Zanzibar - Teaching Assistant

Stone Town is the capital of Zanzibar and about 20 minutes by car away from the volunteer house. It has a labyrinth of chaotic alleyways interposed between towering limestone houses with ornately carved arched hardwood doors with brass finishings and terracotta roofs. Stone Town is a melting pot of cultures and one of the last remaining ancient towns in Africa. It offers a rare cultural and historical insight into a former era of trade and exploration.
As a primary trading post on the spice, silk, and slave trade routes for over a millennium, Stone Town has been a unique meeting place, blending African, Indian, Arabian, and European cultures. It is one of the few remaining ancient towns in Africa.
Not only is this city visually beautiful, with old colonial buildings and exquisitely carved Zanzibari doorways, but your senses will be overwhelmed with the scent of the sea and spice and the calls to prayer echoing from the minarets. For history buffs and culture addicts, Stone Town offers plenty of activities for 2-4 days of exploration. Swahili is a local language used by people and is spoken extensively in Zanzibar. English is also spoken by many people.

- Improve the village children’s educational foundation and widen their cultural interactions
- Provide you with a teaching assistant experience, an invaluable life skill!
- Assist the teaching staff with extra hands and efforts

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule
- Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
- Stonetown City Orientation
- Spoken Orientation
- Lunch
- Swahili Language lesson

Your week could look like this:

Monday
8:00 - 08:30 Joint Meeting - Weekly Schedule Overview All Participants
9:00 - 12:30 Orientation, Do's and Don'ts, Paperwork, Culture Lesson - New Arrivals Only
10:00 - 12:30 Core Program Activities - Old Participants Only
13:00 Lunch
13:30 - 18:30 Swahili Lesson, Pre-Teaching Plan, Stone Town Tour - New Arrivals Only
18:30 - 21:00 Inuka Teaching Program / Wake Up Zanzibar - Old Participants Only

Tuesday
8:00 - 08:30 Depart to the programs - All Participants
9:15 - 12:00 Teaching Program Sessions - All Participants
Rest & Preparation for Evening
Program Rest & Preparation for Evening Program
18:30 - 21:00 Inuka Teaching Program / Wake Up Zanzibar All Participants

Wednesday
8:00 - 08:30 Depart to the programs - All Participants
9:15 - 12:00 Teaching Program Sessions - All Participants
14:00 - 18:00 Group Beach Trip (Paje or Nungwi)
Free Time Free Time

Thursday
8:00 - 08:30 Depart to the programs - All Participants
9:15 - 12:00 Teaching Sessions - All Participants
Afro-Dancing Class
Beach Sports with Locals, BBQ Night, Swahili Dufu
Mandatory Weekly Meeting with Local Team

Friday
8:00 - 08:30 Depart to the programs - All Participants
9:15 - 12:00 Teaching Sessions - All Participants
Free Time. Participants can explore or relax.

***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.***

An evening teaching session will take place on Monday and Tuesday at a local Community Center. This program runs from 19:00 to 21:00, where you will be teaching students of different ages (from 4 - 20 years old). You will be divided into groups where you will teach lessons prepared by you along with the local team.

This program can also include a Culture Week which is highly recommended but not mandatory - just inform your travel advisor if you wish to include it. Get to know Zanzibar! Explore the rich culture, the complex history, and meet amazing people who call this fantastic place home.

This once independent island nation has actually put the “Zan” in what we now call Tanzania. As you learn more about this unique location you will enjoy the warmth of the weather and the local community. You will visit local sites and enjoy breathtaking views during this week long introduction. During the Culture Week you will be participating in various activities to get you acquainted with the local culture. You will have language lessons, visit a local market, enjoy a city tour, try your hand at a local cooking class and lunch (Swahili house visit), explore Prison Island (including snorkelling, G.Tortoise visit and prison visit and history), a spice plantation visit, a day trip to the beach, and much more.

Aims & Objectives of the Culture Week
Help you learn helpful phrases in the local language
Broaden your knowledge of the local customs, history and culture
Enjoy local sights and activities
Provide a full induction, preparing you for a longer stay

Please note that ALL programs are closed during public holidays except Constructions and Renovation Program and Medical Placement. Therefore, these two programs are still running or on-going during those dates/holidays mentioned below. However, during the Eid al - Fitr on 31st March to 08th April 2025, only the Constructions and Renovations program is still running. During school holidays volunteers will be placed in the holiday program. Please note the dates for the school holidays are subject to change due to local conditions.

School Holidays 2025
31 March to 08 April - Eid Holiday - No teaching program. Construction and Renovation will be available.
23 June to 07 July - School Holidays - Construction and Renovation will be available.
22 September to 28 September - School Holidays - Construction and Renovation will be available.
01 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 - School Holidays - Construction and Renovation will be available.

Please note that school holidays are determined by the Zanzibar Government and the Department of Education, and these dates are subject to change without prior notice. While we will make every effort to keep you informed of any adjustments, it is important to understand that holiday scheduling is beyond our control. During the holidays, participants are welcome to join our construction and renovation projects, which continue to make a meaningful impact on the community.

Public Holidays 2025
28 February - 01 March
18, 21 & 26-27 April
01 May
06 June
07 July
08 August
04-05 September
14 October
09 & 25-26 December

Minimum age of 18
Basic level of competency in English
Police Clearance Certificate on sign-up
Passport copy required on arrival
Travel & medical insurance (Older participants are required to have a medical clearance)
Have completed the following vaccines: Typhoid, Tetanus, Rabies, Malaria, Hepatitis A, and Diphtheria
Visitor visa

Apply Online Before Arrival in Tanzania
The visitor visa costs 50 USD and can be applied for online via https://visa.immigration.go.tz/

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.