2006 Trip

July 9-22
Sept 1-14
Nov 1-14

2007 Trip

Fifth Group: April 1-14
Sixth Group: June 1-14
Seventh Group: July 1-14
Eighth Group: Sept 1-14
Ninth Group: Nov 1-14

Join our humanitarian trip in Tanzania and build an orphanage for the orphans of Masai land (see some pictures of Masai lands/people). The Masai, famous as herders and warriors, once dominated the plains of East Africa , are now struggling for survival in the changing world due to the lack of education and resources. In Tanzania , we are working with BAL Foundation which is running programs to enhance the livelihood of the rural villagers, orphans, women and tribal groups as the Masai. They also conduct environmental projects like introducing firebricks and small solar panels.

BAL Foundation has been working to rehabilitate the orphaned and abandoned children by offering them safe home, informal and formal education, and skill oriented trainings. They are trying to develop a village type structure (with school, training centre, homes, playing ground) close to Kilimanjaro to protect and educate nearly 800 orphaned children. However, there is a huge lack of resources to carry out this project. So, our help will support Bal Foundation to carry out its mission of protecting orphans of Masai land.

On the Humanitarian Trip

As a volunteer in Tanzania humanitarian project, you will help in the construction of a school and training facilities for orphan children. Construction work will be slightly physically demanding. Local villagers will also work together with the volunteers. Works includes digging, removing mud, carrying brick, cements, water, mixing of cement, sand, and gravel, plastering, and other works related to construction project. We build up the facilities in African way using local materials and traditional construction methods so it will also be an amazing experience for our volunteers.

We expect to complete the school and training buildings, an office building, and store facilities, in 8-9 different phases. In the first phase, we will do fencing and foundation works and connect the power and water to the construction areas. From the second phase, the actual construction work begins. So, the nature of work may vary as the construction work progresses.

In this project, you work and live in Masai village of Mt Meru and surrounding areas and during the free time you can explore wonderful culture of Masai land. You can trek or hike in nearby villages near Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro, visit the game reserves (for example Serengeti or N'gorongoro crater), do canoeing at Lake Duluti or get a horse back driving to Mt Meru rain forest. You can also play with orphan kids and organize variety of creative activities like painting, singing, dancing, teaching, etc.

Accommodation, Food, Transportation

Tengeru village is 10 kilometres away from Arusha town. It is located amidst the coffee and fruit plantations at the Mt Meru slopes. Volunteers will stay in private houses in the village (we will either rent the house or adjust volunteers with the local villagers). You will have running water and other facilities. We manage local food 3 times a day. Volunteers join and enjoy the cooking with our local staffs.