Tanzania

Background

Singida Town, near Dodoma, is almost at the centre of Tanzania. People travelling to and from the North or East, South or West by road, break their journeys at Singida for the night because of the long distances and the bad roads. Singida Town is also the route to Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and Uganda. The region is socially and economically deprived due to its remoteness and harsh weather. There is only one very short rainy season and consequently water is very scarce. There have been very few opportunities for education to help the people cope better with life and communication is very poor and difficult. Gold has been detected in some parts of the region. The Arab world made Singida one of their trading places at the time of the slave trade and hence, Islam is still very strong here. Christianity is currently spreading fast with the coming of missionaries of different denominations.

Volunteer Opportunities

1. Iguguno - Dispensary & Health Care Centre

Iguguno is 40 kms from Singida, it has a population of around 4500 people, most of whom live with the daily worry of hunger and drought. Crop failure is a recurring problem due to not enough rain. Every year people suffer from a shortage of food, malnutrition and disease.

The dispensary provides general health care, vaccinations and pre/anti-natal education. Every month the dispensary moves out to remote outstations to provide and encourage vaccinations for women and their children, to provide general health care and wherever possible food; oats, rice and grain. Volunteers with a qualification in nursing/health care are especially required to assist with this project.

The dispensary in Iguguno

There are also two primary schools at Iguguno which would like teachers of English.

2. Sangiti Girls' High School

Sangiti, in the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro, has a cooler climate than Singida and is surrounded by maize fields and banana plantations. The farm also has cows and grows vegetables. The school accommodates about 300 children, in forms 1-6, and is expanding. They would like teachers of English, Maths or Science. They would also appreciate anyone with farming or horticultural or fishery skills. The school year begins in January.

For Tanzania, volunteers must have appropriate qualifications in order to get a visa.

Sangiti Girls' High School