Community Outreach
The idea of the STEP Africa Community Outreach Program is to reach and support various groups (especially women and children). We focus on groups that are disadvantaged due to their family situation (e.g. single parents), economic situation or housing situation (especially in rural areas of northern Tanzania) and do not have regular access to information services, medical services, counseling and further education as well as sports and team-building activities.
The aim of the outreach program is to care, educate, support, strengthen and to initiate an intercultural exchange.
Our outreach program actively involves international volunteers and is led by a team of qualified educators and social workers, Juma A. Ebwa being our STEP Outreach Coordinator.
Topics
The program covers various topics and areas and is based on a practical approach. It mainly includes topics that are highly relevant for our target groups. We are open to new suggestions if volunteers have knowledge and experiences in any other fields of interest.
- Presentations for Women and Children including the following topics
- Women Health / Female Body
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
- FGM
- HIV/ Aids
- Family Planning Methods
- Puberty
- Human Rights – relevant laws
- Environment, impact of climate change and global warming
- Personal Development
- Workshops / Action Days
- Business Training and Financing
- Nutrition, Healthy Food, Cooking
- Soap Making
- Sewing Menstrual Pads
- Baking Goods for sale
- Planting Trees
- Introducing new Sports and Games / Mental Health & Fun Days
- Self Defense Course
- First Aid Courses
- Individual Counseling and advice
- Implementation of Sponsorship Programs for remote schools
Projects
The goal is to focus on different groups and institutions that can benefit from the variety of topics offered by our community outreach programs. Among others we have been supporting the “Amazing Grace Widows and Orphans Project” in Monduli, the “Ndoto School” and “Kipepeo Wajanja School” in Moita Village, the “Sunshine Nursery School” in Nduruma Village, the “Gily’s Children Foundation” and several women’s groups, health centers and public primary and secondary schools in Arusha and Manyara Regions.
As we develop our programs and topics we plan to reach even more groups within the community.
Approach
We aim at a practical approach that involves the target groups and provides plenty of illustrative materials. We want our groups to be actively involved and learn to participate in a comfortable and free atmosphere.
Our goal is NOT to act as “missionaries” providing “the one right answer” to the challenges of our target groups. We choose a non-religious, non-tribal approach and do not favor any group over another. Our goal is to inform, what our groups do with this information in the end is not on us to judge. Whatever we do, we pledge to do it with the utmost respect towards the cultures and traditions of the people we work with. By involving international volunteers we can provide our groups with an outside view and encourage intercultural dialogue along the way.
The Outreach Program always takes place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
It can be chosen either as a part-time project or you can also join from time to time in addition to your main project.
The Outreach Program can also be supported as a full-time project. In this case, there are 2 preparation days for working on planned and past Outreaches and 3 days of field work.
If you would like to support the Outreach project full-time, you should be aware that you will also be doing a lot of theoretical and background work (please bring your laptop).
Please note that there are only 3 places for full-time volunteers in the Outreach Program.
If you only want to support the outreach from time to time, you are welcome to do this spontaneously here on site and do not have to register in advance.
Fundraising Needs
Due to the practical approach of our outreach program, we need a lot of educational material, sports equipment and other donations in kind, some of which can be brought by the volunteers from their home countries. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Scientific models of the human body (e.g. embryonic development, etc.).
- Information material, stories and pictures about HIV/AIDS
- Samples of different contraceptive methods (condoms, IUD etc.)
- Sports equipment
- Games
- Educational material
- Sewing material
- Sanitary pads / menstrual cups
- And many more!
Our long-term goal is also to purchase an outreach vehicle with which we can reach even more groups in remote villages in Tanzania. The bus will be equipped with various educational material and possibly also other equipment such as a laptop, projector, etc. and will help to transport our team including the volunteers to the site. If you are planning a larger fundraising campaign, please keep the outreach vehicle in mind.
Again and again, the Outreach Team initiates various building projects, e.g. for income-generating projects of the women’s groups. Donations are always gratefully accepted for these projects as well.
With all donations, we attach great importance to transparency, meaningfulness and sustainability.
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Further important Information:
Fundraising
The Project does not receive additional public funds but solely relies on local and international sponsors and supporters. Raising funds in addition to your volunteer work is of course not a must but we highly encourage our volunteers to start a little fundraiser before, during or after their stay in Arusha. We have experienced great success with this in the past and present and saw our volunteers making great impacts. Besides of this it is very rewarding to see with your own eyes how far even a little amount of money can go. Several of our former volunteers even started NGOs and associations in their home countries and are continuing to support and promote their former work institutions here in Tanzania
Preparation
Preparing for a volunteering assignment abroad isn't always a simple task as there is a lot to keep in mind. Our team will be there for you along the way. We have our own STEP Africa preparation area. Once you apply and we confirm your application you will get online access to this area where you find a detailed 90 pages preparation handbook as well as many further updates & information and the contacts of other volunteers travelling at the same time as you. In case of any questions you will always be able to reach us via E-Mail or Phone / WhatsApp.
On the Ground Support and Emergency Availability
The whole STEP Africa Team is on the ground in Tanzania. We are like an extended family and you will always be able to talk to us in case of any problems, questions or if you simply want to have a chat. We are there for you! Of course we are available 24/7 in case of any emergency.
Vaccinations/ Medical Care in Tanzania
We recommend that you consult your trusted travel doctor for individual advice on travel vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis. There aren't any mandatory vaccinations for entering Tanzania and the risk of contracting malaria is considered very low in Arusha due to the altitude. If you plan a trip to the island of Zanzibar, you will need to get a yellow fever shot as it is mandatory there.
Arusha has some good private medical facilities, so in case you fall ill you will be in safe hands.
Booking of Flights and Insurances
Booking your flights and respective travel insurance is not included in our fees and will be your own responsibility. This however is an advantage for you, as you will be able to scan for the best and most affordable offers from your home country or country of residence. Of course we are always happy to help and offer advice in case you are unsure what is the best solution for you. Our arrival day is Thursday and our departure day is Wednesday. Please take this into account when booking your flights.
Visa
In order to volunteer in Tanzania you will need a Visa for Humanitarian and Charity Activities which costs $100 for US-citizens and $50 for citizens of all other countries. This visa is valid for 3 months. Those planning to stay for up to 6 months will need a visa extension which costs $300 ($250 for non US-citizens respectively)
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We are STEP Africa – Exchange for Change, a Tanzanian social enterprise that was founded in German-Tanzanian cooperation in 2014. We organize and supervise meaningful and ethical volunteer placements and internships in Arusha, Northern Tanzania. Till date we have hosted over 1000 interns and volunteers from all over the world.
With our programs we aim to contribute towards international understanding and give our participants intercultural and global ability to act. With the support of our participants we are committed to worthy projects and initiatives in Tanzania. We believe that working together in intercultural teams by exchanging ideas and viewpoints will let everyone involved, Organizations such as volunteers and interns, benefit in the long run.
Our team combines relevant qualifications and many years of experience in project coordination, volunteer mediation and social work in Tanzania and abroad. Our supervisors are available as contact persons on site at any time for our volunteers and projects. We offer our volunteers the opportunity to use their knowledge in Tanzania to get involved in meaningful projects and to gain valuable professional experience in different fields such as Social Work, Women’s Rights, Schools, Daycare Center, Health Care, Animal Welfare and Environmental Protection.
We firmly believe in the power of change through intercultural exchange. With our programs we promote and demand equal rights and cultural tolerance. We place our volunteers exclusively in projects in which they can gain valuable experience for their future. Our volunteers do not replace local employees. Volunteers are assistants who offer support to local staff and, for example, perform tasks for which there is otherwise too little time. It is important to us that we only place our volunteers in projects that share our values towards international volunteering.
