The charity we work with in Tanzania, Village Africa, is constantly evolving and there many other roles available, especially for those with professional or specialist skills. Roles include:

Health

• Doctors and nurses
  
• First Aid

Office, research, media & marketing

• Admin
• Researcher
• Journalism
• Photography
• Marketing

Environment

• Conservation & environment
  
• Environmental consultant

Crafts

• Chef
• Knitting and crafts
• Pottery teacher

Other

• Surveyor
  
• Advanced driving instructor

The roles are described in more detail below.

Please contact us if there are other roles (not listed above) that you are interested in or skills that you can provide.

Click here for more information about the charity Village Africa.

General information

What's included:

• Travel advice and assistance
• A comprehensive information booklet
• Pick up and drop off at Tanga
  
• Transfers to the village
• Orientation training
• Use of laptop and generator (if required)
  
• USe of a translator (if required)
  
• Accommodation in a house shared with other volunteers (your own room)
• Food (main meals) is included for 2-3 week placements
  
• Ongoing support, help and advice from the Village Africa team.

What's not included - flights (£450-£600), visa (£38), general living costs (£40-£50 per week).

Lifestyle and accommodation

A huge part of the adventure of Tanzania is the environment you will live and work in. The villages are in an extremely beautiful area with a mixture of forest and farmland. There is lots of wildlife including dikdiks, rabbits, chameleons and birds. The people who live here are subsistence farmers and, despite it being fertile, are incredibly poor.

You will live in a simple house in the village. A housegirl is employed to fetch water, shop, cook and clean and a watchman is employed to oversee the house at night.

You will soon adapt to the Tanzanian way of life that is dictated by the hours of daylight. With the absence of electricity, waking hours become fairly similar to daylight hours. You will have plenty of free time to relax, enjoy Africa, get to know local people and learn more about yourself. There are also some great hiking opportunities in the area including viewpoints of Kilimanjaro and the Tanzania/Kenya border, waterfalls and historical caves.

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world and as such the standard of living appears very low to us. The Tanzanian way of life is extremely laid back, relaxed and friendly. Society is generally not money driven and provides a very different view on how to live. This can lead to a degree of culture shock for people visiting, but more often leads to culture shock on the return home at the end of an extended period of time living in a local environment. Longer term this can help to produce a much deeper and more mature understanding of our own society and a more tolerant and caring view of other peoples and societies.

Next steps and how to apply

Please contact us if you would like to discuss the placement, or go to the how to apply section where you can apply online or download an application form.

Doctors and nurses

Village Africa would like doctors and nurses to come on a regular basis to help with the local health programme. This would include:

• Providing health education
• Assisting in the health post
• Reviewing the health post and making suggestions for improvements
• Assisting the management of the health programme
  

Common diseases in the area include malaria, pneumonia, worms, skin complaints, typhoid, yellow fever, burns, AIDS, STDs, UTI. Mother and child mortality are very high.

Health education is needed for both the villagers and Village Africa's staff. In the villages there is a very low level of understanding on health issues and topics for workshops include: general hygiene, water, malaria, pnemonia, worms, childcare etc. The aim is to encourage prevention as cures are often unaffordable.

Changes to health and health education could improve and save many lives.

Village Africa is looking for qualified doctors and nurses, preferably with experience.

First Aid

Village Africa is looking for experienced first aiders to come and teach first aid. This would include courses for:

• Charity staff
• Refresher courses for health post staff
• Villagers - in groups e.g. mothers, men, teenagers
• Teachers (subject to permission)

In the villages there is a very low level of understanding on health issues and common problems include cleanliness, water, falls, lifting injuries.

A pratical approach would work well including demonstrations and volunteers are asked to bring teaching aids with them to help.

First aid volunteers can also get involved in general health education for the villagers and school children e.g. personal hygiene workshops, making posters for the health post.

Improvements in first aid and health education can make a big difference to the health of many people.

Village Africa is looking for first aiders with a recognised qualification and experience.

Admin

Village Africa is looking for enthusiastic people with administration and spreadsheet skills to:

• Design spreadsheets (MS Excel)
• Input data
• Help to analyse data

Once the data has been entered into spreadsheets it can then be analysed providing an important source of information to help with decisions on health policy, building projects, fundraising etc.

Village Africa is a growing charity with very limited resources. By helping with their admin you are providing a vital support role and helping to generate information the charity can use to improve its decision making.

No formal qualifications are required but volunteers need to be proficient in MS Excel spreadsheets and have some experience of data analysis.

Researcher

Village Africa is looking for people with research skills to design a comprehensive survey including:

• Finding out what records are already available
• Planning how to collect the information
• Designing questionnaires / data gathering methods
• Planning how to collate and use the information

If volunteers are able to stay for a longer period (2-3 months) they could conduct the survey as well which would be even better.

The survey is intended to cover three areas:

• Demographic - population breakdown, locations etc.
• Health - common illnesses, visits to doctors, health facilities etc.
• Education - schools, school attendance etc.

The results of the survey will help Village Africa to set its objectives and priorities and then will directly shape the projects and initiatives that are implemented.

The information that the survey will provide is going to be a vital step in informing Village Africa's work going forward and will help ensure that assistance is given where it is really needed.

Volunteers should have at least 2 years of relevant research experience.

Journalism

Village Africa would like a self-starting journalist to write stories and features, and then and try to place them into the media. This would include:

• Researching the project before coming out to Tanzania
• Visiting the villages of Yamba and Milingano, seeing the projects and meeting the people
• Identifying stories / features
• Interviewing people
• Writing stories / features
• On return, trying to place stories into newspapers, magazines, TV, websites etc.
• Sending cuttings, tapes etc. to Village Africa.

Village Africa is a small charity in a remote location trying to alleviate poverty. Media coverage is essential in order to generate donations and volunteers.

Village Africa is looking for a professional journalist with at least 2 year's work experience.

Photography

An experienced photographer is needed to create a portfolio of photographs for Village Africa including images of staff at work, local people, the health post, volunteers, the location and the local lifestyle.

Photos are needed for promotional purposes including the website, child sponsorship, talks in the UK, volunteer briefings, fundraising and other literature.

You could also make a video if you have your own equipment.

Village Africa is a small charity in a remote location so quality photographs are an essential means to communicate with parties in the UK.

Village Africa is looking for a well qualified and / or experienced photographer.

Marketing

Village Africa would like someone with marketing expertise to act as a consultant, working with them to help create a pragmatic marketing plan and resources. This would include:

• Reviewing their marketing presence before coming out to Tanzania and comparing this to other charities/competitors
• Visiting the villages of Yamba and Milingano, seeing the projects and meeting the people
• Developing a marketing approach to target donors and volunteers
• Identifying key / unique selling points
• Writing text, collecting case studies, advising on photos needed
• On return to UK, writing a report with recommendations for the Directors.

Village Africa is a small charity in a remote location trying to alleviate poverty. Marketing is essential in order to generate funding and volunteers.

Village Africa is looking for someone with strong marketing expertise and experience (not a student).

Conservation & environment

Village Africa is looking for volunteers to help in a 'hands on' way with a number of environmental initiatives including:

• Tree nursery and tree planting
• Water harvesting
• Toilets
• Soakaways
• Composting
• Rubbish pits
• Firewalls
• Trail management
• Education materials e.g. posters
  

Whilst health and education are the chief areas of work for the charity, it is recognised that the project is already having an environmental impact. It is also recognised that environmental matters directly link into health issues and can help with education.

By helping with the environment you will be helping look after villages and people barely touched by modern life.

There is no need for previous experience just a strong interest in conservation and the environment. Volunteers need to be in reasonable health and some of the projects are quite physical.

Environmental Consultant

Village Africa is looking for volunteers who can consult on the environmental impact of the project, especially sewage, energy and deforestation, to:

• Visit the villages to study the impact the project is having
• Make recommendations for how to have a positive impact and reduce negative impact
• Give seminars to local people on specific subjects e.g. deforestation
• Write a report to the charity directors in the UK with findings and practical steps
• Advise on possible sources of funding and further information
• Advise on possible roles for environmental volunteers
  

Whilst health and education are the chief areas of work for the charity, it is recognised that the project is already having an environmental impact. For example, many villagers have built toilets as a result of the project.

It is also recognised that environmental matters directly link into health issues and can help with education.

By helping to manage the environmental impact of the project you will be helping look after villages and people barely touched by modern life.

Volunteers should have a degree in environmental matters and at least 2 years experience.

Chef

Village Africa is looking for enthusiastic people with cooking skills to:

• Create a 2 week menu that Village Africa's cooks can follow when preparing food for volunteers
• Research and consider available food supplies, local dishes, storage and energy sources
• Help the local cooks to provide a balanced diet and teach them new dishes
• Teach food hygiene to the cooks and to local women
  

There is a small range of foodstuffs available in the village of Yamba, a slightly bigger range in Milingano, and a wide variety in the town of Tanga, including spices. Vegetables and fruits are seasonal. Most cooks use firewood or charcoal stoves and there is no traditional oven in Tanzania. Charcoal stoves would be provided for volunteers.

You will be helping to educate and improve the skills of the local cooks, in particular to help them prepare food for volunteers.

Volunteers should have relevant qualifications and at least 2 year's experience. Experience of teaching/training is useful but not essential.

Knitting and Crafts

Village Africa is looking for enthusiastic people with knitting and crafts skills to:

• Teach beginners to knit squares - which can be made into blankets
• Teach an intermediate group to knit simple items e.g. sweater, hats, socks
• Teach an advanced group to follow a knitting pattern and make more complicated items
• Teach primary school pupils after school hours
• Teach darning and clothes repair / alteration skills
  

Volunteers can also help with other activities such as making posters for the health post, mending clothes for the old and disabled etc.

Having warm clothing is essential for the villagers as the weather in this area can get extremely cold. Pneumonia and colds are very common and can cause the death of babies in the villages.

By learning these skills it also enables people to get paid work, providing repair services for other members of the villages.

By transferring these skills you can help enable the villagers to have warm clothing and the opportunity to earn an income.

No formal qualifications are required but volunteers need to be self-starting and able to make all the items well. Volunteers are asked to bring knitting and darning needles and patterns.

Pottery Teacher

Village Africa is looking for enthusiastic people with pottery skills to:

• Teach local people to make and decorate pots and other earthenware
• Teach local people how to make and use a kiln, and any alternative methods of firing pots
  

It would also be very helpful if volunteers are able to teach simple business skills.

A few villagers are currently able to make simple un-decorated pots (suitable clay is available). These are used for cooking and to store food and water. Some pots are sold in the weekly village market.

The aim is to improve the quality of the pots, including variety and decoration, and to increase the number of local craftspeople. The pots can be used by the local people and their families or sold to help provide an income. Small versions that could be transported easily could also be sold to visitors and other volunteers as souvenirs.

By transferring these skills you can help more villagers to learn and improve a craft which is very useful for their day to day living and also as a potential income.

Volunteers should have relevant qualifications and at least 2 years experience. A teaching certificate is desirable.

Surveyor

Village Africa is looking for a Surveyor or Civil engineer to advise on extending the current road up to the healthpost in Yamba.

The villagers have identified the road extension as their greatest need. They need to get seriously ill patients to hospital as soon as possible. They have spent two years digging and removing boulders but now need professional help to proceed. A surveyor is urgently needed to advise on the best route round a mountain pass.

Volunteers should have relevant qualifications and experience and be able to bring all necessary equipment.

Advanced Driving Instructor

Village Africa is looking for advanced driving instructors (including off road) to:

• Teach the drivers and mechanics advanced driving techniques, both theory and practical
• Draw up simple safety guidelines for the organisation
• Advise on road conditions in the area
  

Volunteers can also help with other activities if they are able to stay for longer periods.

Village Africa has a 4x4 Toyota Landcruiser which can carry up to 13 passengers. The vehicle is used to transport charity staff, volunteers, visitors and supplies and also in emergencies to take patients to hospital.

Drivers drive on tarmac roads and very rough roads in all conditions. This can include at night and in muddy and wet conditions on dirt roads around the villages.

By advancing the skills of local drivers you will be helping to improve the safety of local people, charity staff and volunteers.

Volunteers should have relevant qualifications and at least two years experience.