class activities.
Do I need teaching experience or a qualification?
No teaching qualification or prior classroom experience is required. You should be open-minded, flexible, and comfortable working with children, and be able to take initiative in the classroom.
What is a typical day and week like?
Breakfast is from 7:30am, work at the placement runs 8:30am-12:30pm and 2pm-3pm Tuesday to Friday, with lunch packed for the placement and dinner back at the house around 6:30pm. Monday is orientation, and weekends are free.
How long can I volunteer and when can I start?
The program runs for 1–24 weeks, with new starts every week (sundays). The next start date is 27 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $574, deposit included; the $249 deposit counts toward your total and is refunded if no place can be offered. The fee covers airport pickup, orientation, accommodation, meals, and 24-hour local support; flights, visa fees, vaccinations, and personal expenses are not included.
Where do I live and what do I eat?
You stay in shared rooms at the Volunteer House in Arusha, about a 25-minute walk from the town's clock tower, with a private-room upgrade available. Three meals a day are provided, with breakfast and dinner at the house and lunch usually packed for the placement.
How does airport pickup work?
You are collected at Kilimanjaro International Airport, or at the Arusha bus station if arriving by shuttle from Nairobi, or at Arusha's domestic airport, and taken directly to the volunteer house.
What safety and support is in place?
The volunteer house has cooks, CCTV, and a security guard, and the local coordinator provides orientation plus 24-hour emergency contact throughout your placement.
Do I need a visa, insurance, or vaccinations?
Travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges; the program fee does not cover visa fees or vaccinations, and specific guidance on these is sent before departure.
Is a background check required?
Yes, since you work with children, you must provide a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date before joining the program.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits volunteers aged 17 and up who want a school-based placement, are flexible about teaching subjects and age groups, and are comfortable supporting rather than replacing the regular class teacher.
Can I change my program dates once I have booked?
Yes, you can change your program, dates, or destination free of charge up to 45 days before your start date.
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