Most Masai women are uneducated, lack direction and don’t know the finer skills of marketing their own products. The business or middle agents who sell their products to the market are benefit the most at the cost of Masai women. Our volunteers will participate in the efforts of local NGOs to change this situation.

If you know some arts and techniques to make handicrafts and other materials, you’ll teach them to Masai women also. You’ll also learn of their art. You’ll teach women English and teach them the techniques to set up their own shops and sell their products. You’ll also run English language classes for Masai children and youth. The local NGO has been trying to hire local Masai youth as guides, but their success has been limited as most guides have to speak fluently in English. You’ll help them rectify this situation by contribute in their English language learning process.

The only skill you’re required is the enthusiasm to change lives of Masai women for better. If you know arts and how to make handicrafts or other income generating activities that you can teach the women, we’ll be absolutely delighted to with that. But if you don’t, you can still contribute in many ways and contribute very effectively.

You’ll also need to be patient, flexible and open-minded as working conditions and people’s mentality in Tanzania will be very from what you’re used to back home.

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.

This project is about 7 KM north of Arusha, a major tourist city of Tanzania . The project is located at the base of Mt. Meru . The village is picturesque and beautiful. You will be living in the middle of Masai community. This project would be perfect if you love rural placement and Masai people.