Community Development
"Kindness is profound recognition that our lives have something to do with one another. That everyone counts, everyone matters."
Join the Cause
iTravel Tanzania has its foundations built firmly within the local community. We have a full understanding that the purpose and benefits of travel extend far beyond the individual journey and knowing this allows iTravel to operate with awareness and intention, providing exceptional quality services that have positive ongoing benefits for local community members.
All our iTravel Tanzania packages are carefully and personally created right down to the finest detail, placing great imortance on client specifications whilst also ensuring the itineraries are logically structured for maximum benefit/enjoyment.
Each and every itinerary is designed to incorporate the following four core principles;
* Support ethical business practises
* Provide stable and fair employment opportunities that promote personal development and growth
* Include environmentally conscious accommodations
* Giving back to the local communities in which we work
With these principles in mind iTravel Tanzania offers the following opportunities to get involved with our work;
1. Service
2. Support
3. Share
Travellers are invited to give their time at one of the many projects on offer in mainland Tanzania staying at our beautiful 5-bedroom guesthouse in Arusha. Volunteer service programs require no specific qualifications and include teaching at Nursery and primary levels, observation and support medics or support staff in children's homes. For those with specialist skills such as doctors, nurses, social workers, teachers, builders, fitness or yoga instructors or any other skilled professionals there are specialist placements available upon inquiry.
iTravel Tanzania is constantly working on small projects within the local communities we are a part of. Previous support works include; Sewing School for women widowed to HIV in a rural maasai village, equipment donations to local government hospitals, food drives, refurbishing project buildings and outdoor areas, enhancing sanitary and living conditions at the projects, child sponsorship, work skills training, clothes donations, after school sporting and tuition provisions for school children, small business loans and donation/fundraising support by special request. Another way to support the work of iTravel Tanzania is through booking your Tanzanian travel adventure with us where 10% of your holiday fee is directly and purposefully gifted towards community development in Tanzania.
Share our work with your friends and family and make a difference in the lives of local commuity members. Like us and share our social media pages so we can expand the reach of our work in Tanzania. Hashtag a picture of your Tanzanian adventure with us or leave a review on one of the many review sites. Even a small gesture, a few moments of your time can have a huge impact.
See below for more information on our Service/Volunteer programes or contact us to make an inquiry on how you can support one of our community develoment initiatives.
Service Volunteering
Service - Volunteering is an insightful way to travel, providing endless opportunities to experience the vibrant African culture and truly understand the nature of Tanzania and the beautiful people native to such a captivating land.
Voluntourism as it is widely referred has received its share of backlash by the critics over the years however, we are hard pressed to support an ideology that fails to appreciate the true value of volunteers. Over the last decade in the industry at a grass roots level I have had the honor of meeting some of the most beautiful life souls meandering the planet. Volunteers are a rare and selfless breed of humans. They plan and research and prepare for months to travel halfway across the world in order to give back to a community of people they have never even met. But Kindness and intention are only half of the equation when it comes to volunteering. Children have received full educational sponsorship through volunteers providing opportunities for entire families to leverage themselves a little further out of poverty, hundreds of thousands of families have received a little extra support (which is not otherwise afforded by way of Government assistance) employment opportunities have been created, Families have been forged, additional facilities built for the living comfort of hundreds, friendships have been made, cultures shared and all in the name of love. Travel to us has always been about experience, understanding, learning, exploring and creating connection, there is so much more to travel than flying first class and sipping endless cocktails by the beach - although there are certainly times for those type of holidays too.
Volunteering adds depth, meaning and purpose to your average vacation travel experience and is a great way to explore new territory, fast track your local learning and forge some rather remarkable bonds with an international variety of world wanderers.
Why iTravel Tanzania
iTravel Tanznaia (previously known as Katz Volunteer Adventure) is an internationally recognised volunteer agent working specifically within the communities surrounding Arusha and promoting travel for change for over a decade. Why? Simply put, we are the best in the business. We know the ins and outs of the industry and throughout our years of experience we have remained focused on what's most important, making sure the impact stays relevant alongside the individual experience. We aren't just another volunteer organisation with cushy offices all over the world, we are real people who have personally had the volunteer experience and who call Tanzania home. We are based in Arusha where you need us most and we care about making sure every experience is special and gives a true insight into the country we love.
iTravel Tanzania Volunteer experiences started out as a small grassroots organisation in Arusha offering home stay accommodations for travelers across the globe who were interested in travelling with purpose and giving back to the local communities in which they were living. Since first opening our doors, we have now grown from home stay accommodation and 3 available placement choices to volunteer housing on the outskirts of Arusha city in an area known as Sakina with over 10 placements to choose from; including teaching, medical, community work and support staff role within children's homes.
iTravel Tanzania were sought out by large international volunteer companies including Plan My Gap Year (PMGY), Gap360, Amzungo SWEDEN and Agape volunteers UK to name a few and acted as the in-country partner for selected leading international volunteer providers for many years until deciding to rebrand and return to our grass roots, offering specifically tailored experiential travel packages. During our time serving as the Tanzanian country partners for so many large organisations iTravel Tanzania gained a comprehensive insight into the international voluntourism industry which allowed us to create a brand that offers a more personalised and all encompassing, less mainstream experience and....... the most affordable on the market today.
The projects volunteers are involved in are carefully vetted ensuring staff and children are adequately catered to and that the support provided is beneficial and ongoing. As an organisation iTravel Tanzania has established community initiatives in support of widows to HIV, street children, orphans and local families. iTravel Tanzania do not believe in charging for volunteering so our volunteer placements are completely free of charge when you book your accommodation at our guesthouse in Arusha (Rates being $15/Night for dorm share room and $30/Night for a private room with you own en suite).
Service Programs
Accommodation
$105/wk
Arusha Guesthouse
Arusha
Stay in our very own volunteer share house complete with night security, free wifi, communal lounge and dining areas and your very own pool table. Breakfast and dinner are included in the accommodation price. This beautiful spacious home is situated in a quiet local neighbourhood, allowing for restful evenings alongside many an opportunity to immerse yourself in the Tanzanian culture and discovering first hand the meaning of true African hospitality. The house is a short 5 minute walk to local transportation and in a busstling area with loads of local eateries, pubs, restaurants and hotels allowing use of their facilities inlcuding pool and gym.
Medical Assistant
$150*
* $150 required Donation to the hospital
Support Medic
Arusha
Volunteer as Medical support staff at a government hospital on the outskirts of Arusha. Hospitals are often severley under resourced and under staffed making the provision of adequate care a significant challenge throughout the country. Volunteers are accepted as pre medical students although the need is greatest for fully qualified and highly exerienced medical professionals and the level of involvement is directly related to volunteer exerience. A mandatory donation of $150 usd is required by the hosital in support of thier oerational costs and equiment purchase/repairs.
Teaching
Free
Nursery/primary
Arusha
Teaching in a school setting provides opportunities to work alongside regular class teachers in the development of interactive class lesson plans. Teachers are encouraged to share in their knowledge across borders allowing for an exchange of educational ideas and teaching materials for the benefit of students and teachers alike. 3h0ool generally commences at 7:30am and breaks for home time at 3pm. Volunteers can assist in teaching a variety of subjects including English, Maths, Science, Georgraphy, arts, drama,
Orhanage
Free
Babies Home Carer
Arusha
Volunteers have the opportunity to share in the workload of the regular orphanage staff, supporting them in their very important roles as carers to young and vulnerable children and babies. A daily insight into your role as support worker includes playing games with the children, park excursions, assisting at bath and meal times, cooking, cleaning, washing, reading and loads of cuddles.
Volunteering with children is an experience that will break your heart but at the same time fill it with more love than you can comprehend. These babies may have been born into challenged life circumstances but hugs are a universal language and what better way to learn about the beautiful side of humanity than being in the arms of someone who has travelled half way across the world to be in 'this moment' just with you.
