The children of the orphanage are divided into two groups depending on the level of their disability. The less severe group can read and write. Volunteers will freely interact with this group and teach them English and other subjects. You’ll also teach them nursery rhymes and children’s stories. There are games you can participate with them also.

The most severe group can’t read and write. You’ll be assisting the staff during physical and speech therapy and while playing games. Volunteers are encouraged to learn the therapies and organize the therapy on their own. You’ll however be supervised by the staff member.

You’ll require patient and flexibility to volunteer in the project. Working conditions and people’s mentality in Tanzania are very different from that you’ve back home; without flexibility and open-mindedness, you won’t be able to cope and perform. These are however not difficult to practice as you’ll be volunteering only for a short period. You should also have passion to care for the disabled. No specific skills and qualifications required other than that.

Rustic Volunteer Travel arranges volunteer meals, accommodations and strong field supervision for the duration of projects and optional travel packages. In Tanzania, most volunteers stay in our home base, a permanent home established for our international volunteers . Our home base in Tanzania is located in a pretty community, in a very safe and clean neighborhood. There are internet cafés, restaurants, local bus stations, a police station and supermarkets near our homebase. The homebase provides is a comfortable place to relax after a long day. There are several bedrooms (which may be shared with a same-gender volunteer) and community areas. There is a shared kitchen, television and shared bathrooms, which have running water and “western-style” toilets. Orphanage volunteers may stay at their project as many orphanages have special rooms set aside for international and these a ccommodations are normally shared with a same-gender volunteer.

Depending on the influx of volunteers, accommodations could be with a host family. Host family accommodations are simple and clean homes in safe neighborhoods. Volunteers usually have a private bedroom, but occasionally rooms will be shared with a same-gender volunteer. Our host families are well screened and are respected members of their communities who live in affluent neighborhoods. Most of our host families have experience with hosting international volunteers. Host family stays are a great chance for cultural immersion and exchange.

Volunteers receive three local meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We can provide vegetarian meal options, but needs must be detailed in a volunteer's application. Snacks and beverages outside of mealtimes are not provided; however, there are local restaurants and grocery stores near the residences in which we place volunteers.

Rustic offers unparalleled field support to volunteers to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. There are many layers of support for you. The most important support comes from our country coordinator/field staff. The secondary support comes from the host project staff and members of host families and/or a homebase staff. Volunteers will have access to our country coordinator's mobile number and they are available 24/7. Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. Our field staff will visit regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to make sure things are going well and as planned. However, if placement is far from our local offices, staff members will stay in touch via email/ phone. Volunteers are also welcome to stop in the offices at any time.

Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for our local coordinator will be provided in personalized volunteer placement documentation prior to arrival.

Handicapped children projects are available in Dar es Salaam (home to Kaole Ruins, Botanic Gardens and Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve), Moshi (Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park) and Arusha (close to Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro and Great Rift Valley). Tanzania is renowned for its beautiful natural landscapes and its fused African culture with more than 120 different ethnic groups. Tanzania is full of distinction; from it rural traditional culture and history to its modern infrastructure and amenities you would expect from any city.

Volunteers/travelers can organize several combinations of potential excursions during and after the project to visit places of interest. There is a tourist infrastructure already in place that the volunteers can use during weekends. For example: national parks & harbors, snorkeling, markets, museums, restaurants, nightclubs, gardens, waterfalls, mountains, Eco Tours, craters beaches, hotels, and many more.