SPECIAL EDUCATION VOLUNTEERING.

Project

Special education volunteering is taking place at Dymphna, a school for children with disabilities.

Organization

Amani hostel support and work with The Dymphna School in providing special education volunteering programs. The school is home to 42 students of all ages ranging from 3 years old to 25. The school was founded by Mary Kaswehde whose wish was to educate those children who have disabilities, special needs, or learning difficulties. These children and young adults are often rejected from schools or are given no special attention and therefore do not benefit from the usual state or private school education. The school is open to all and most of the children are sponsored by the school itself.

Project Overview

Currently, this school that is taking this Special Education volunteering program is having  5 classrooms in which the children are placed according to their current level of academic status. Depending on the Classroom they are set in, a number of different subject lessons and activities are taught. The main focus subjects are English, Math, Swahili, Music, and creativities such as Art and design.

Volunteers will follow a development plan and conduct these lessons for a selected class. Other  special education volunteer involvement will  include:

• Caring for the students,
• Assessing and reporting on the continuation of the development plan for each student,
• Taking students on day trips, for example to the swimming pool,
• Home visits to students’ homes and counseling with parents,
• Improvements  of this special needs  school such as painting the classrooms with the students,
• Support fundraising for the school as no government funding is available. To help raise money for the school the staff, volunteers, and students all come together in recreation time to make clothes and use beadwork to make jewelry which is then all sold at the Schools shop.

Location- The Project is located 15 minutes from the center of Arusha Town and is roughly one hour away from Kilimanjaro International Airport or a 10-minute drive from Arusha central coach station.

• Accommodation and FoodAccommodation are down to the choice of the individual volunteer. There is the option of staying with a host family located near where the project is based or staying in our volunteer house. Each has its own advantages. Staying with a Host family will allow you to really immerse yourself into the local culture and learn the local language. The volunteer house will allow you to meet other volunteers who are on the same project as you or working on other projects in the area. It is a great chance to share ideas and support one another in your experience. The house provides a comfortable, safe, homely environment and includes shared living facilities, running water, hot showers, western-style bathroom facilities and TV/DVD sitting room for rest and recreation in the evenings. Three meals will be provided each and every day at both accommodations, and normally consists of a variety of local style foods, Meats, seafoods and vegetarian options. 
• Qualification requirements There are no specific qualifications that are necessary for our special education volunteer programs. Just a good dose of enthusiasm and any previous experience is warmly welcomed. Whether you are a gap year student, undergraduate, on a career break, looking for something different from life, or retired everyone is welcomed onto our programs.
• Skills requirements for your success as a special education volunteer, You need to be able to work comfortably by yourself and be self-motivated as there are times when you are left to your own devices. Any previous skills in special care and teaching will be a blessing to the school. This also goes for any other relevant skills you may possess such as teaching qualifications, Musical abilities, clothes making, care work, counseling, etc…
• Physical fitness Physical requirements need but remember the local environment can take its toll on some people especially those who are not used to tropical weather or the African heat. This climatic condition can tier some people very quickly and in some cases, if spent too long in the sun can make you feel ill. Ensure sun protection, drink plenty of water and keep in the shade when you can.Typical Working dayThe typical working day starts at 9:00 AM  in the morning after being provided breakfast by your host family or at the volunteer house. The morning working session will take you up to 1:00 PM in the afternoon when you will normally receive lunch at the project you are working with. The afternoon session will commence at 2:00 PM and finish anytime from 3:00 PM  to 5:00 PM depending on the work required on that day. The typical working week is 20 to 30 hours.On the first day of the project, you will meet the project co-coordinator who will explain your role as a volunteer. The orientation will cover all the relevant information about your project including safety issues. An individual timetable will be worked out depending on the hours you want to work and the tasks that the projects have at that time.Know before you goRemember that there are additional Visa costs that will be dealt within-country. Also, take care in knowing what medical insurance and vaccinations to take before your departure. Will we provide you with all the relevant information and advice once you have signed up for this project

There is also the option of a range of cultural trips available. With the Maasai tribe inhabiting the land in and around Arusha it is most recommended to visit a Boma, a small family unit in which the Maasai live, and experience their unique way of living. Also available are the coffee plantation tours in which they’re riff in the area and the Tanzanite cultural experience, the opportunity to learn about and purchase a jewel stone a 1000 times rarer than diamond and only found in Tanzania. Other trips include water fall and forest hikes, cycle rides and canoeing safaris.

Arusha Town also boosts a large number and diversity of Hotels, lodges, backpackers and restaurants, providing beautiful, relaxing locations with great food and drink at very low costs.

Enrolment

To enroll, fill in our volunteer application form for this special education program and also e add a letter of motivation in English describing yourself and explaining why you wish to work as a volunteer, attached with a picture of yourself.

Upon receipt of your enrolment, we will mail you a confirmation, an invoice, and a pre-departure handbook.

Before you leave you will receive detailed information about your local coordinator, project, and accommodation.

To read more about your program placement location, fees, and date in Tanzania then go to brochure.pdf on our website also please see the attached volunteer programs brochure for Tanzania.

 Your program fee for this special education program contributes towards personalized volunteer placement, project donation, language instruction, cultural education, meals, accommodation, and transportation to and from all Amani hostel placements and programs. It also contributes towards pre-departure guidance from Amani hostel headquarters staff and 24-hour access to in-country staff.

Let us serve the poor, the unfortunate, and the lonely according to the graces we have received. Let us do the humble work adventurously with enthusiasm.

Whenever you think, you alone won’t make much of a difference to the deprived

Remember You alone matter MUCH to them.

PROGRAM COST

Tanzania – Quick Facts

• Start Dates: All Year Round
• Duration: 1-24 Weeks
• Program Locations: Arusha & Zanzibar
• Minimum Age: 17 years+
• Certificate – Offered after Program completion

All volunteer programs start on the first and third Monday of each month. Tanzania programs are fully open now!!

The country has opened for international arrivals. Programs in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya and Zanzibar are available. No quarantine requirements on arrival.

Amani Hostel  provide the world’s most affordable volunteer Program Fees all while delivering an award-winning support service. Using an online and modern approach we are able to provide life-changing opportunities which are often a fraction of the cost of similar organizations.

Amani Hostel   is also offering a wide range of affordable volunteering opportunities in two different cities in Tanzania – Arusha, and Zanzibar. Participants can choose to be a part of diverse projects including Childcare, medical, Teaching English, 2 Weeks Special, Football Coaching, and Conservation Project.

Medical and pre-med students can join the Health Care Project and work with experienced professional doctors. Apart from these, gap year travelers and backpackers looking to gain some meaningful international work experience as well as high school and college students looking for a worthy project can join these  International Programs, which not only gives a chance to volunteer but also allows you to explore the adventure trails and spot the Big 5 amidst the wilderness.

If you wish to be a responsible volunteer in Tanzania and enjoy the thrilling game drives, then get ready and join it through us!

If you are tired of expensive volunteer programs but want to make a positive contribution to the world, look no further! Amani Hostel is dedicated to offering high-quality, well-organized, and meaningful programs at the most affordable price in the United States.

We work hard to keep costs as low as possible, focusing on the effectiveness of our projects, the safety of our volunteers, and the quality of participant experiences. We currently offer the most competitive price possible in today’s market and as small weekly fee as follows:

Tanzania Volunteer programs cost table for 2022/2023 and for 2024.

What’s included?

• Accommodation (volunteer house)
• Free Airport pick up and drop off (24hrs )
• Food (Breakfast and Dinner in a day)
• 1-2days of In country program Orientation and
• Induction session to know the culture, people and city places.
• In-country support
• Free T-shirt and a cap
• Free bottled water 1.5ltrs per day provided in your room.
• Free WiFe use in the house.
• Free day trip to Tarangire National park/ Lake Manyara for a volunteer stay longer than 9-weeks and this also includes Free visit to Maasai Village and Waterfalls)
• Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
• Personalized project and Pre-departure information
• Certificate of completion

What’s not included?

• The Visa
• Airfare
• Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
• Daily transportation

Important things to note;

Our entire given Program does not attract a registration fees to join us.

Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check and return to the airport when your program finishes.

Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Tanzania generally find US$70-90 per week to be sufficient for expenses.

Independent volunteers under the age of 18 will have an additional cost of US$80 per week added to their program fee to cover extra logistical support provided by the local team.

The Medical project has an additional surcharge of US$50 per week for additional supervision, materials, and logistics involved.

The Animal Welfare project has a one-off surcharge of US$80 which covers costs involved in supervision and transport, and goes directly to the veterinarian volunteers are working with.

The Sustainable Agriculture project has a one-off surcharge of US$80 and the Construction and Renovation project has an additional surcharge of US$49 per week which covers supervision, materials and logistics involved with these projects.

A volunteer signing up for long term can pay his or her program cost with us on installment-Available on request.