Tanzania: WEEDO

About the local hosting organization

We are ICYE national committee to Tanzania, our mission is to foster crosscultural understanding and to address the needs of the disadvantaged Tanzanians particularly focus is placed on children and youth in order to raise their socioeconomic standards in life through available resources. The Board of United Planet Tanzania assure to provide you with a safe learning environment wherein allow you to make a difference on the community you work and to fully experience a world outside the ordinary by feeling like local inhabitant. You will engage deeply with Tanzanians by working and collaborating with local communities and living in host family or project’s house.

Presentation of the programme

WEEDO stands for Women Economic Empowerment Development Organization. The organization is a nonprofit that provide skills upgrading programs (e.g. sewing, computer, counseling, health and hygiene and entrepreneurship) for local adolescent girls and young women who have very limited educational opportunities and come from very difficult backgrounds. The training program runs for one year with the maximum capacity of 30 girls.PROJECT ACTIVITIES 1. Teach computer, English and non-formal curriculum 2. Therapy and counseling for vulnerable adolescent girls and young women 3. Organize personal hygiene management activities and SRH programs 4. Run entrepreneurship skills.VOLUNTEER’S TASKS 1. Supports organizational development 2. Teaches computer, business management, English, mathematics, designing tailoring, 3. Photograph and videography 4. Web designing 5. Protect environment such as beach cleaning etc. 6. Counseling for the AGYW.

About the accomodation

The volunteer stay in a host family that offers a shared room with another sibling sometimes, two meals a day while volunteer can get lunch at the project, and boiled water. Volunteer can walk or take dala-dala (minibus tax) from/to the project.

About the food

The staple diet of Tanzania depends on the region in which you are in. In the north-west regions, the people prefer ugali (hardened mash of mealier meal) as the staple carbohydrate, whilst people in the southwestern regions prefer plantains and rice along the coast.This is for both people in the rural and urban areas. Usually, the staple is coupled with fish, beef, chicken, goat, or lamb stew with vegetables such as spinach pumpkins and sweet potatoes. Also, chipsi mayai (French Fries in Eggs) is a very popular around the city and favorite food for many girls and women.Asian food has become a common trend in Tanzania, widening the variety of palatal experience during your stay. With a wide array of fishing bays in the country, Tanzania is home of seafood as well.Ceremonial occasions are usually riddled with platters of food such as the pilau (spiced rice, potato, and meat) and it is encouraged to feast as much as you can during such ceremonies as leaving hungry is considered an insult to the host according to tradition.Local beer and spirits delivered from fermented bananas, corn, rice, honey, or sorghum is the common alcoholic beverages found in the country. Konyagi, a gin like spirit, is a more popular spirit brewed for commercial purpose in Tanzania as are a variety of beers and soft drinks.

About the location

The school is located in one of the urban districts of Dar es Salaam called Sinza. It is close to the city centre, approx. a 20 minute drive. Internet is accessible in the area via internet cafes. The temperature ranges from 23-27 C with normally high humidity.

About the leisure activities

Tanzania is gifted with the most majestic scenery and breath-taking wildlife. It housed both the highest and lowest points on the continent. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa while Lake Tanganyika is the deepest lake in Africa. Tanzania also boasts of the Serengeti plains that world to witness the epic journey of the wildebeests.

Requirements

 This project is suitable to skilled and unskilled volunteer  Are at least 18 years of age at the time of arrival.  Have an advanced knowledge of spoken and written English.  Who likes to work with adolescent girls and young women on economic empowerment