Bagamoyo

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Volunteer Work in Bagamoyo

CCS volunteers in Bagamoyo will enjoy the beautiful coast of Tanzania, while working side-by-side with local tribes in organizations offering services in:

• Caregiving : Volunteers can care for infants and children in orphanages, daycares, and centers for street children. A lack of available funding for these organizations, and an increase in disease – including HIV/AIDS – leaves many children without available, qualified caregivers. CCS volunteers provide the one-on-one attention and care that these children may not otherwise receive.
• Teaching : Volunteers can teach children, teach conversational English, or assist teachers with special education. Schools in Bagamoyo are often overcrowded because while community members believe that education is important, there is a shortage in qualified teachers, basic resources, and facilities. Volunteers support the teachers in local schools and community centers, help students with their homework, teach English, plan arts & crafts, and bring new perspectives to the students.
• Community Development : Volunteers can help to work toward women’s empowerment by participating in income-generating activities. Volunteers also provide companionship, and assist with treatment and prevention services to communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Volunteers in Bagamoyo become an important part of the support networks for people affected by the widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania.
• Healthcare : The public hospitals in Bagamoyo are very large, and often overcrowded, because residents can receive affordable medical care under a cost-sharing model, unlike private, smaller hospitals. Volunteers help with office work and other essential tasks within the hospitals. Volunteers with proof of prior medical experience can observe and assist local health professionals. Bagamoyo volunteers in health placements should be mindful of the potential for a large language barrier.

Volunteer Abroad programs are offered in Bagamoyo. Placements are always designed to match your skills and interests to the needs identified by the community. Read more about our volunteer work and placement process.

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Bagamoyo

Building on your volunteer work in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, Cultural & Learning Activities include a variety of events and activities to bring volunteers closer to the issues, the backgrounds and the lives of the community.

In Bagamoyo, Cultural & Learning Activities include lessons on making batiks (decorative, colorful fabrics), cultural drum and dance events (aka "Shaky Shake"), and tours of the historical town. Volunteers can visit a local crocodile farm, can go hiking in nearby national forests, and visit with Tanzanian traditional healers. There are lectures given by experts in the field of health and HIV/AIDS, education systems, or gender issues.

Volunteers also have the opportunity to visit Dar es Salaam, do a town tour of Bagamoyo, see a traditional dance at the community center, and visit the local arts college to see performances.

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Free Time in Bagamoyo

Free time is available some afternoons and evenings and every weekend. During free time, volunteers can explore Bagamoyo town where they will see local markets which sell brightly colored batik cloths and the beaded jewelry. Volunteers will see old German buildings and other historic sites, some of which date back to the 13th century, such as Kaole Ruins, cemeteries, and remaining ruins of the slave trade. Volunteers can also easily visit Dar es Salaam, a starting point for safaris to the southern circuit or the islands of Pemba, Zanzibar, or Mafia. Some of Tanzania's best beaches are found just south of Dar es Salaam.

Volunteers may go on a weekend safari and see zebras, elephants, giraffes and maybe even a lion at nearby game reserves and parks. Visiting Zanzibar Island is an amazing opportunity and easily arranged as a weekend trip. Another popular excursion is exploring the highest free-standing mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, situated about 435 miles north of Bagamoyo. If you are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro we recommend scheduling it for after completing the CCS volunteer program as hikers need several days to reach the peak.

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Home-Base in Bagamoyo

Our Home-Base in Bagamoyo is located in a safe, quiet, residential neighborhood in a rural fishing village. It is a large house with a common area, kitchen, dining area, and many bedrooms and bathrooms. The CCS office is located within the Home-Base so volunteers have constant access to the CCS staff in Bagamoyo.

Across the street from the Home-Base is a small restaurant and grocery, but the neighborhood is primarily residential. The house is located within walking distance of the beach, health center, and an internet cafe. The community in Bagamoyo is very artistic and there is an arts college nearby with opportunities for drum, dance, painting, and sculpture classes.

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In-Country Staff in Bagamoyo

Local CCS staff in Bagamoyo will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home, and help you better understand Tanzanian culture and history. They will help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to answer any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate—they provide a local perspective, help you learn the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our staff in Bagamoyo below.

Country Director and Program Director: Thea Mushi
Thea Mushi was born in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. For eight years, she worked as the Country Director for the Irish Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO). Thea has also received training as an Accountant and a Community and Social Development Worker. Thea has also worked as a consultant for an international NGO – Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) – based in Tanzania, and also supports her family shipping and farming business. As the Tanzania Country Director, Thea leads the Kilimanjaro, Rural Kilimanjaro and Bagamoyo program operations.

Program Officer: Clementina Bahati
Clementina works directly with the Program Director managing and running CCS Bagamoyo program activities. She is responsible for preparing placement descriptions and for ensuring that existing CCS policies and strategies are understood and followed by all staff and volunteers. Clementina coordinates the arrival schedules for new volunteers, orientation programs feedback meetings, volunteer evaluations, and departure of volunteers. She is always available to respond or attend to volunteer's needs as they arise. She is responsible for making sure that local partner programs understand the mission and objectives of CCS. Clementina works very hard to make sure volunteers enjoy their time in Bagamoyo and enjoys building lasting relationships with the volunteers.

Home-Base Manager:
The Home-Base Manager is responsible for the administrative management of the office and Home-Base and ensures the well-being of staff and volunteers. The manager provides guidance, training, and leadership for the Home-Base staff including house keepers, cooks, gardeners, watchmen, and drivers.

Cooks:
CCS Cooks are responsible for preparing the menu for all meals, cooking and serving food, supervising all kitchen activities, and making sure people get to eat on time. They make sure that the kitchen is very clean and work together to maintain regular lists for food and groceries.

Drivers:
CCS Drivers are responsible for picking up and dropping off volunteers at the airport, placements, and other destinations for Perspectives Programming.

House Keepers:
CCS Housekeepers are responsible for making the beds, cleaning the house, making sure that all the rooms are clean and organized, and reporting all things that require repair. They also provide help, love, and assistance to any sick volunteers, providing them with anything they need.

Home Guards and Gardeners:
CCS Home Guards are responsible for the safety and security of the volunteers and Home-Base and ensure that all volunteers are safe and comfortable. CCS Gardeners are in charge of tending to the Home-Base environment including the gardens, cleaning the surrounding yards and grounds, maintaining the equipment around the compound, and directing visitors to the CCS office.