Rural Kilimanjaro

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Volunteer Work in Rural Kilimanjaro

CCS volunteers in Rural Kilimanjaro are based in Bomang’ombe, a small village in the Hai District of Kilimanjaro. CCS volunteers will work side-by-side with farming settlers and 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 Rural Kilimanjaro 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.
• Healthcare : The public hospitals in Rural Kilimanjaro 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. Rural Kilimanjaro volunteers in health placements should be mindful of the potential for a large language barrier.
• 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 in communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Volunteers in Boma become an important part of the support networks for people affected by the widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania.

Volunteer Abroad programs are offered in Rural Kilimanjaro. Placements are always designed to match your skills and interests to the needs identified by the community. Read more about our Partner Programs and our placement process.

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Rural Kilimanjaro

CCS in-country staff in rural Kilimanjaro coordinates Cultural & Learning Activities to give volunteers the opportunity to deepen their connection with the local community and widen their perspective of the world. A variety of activities are offered during the week to educate the volunteers about the local culture and customs, and understand how community development.

In addition to your volunteer work, you will have the opportunity to visit Maasai tribal villages to learn about their traditions, culture, and day-to-day living. You'll even see and participate in tribal dance and drumming circles. You'll learn about local issues from guest speakers, covering topics such as women's rights, socio-economics in the community, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania. Weekly Swahili language classes are also offered.

Activities may also include visits to coffee, banana, or maize plantations, local caves, or the United Nations Building for the International Tribunal for the Rwanda Trials.

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Free Time in Rural Kilimanjaro

You'll have ample free time to explore the community, the greater Kilimanjaro region, and even other regions in Tanzania.

During the afternoons, you can visit indigenous Maasai tribal villages, located 15 minutes away, just at the bottom of the hill. On Tuesdays and Saturdays the Traveling Market comes to the village, showcasing fresh fruits, colorful batiks, Maasai beads and more. If you enjoy walking, you may want to spend an afternoon hiking a local waterfall or simply visiting the neighbors in town.

On weekends, visits to nearby Moshi town are possible, about 30 minutes away by bus. You can also travel to Arusha, the safari gateway of Tanzania, which is an hour bus ride from the village.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is recommended after your program, as the climb may take a week for most travelers.

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Home-Base in Rural Kilimanjaro

The CCS Home-Base in the Hai District of Kilimanjaro, in a small village called Bomang'ombe. The Home-Base is in a rural community largely untouched by tourism, made up of farming settlers as well as the tribal Chagga, Maasai, and Pare peoples. Since the village is so small, everything is in close proximity and accessible. Many volunteers will be able to walk to their placements from the Home-Base, for example. It will be a short walk to travel into the center of town where there are small schools, shops, and markets.

At the CCS Home-Base you'll have the chance to connect with CCS staff in rural Kilimanjaro and fellow volunteers, enjoy healthy, authentic meals, reflect on your experiences, or just relax. The Home-Base offers clean, modest accommodations with shared occupancy rooms. The CCS Office is even located in the Home-Base, giving you unlimited access to our local staff and all they have to offer. CCS staff is always on-hand to support your needs, no matter how big or small.

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In-Country Staff in Rural Kilimanjaro

Local CCS staff in Rural Kilimanjaro 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.

Country 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 Director - Rural Kilmanjaro: Zik Kundy
Zik is responsible for maintaining good communications and an open relationship between Cross-Cultural Solutions Tanzania and our Partner Programs in Rural Kilimanjaro. He also monitors the volunteer work, is a resource for the volunteers, and assists Mama Thea with communication to the New York Office concerning volunteer issues. He is also responsible for delivering lectures as part of the Perspectives Programming offered to CCS volunteers. Zik’s cultural education sessions span the history, politics, family structure and customs of Tanzania, to name just a few.

House Managers
The House Managers are responsible for logistical arrangements such as arranging transportation and food.

Program Officers
The Program Officers are in charge of day-to-day operations in the office and the program. You can always talk to them when you have questions about your volunteer work.

Program Coordinator
The Program Coordinator works directly with the Program Officer, assisting with the support and follow up of the volunteers. They can help and answer any questions or concerns you may have about your placement.

Drivers
Our drivers will pick you up and drop you off at the airport. They will also provide transportation to and from the worksites and when necessary for the field trips.

Cooks
The cooks are in charge of preparing traditional Tanzanian cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Housekeeper
The housekeeper is in charge of all of the housekeeping for the Home-Base. They will wash your linens and towels once a week and they are in charge of keeping the house clean and comfortable.

Home Guards
The guards are in charge of the safety of the house and the volunteers.