Tanzania HIV/AIDS Prevention Program

  Tanzania

Arusha

Term: Academic Year, Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Throughout the Year

Description: Engage community groups in HIV/AIDS education while living with a host family in Arusha, Tanzania.

Tanzania is facing a serious HIV/AIDS epidemic whose negative impact threatens the development of the country affecting agriculture, tourism, and the daily life of every citizen. In response to this crisis, Global Service Corps' HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Program teams Volunteers with local community leaders and indigenous organizations to offer week long trainings in HIV/AIDS prevention to urban and rural community groups as well as secondary school students. The trainings include not only information on HIV transmission and prevention but also cover treatment of opportunistic diseases, life skills, stigma, and the importance of healthy living through good nutrition.

At the conclusion of each training program, a community member who is living with HIV/AIDS encourages each trainee to be tested and to know their status. Approximately 80% of all GSC trainees participate in the counseling and testing provided at the training. During the trainings, an emphasis on education, testing, and friendship helps spread the word that AIDS is a disease that can be prevented - and just as importantly that those who do have AIDS need all the love, care and support afforded any human.

Each summer, GSC staff, volunteers and counterparts also provide youth day camps that focus on HIV/AIDS education and prevention, youth sexuality, and life skills. These camps are designed to be an interactive way for secondary school students to learn in a fun and creative way about issues related to HIV/AIDS including transmission and prevention, relationships, sexuality, and healthy life skills. GSC is now providing follow up training and support to the peer educators and teachers who participate in these much appreciated day camps.

Whether you participate in community trainings or a day camp you will undoubtedly be changed by your experience and will leave with the knowledge that you have impacted lives through the sharing of encouragement and information with your new Tanzanian friends.

Highlights: Homestays: Volunteers experience true cultural immersion by living with a local Tanzanian family. GSC places volunteers with hosts who enjoy learning about other cultures and appreciate the unique opportunity that hosting an international volunteer gives to their family. Host families have been carefully chosen by GSC and our partners, and many have hosted volunteers over the course of several years. Whether you are learning Tanzanian games or sharing a plate of ugali (corn meal) and sakuma weki (greens) with your Tanzanian Mama, your homestay experience with GSC hosts will provide memories and friendships lasting a lifetime.

Tanzanian Partners: The experience of GSC volunteers is greatly enhanced by their daily interaction with local counterparts, whether a nurse at a hospital, a teacher at a school, or a college-bound translator, Volunteers and their Tanzanian partners build mutually beneficial and often long lasting bonds of friendship. Local partners assist Volunteers with obtaining local transportation, finding the best local restaurants, learning local language phrases, meeting community leaders, and giving tips about and often participating in social activities. Counterparts play a vital role in providing a true cultural immersion experience while helping to insure that the volunteers' interaction with and service to the community is appropriate and effective.

Cultural Orientation and Technical Training: All Tanzania Service-Learning programs include in-depth cultural orientation including Swahili lessons, a tutorial on how to use the dala-dala bus system like a local and an insider's tour of Arusha. Volunteers also receive technical training on HIV/AIDS; including the biology of the virus, HIV in the Tanzanian context, and how to lead week-long educational workshops.

Qualifications: Global Service Corps looks for volunteers who exhibit energy, self-motivation and enthusiasm. No special qualifications are needed -- just an interest in health, HIV/AIDS prevention education, or agriculture and a willingness to help others and challenge yourself! Must be 18 years and above.

Cost in US$: USD 2,825

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteers and interns who are interested in having an unforgettable cultural immersion experience. You will live, serve, learn and play with your Tanzanian family and community. Our participants are all ages ranging from 18-85 years old. You will learn Swahili in our weekly lessons and enjoy weekend excursions into the beautiful Tanzanian countryside! If you want to see and enjoy the "wildness" of Africa and it's wonderful people from an insider's perspective, you will benefit immensely. A certain degree of maturity and independence is needed.

Age Range: 18 - 85

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Tanzania Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 1-5

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Service Corps's Mission Statement: Working from offices on three continents, Global Service Corps is dedicated to fulfilling our mission of designing and implementing effective service-learning programs that provide maximum benefit to our program participants and the communities we serve. Through the hard work of our staff, support of our advisory board, collaboration with our partners and the participation of hundreds of volunteers each year, Global Service Corps has earned its reputation as a leader in international volunteerism, service-learning and community development.

Year Founded: 1992