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Women Empowerment in Arusha – Tanzania
Help a local NGO in doing tremendous work to give a second chance to young women who couldn't finish school because of early pregnancy
In Arusha, Tanzania, you support a locally run center that gives young women who left school because of early pregnancy a chance to gain skills and rebuild their education. Depending on your interests and the center's needs, you might teach tailoring or handcraft techniques, help in the preschool and daycare, assist with English or computer classes, or support the marketing and fundraising team. The program suits volunteers age 17 and up who want hands-on, varied work with women and young children; no experience is required, though skills in teaching, cooking, hairdressing, tailoring or computers are useful.
Placements run 1–12 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next intake on 20 Sep 2026. You live in a volunteer house in Arusha with other international volunteers, with meals cooked at the house and lunch usually packed for the project. Prices start at $624 (deposit included). A program-specific draw here is the range of roles on one site, so you can combine teaching, childcare and marketing tasks rather than being fixed to one job, and coordinators help arrange weekend safaris.
- Support women to gain financial independence
- Give a second chance to women who couldn’t finish school due to early pregnancy
- Help out in a wide variety of roles at the project
- Volunteer in caregiving roles for children as well as teaching important skills to women
- Stay with other likeminded volunteers from around the world in volunteer housing
- Explore Arusha and go on safari on weekends with other volunteers
Your role on this program
- Support tailoring and handcraft instructors in teaching and mentoring the girls
- Instruct on specific handcraft techniques such as knitting and embroidery
- Help preschool and daycare staff care for the center's children
- Assist with English, computer, or hairdressing classes for the women
- Support cooking activities at the project
- Update brochures and design new marketing materials for the center
- Help launch fundraising campaigns and research potential donors or partners
- Propose ideas for handcraft products the women can sell after graduating
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You support classes, childcare, and workshop activities that the center's own staff design and run; you do not manage the center, make decisions about the women's care, or handle finances or admissions. Local coordinators and project staff supervise your day-to-day tasks and assign roles based on the center's current needs.
A typical day and week
Volunteers in Women Empowerment Project in Arusha, Tanzania, would generally have the following schedule :
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Sunday – Arrival at the destination (Arusha)
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Monday – Orientation + Local Tour
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.During the orientation, the team will also inform you of the different projects where volunteers work. -
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 – Generally from 8am – 1pm (Depend on the roles assigned at the project)
Lunch – After returning from the volunteer project at the volunteer house in the afternoon
Dinner – Around 7pm onwards
The same work schedule continues from the second week onwards (Monday – Friday).
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular role the volunteer is assigned to.
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 (parental consent required if under 18)
- No experience required, though skills in teaching, cooking, hairdressing, tailoring, or computers are an advantage
- An open, flexible attitude toward working in a new environment
- Reasonable fitness and general good health at the time of joining
- A clean criminal background check report, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Valid travel and medical insurance (your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions)
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The program places you with a local NGO in Arusha that runs education, vocational training, and childcare for young women who left school due to early pregnancy, along with a preschool for their children. The center's own staff design the curriculum and daily activities; volunteers join as extra support in classes, the daycare, or the marketing and fundraising side, under the direction of local coordinators and project staff.
Because children are present at the center, a background check is required before you start, and staff oversee interactions between volunteers and the women and children throughout. Your contribution is additional hands and skills for existing programs, not a replacement for the center's trained staff, and roles are assigned and adjusted based on what the project needs at the time.
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 | $624 | |
| 2 weeks | $799 | |
| 3 weeks | $974 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,199 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,424 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,644 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,869 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,094 | |
| Each additional week | +$225 / 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 or bus station pickup
You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport, or at the Arusha bus station if arriving by shuttle from Nairobi, or at Arusha's domestic airport if coming from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. You are then taken to the volunteer house.
First night
You settle in at the volunteer house, where cooks and security staff are on site, ahead of orientation the next day.
Orientation and local tour
The local coordinator runs an orientation covering safety, culture, language, and practical tips, then introduces you to your project with a tour of the local area and Arusha town.
First project day
Volunteer work at the placement typically begins the following day and continues Tuesday to Friday, with breakfast from about 7:30am and lunch usually packed for the project.
Ongoing support
Coordinators in Arusha provide 24-hour assistance and can help you book weekend safaris and other tours.
From volunteers in Tanzania
Frequently asked questions
What kind of work will I actually do?
Depending on your skills and the center's needs, you might teach or support tailoring and handcraft classes, help in the preschool and daycare, assist with English, computer, or hairdressing lessons, support cooking, or help with marketing and fundraising for the center.
Do I need experience or qualifications to join?
No experience is required, though skills in teaching, cooking, hairdressing, tailoring, or computers are useful and may shape the role you are given.
What is a typical day like?
Breakfast is from about 7:30am, project work generally runs 8am-1pm Monday to Friday depending on your role, lunch is usually packed for the project, and dinner is back at the volunteer house around 7pm. Weekends are free to explore or go on safari.
How long can I volunteer and when can I start?
Placements run 1–12 weeks, with new starts every week (sundays). The next start date is 20 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $624, deposit included. This covers accommodation, meals, airport pickup, orientation, 24-hour staff support, and help booking weekend trips. The $249 deposit counts toward your total, is valid for a year, and is refunded if no placement can be offered.
Where will I live and eat?
You stay in a shared volunteer house in Arusha (private room upgrades are available), with a kitchen staffed by cooks. Breakfast and dinner are served at the house, and lunch is usually packed for the project.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Yes, you are picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport, or at the Arusha bus station or domestic airport depending on how you arrive.
What support is available once I am there?
Local coordinators run your orientation, help introduce you to the project, and provide 24-hour assistance throughout your stay. The volunteer house also has CCTV and a security guard.
Do I need a visa, insurance, or vaccinations?
Travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions. Visa and vaccination requirements are not fixed here; specific guidance is sent before departure.
Is a background check required?
Yes, because the placement involves contact with children, you need a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits volunteers age 17 and older who want varied, hands-on work supporting women and young children, and who are comfortable combining different roles at one project.
Can I change my dates or program after booking?
Yes, you can change your program, dates, or destination at no charge up to 45 days before your start date.
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