Volunteers (either Tanzanian or from abroad) are welcome to help FONELISCO.

The program structure of volunteers at FONELISCO is based on the number of     volunteers available.   The more volunteers present will result in more activities which can take place.  Volunteer activities include: teaching students (prepare lesson plans and teach nursery/preschool and primary students, help secondary students with their homework),  HIV awareness and sex education,  individual and group counseling, daily sports and games, weekly night walk to speak with street children, home visits to relatives of current FONELISCO children as well as visiting children who have been reintegrated with their family, cooking,  help with small repairs and yard work at the orphanage,  helping to cultivate, plant, and harvest crops at the new land,  as well as many other activities that volunteers may wish to take part in.  One of the unique opportunities that FONELISCO can provide to volunteers is to create a volunteer   experience that will improve FONELISCO but is tailored to the expertise of the volunteer.  Joseph Elias, director of FONELISCO, is happy to speak with any potential volunteers to discuss what type of work they would like to do at FONELISCO.

Most volunteers stay with FONELISCO for a period of 1 month up to 6 months.

Volunteers who come to FONELISCO are expected to pay a fee.  This money is used to cover the volunteer’s accommodation and food, airport transfers on arrival and depature, as well as costs of running the orphanage such as education, health care, rent, food, administration, support from local project staff etc.

Classes:

We have 66 children at the centre. 26 are girls and 40 are boys. The age is between 3 to 17 years old. The children are split into four classes according to their age and levels. Volunteers are expected to teach a small group from 9 to 11am each morning and from 3 to 5 pm each afternoon from Monday to Friday. There are updated folders of each class at the project, so volunteers know the level that the children are at and what has previously been taught in the classes. English and math are generally the focus of the lessons as these are both very important subjects for the children in school. However, many volunteers include different subjects such as science, biology, art, music, drama, geography etc. These extra classes are vital to the children education so they can catch up in school, as many of them have spent years of their childhoods out of school. Some of the younger children aren't able to read and write and need lots of extra attention. Lessons are usually good fun for both the volunteers and the children, in which volunteers have the opportunity to teach in creative ways such as using role plays, art projects, and educational games.

Trips:

At the weekend the volunteers have the opportunity to bring the children on day trips outside the centre. Previous trips have included the beach, a football match, boat trips, safaris, etc. Also, smaller trips are possible like to the park to play football. The children and volunteers both have great fun on trips out of the centre.

Activities:

After lessons or at weekends, volunteers can co-ordinate or partake in fun activities for the children, such as a sports day, dancing, games such as musical chairs, badminton, volleyball, basketball, team building games, treasure hunts and any other imaginative ideas volunteers can think of.

HIV and Behavioral change programme:

The children regularly partake in a HIV programme and behavioral change group counseling sessions. These programmes are run by local qualified Tanzanians and people from abroad as well. The issues that are brought up in these programmes are extremely important to the children in their daily lives. Many of the children have lived on the street or with abusive families, meaning that the children are very vulnerable and the tools that they learn in these programmes are vital to their lives. The volunteers are informed about the topics brought up in these programme and can reiterate them in ways such as using worksheets, role-plays, posters, art, etc.

Caring for the children:

The children get sick on a regular basis. This is usually due to malaria, worms or amoeba. There is a hospital in town that the children can be tested for these illnesses. Volunteers take the children to the clinic or hospital and once the illness is known, volunteers buy the appropriate medicine at a local pharmacy and use accordingly. This is generally a morning activity for volunteers, to care for a child who has stayed at the centre who is too sick for school.

If volunteers get the chance to do some fundraising before coming out to volunteer at the project this would be greatly appreciated. The project is always struggling with funds, especially when new children (girls and boys) are regularly turning up at the centre. If you have any questions about fundraising please do not hesitate to contact us. Previous fundraising activities carried out by volunteers are sponsored runs, charity dances and dinners, raffles, coffee mornings, organizing a flew market, benfit partys, concerts and many more.

Accommodation:

Volunteers will stay in a house next to the orphanage. There is a TV, cd, dvd, and video players, a western toilet, and hot shower at the house. The house is regularly cleaned, but volunteers are expected to keep the house tidy and wash their own clothes.  Breakfast lunch and dinner are provided for volunteers. A mosquito net will be provided for you.

There is also the option to stay in one of the hotels nearby the orphanage. If you choose to stay there, the price for accommodation will increase.

Mwanza is situated in North Tanzania, right on Lake Victoria. It is called Rock city, as there are huge rocks placed all over the city. There is a beach nearby and a pool at a local hotel in the town which volunteers can relax at during the weekend. Volunteers also have the opportunity to go on safari to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro or Rubondo Island. The project can help to organize this for volunteers who want to arrange a safari during their stay.

Costs of volunteering:

400 USD per month.

This price includes accomodation, three meals per day, and a small donation to the orphanage.