Maasai International Challenge Africa (MICATZ) was founded on July 2007 with the aim of offers the opportunity to work on meaningful projects in schools, orphanages, hospitals, health clinics, on different community projects and with government organizations.
Participants live with a host family and undertake voluntary work placements in social work, conservation, health care, or teaching English to nurseries, primary and secondary schools to children ranging in ages from 0 - 15 years old.
Each year we place over 500 people into our programs abroad and have a wide range of volunteer travel opportunities, in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana, India, Nepal, Philippines, Malawi, Bolivia, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru - Cusco, Peru - Lima and Thailand.
Program date, any date of the year
Medical Work Experience Placements in Tanzania
if you are looking for valuable hands-on medical experience, this internship is a great opportunity. There are many health issues to be explored and there is an obvious lack of manpower and resources in the local hospitals located in the major cities where we operate.
As a medical intern, you will study these rural health posts and community clinics. Participants spend the majority of their internship learning as an assistant to an already-existing doctor / healthcare professional. Work responsibilities vary with your education, skills, and previous experience.
Skills / Qualifications
Interns interested in joining the internship healthcare / medical program must possess health care certification, such as an ID as a medical student, EMT or paramedic certification, or nursing or physician's credentials. Medical interns without credentials are not allowed to work in this program because of the potential liability risk. Hospitals require a copy of your resume, clearly stating credentials and education, before your arrival to the project.
Orientation
On the first day of the project, you will be given an extensive orientation to familiarize you with your new surroundings. You will be informed of local customs and how to get around using public transportation. A project co-coordinator will also meet you to explain your role as a volunteer. The orientation will cover all the relevant information about your project, including safety issues. An individual timetable will be worked out for you based on how much time you want to commit to volunteering.
Internship work
In the internship, you will select a particular area of interest related to medical / healthcare issues and explore the issue further with the help of an assigned supervisor. Please note: the project supervisor DOES NOT develop internships as this is up to the intern to get as much or as little out of their projects.
Job responsibilities of interns joining a medical internship in Tanzania (or to somewhere else where we operate) vary with education, skills, experience, and qualifications. Interns are not allowed to perform diagnoses or surgical operations.
Most of the time, intern's help the doctor or work as an assistant to doctors. Interns measure blood pressure (BP), temperature, height, weight, as well as assist doctors and the medical staff in the health centers.
Interns may also help in health camps (if any), distribute medication, provide tips to patients pertaining to health, nutrition and sanitation as well as council patients, and possibly participate in the treatment for minor injuries/wounds and/or maintain records of treated.
Medical Interns / Volunteers' will work with a HIV/AIDS outreach clinic conducting home-based care to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The homecare will include counseling to the caretakers and distributing medication and food supplies to people suffering with HIV or AIDS. Other duties will depend on which projects the organization is working on when the volunteer is there. Volunteers will sometimes be required to visit a branch office.
Volunteers in the HIV/AIDS program will devote their time taking care of HIV/AIDS infected children and people while getting them engaged in various educational activities designed to increase their awareness of the disease in hopes of their dissemination of the information to others in hopes of ultimately stopping and preventing the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. This project is open to any volunteers who are willing to share their love, time, and compassion with the HIV/AIDS infected/affected patients.
Internship Program locations and Fees and Dates: please Email us and we will get back to you with appropriate answers of your questions.
Tanzania Orphanage Work
Maasai International Challenge Africa (MICATZ) offers the opportunity to work on meaningful projects in schools, orphanages, hospitals, health clinics, on different community projects and with government organizations. Participants live with a host family and undertake voluntary work placements in social work, conservation, health care, or teaching English to nurseries, primary and secondary schools to children ranging in ages from 0 - 15 years old.
Due to alarming rates of poverty and HIV/AIDS Tanzania have an extraordinarily high number of orphans and street children? We work with a number of these centres in and around Moshi Town by providing volunteers and funding for locally-based initiatives.
There are several orphanages in the Moshi region which care for anything from 70 to over 100 orphans at a time. They are set up to provide a safe and caring environment for children orphaned due to HIV or AIDS, others have been abandoned by parents that cannot afford to provide for them, some have ran away from abusive homes or have been excommunicated from their community due to a disability. Kind and compassionate individuals set them up with no help from the government.
They must provide food, clothing, school fees, health care and a roof over the children's heads. The main source of funding for these orphanages is donations. The orphanages are not big enough to hold the amount of orphans, which results in children having to share beds with up to 4 children in 1 single bed.
Some are lucky enough to have farms for food sustainability but this is still not enough at times. As the orphanages' are so large, and resources so low, volunteers are a great resource in helping to look after the orphans. By simply spending time with the orphans and giving them a little attention, you can get the most rewarding feeling imaginable.
Each centre is about 60 minutes walk from the Volunteer House. Public transport is also available.
Volunteers will be responsible for playing games with the children, some low-level teaching, helping the staff with chores and general running of the Orphanage.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring resources such as Art materials and games if they wish.
All initiatives, ideas and feedback are encouraged so don't be afraid to take responsibility and speak to the Project Co-Ordinator if you have any plans that you think may be of benefit.
HIV/AIDS counselor, support staff and/or educator
Maasai International Challenge Africa (MICATZ) offers the opportunity to work on meaningful projects in schools, orphanages, hospitals, health clinics, on different community projects and with government organizations. Participants live with a host family and undertake voluntary work placements in social work, conservation, health care, or teaching English to nurseries, primary and secondary schools to children ranging in ages from 0 - 15 years old.
AIDS is responsible for over 3 million deaths in Africa. Despite major investments in AIDS prevention, the rate of HIV infection in many African countries is still rising. The HIV/AIDS epidemic has exacerbated poverty and malnutrition. Families hit by AIDS see their food production cut in half. UNAIDS and WHO estimate that 7 out of 10 people newly infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. Of all AIDS-related deaths since the epidemic started, 83% have come from Africa.
The impact of AIDS is deepening and getting worse as the economy continues to struggle; the need for action now to prevent its further spread is urgent. HIV/AIDS projects in Ghana aim at the effective control and management of HIV/AIDS, and provide support for those affected by the disease
As a volunteer you can help care for people with HIV/AIDS. Casualties from HIV/AIDS related deaths are reversing the quality of life in many communities. HIV/AIDS is continuing to spread and is increasing poverty. The level of intervention is at its lowest and prejudice is at its highest. Volunteers work at special clinics for AIDS patients providing care and support and directly with local community based organization providing support, counseling and programs for people living with HIV/AIDS. There is a lot to learn and experience working on these projects
Volunteer's responsibilities
You offer care and support for HIV/AIDS infected children and people,
Engage in educational and training activities meant to increase awareness and stop the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Assist in vocational training for the HIV infected persons who have either lost their jobs or unemployed
Home and school visitation for the children who are rendered Orphans or vulnerable due the the direct and indirect effect of the HIV/AIDS on them
Other activities set out by the community based organization shall be among your responsibilities
Organizations who work on the HIV/AIDS problem have established different community outreach programs such as hospital care, recreational and educational programs, voluntary counseling and testing, and educational seminars and conferences on the virus within the local community. Volunteers help is very needy in all of these activities.
Program Objectives
To offer education, sensitization, care and support for affected people
To offer a peer education, educational campaign and awareness for the youth on the preventive measures and dangers of the disease.
To expand the volunteer's knowledge on the dangers and socio-economic problems associated with HIV/AIDS so there can be an increasing global action and awareness
To promote greater community residents participatory role and the sense of responsibility for development projects to boost maintenance and sustainability of such projects
To promote friendliness between volunteers' community and that of the beneficiary communities.
To offer volunteers deeper understanding and experience of other cultures and economies
Program Duration and Dates Program is opened to volunteers all year round. Volunteers can spend from two weeks to six months on the program. A night in the capital upon arrival (sometimes due to problems like your luggage being left behind by the airline, staying in Arusha may be go beyond a day), orientation by Focus in Africa to offer volunteers education on the culture, traditions and sensitivities of the people in the community of work, basic local language syllabus and how to go about things in the community in terms of food, water, socialization, etc. The pre-departure information will be enough an orientation for participants who intend to spend a month or less on a placement
Who can volunteer? Anybody can volunteer in this program as long as you are 16 years or more. It is regardless of your profession, skill or experience. You can volunteer as a team or an individual. Your service is highly needed. However you should understand that you will not do anything that may stigmatize any of the people you meet in the course of your work. You need to have an open mind and a willing heart.
How can a volunteer instantly identify his/her contributions after participation?
Life will be better for beneficiaries, especially the AIDS sufferers as you attend to them with love and care even not offered by family and friends, by this you will see yourself become a friend to someone few people understand and smile with.
Family and friends shall gain a better understanding of the disease or problem and what is required of them for the affected person
There will be such a great joy to be felt by the affected persons during your participation and your work, love and commitment would have developed such a passion that your departure would bring tears in the eyes of those you are leaving behind. See such a great love you have brought to someone in need.
There will be a greater awareness of the disease or problems in the work community, especially among the students and youth to be approached with educational programs
How will you benefit from volunteering in this program?
You will discover more about yourself which will definitely help you in making many vital decisions
You will experience a true and pure culture of a different kind in this same world
You will enhance on your knowledge on life, society, care the HIV/AIDS disease and its effect on people.
You will be proud of yourself for doing something very positive in your own means to better the life of someone.
It shall be such a great adventure and break
It will definitely be something new for you which you shall keep and treasure with passion
An opportunity to acquire knowledge for educating your peers back home about the disease.
Safaris In Tanzania
Safari, in Kiswahili, simply means "journey", but it has now become a synonym for an African wildlife adventure.
Our partner organization in Tanzania arranges a 5-day camping safari to Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Park for volunteers.
Transportation is in a land cruiser with maximum 4 other volunteers, so everyone has a window seat.
You will camp in a spacious tent with beds and access to toilet and shower, clean drinking water and 3 meals a day.
The safari staff includes a professional guide, cook and crew in charge of practical tasks and safety at the campsites. All vehicles have VHF radios.
The safari starts and ends in Arusha.
The cost of this 5-day Camping Safari is 850 USD or its $170 USD per person per day.
You will also be asked to tip the cook and driver at the end of the trip, 5 USD per day to the cook, 10 USD per day to the driver.
Included in this fee
• Entrance fees.
• Full board and accommodation.
• Driver and guide in a 4×4 vehicle.
• Game drives.
• Extra bottle of water daily.
• Visit to a Maasai village in Ngorongoro, on the way to Serengeti
• Visit to Olduvai Gorge in Ngorongoro.
• Government taxes.
Not included in the fee
• Extras at campsites i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
• Tips to the driver and cook.
If the start dates for the safari do not fit with your volunteer work stay, the coordinator can arrange a break in your volunteer job, so you can return to work after the safari.
Your Program fees will includes: personalized Volunteer Placement, Project Donation, language instruction, cultural education, Meals, Accommodation, and transportation to and from all MICATZ placements and programs, pre-departure guidance from MICATZ headquarters staff, 24-hour access to in-country staff.
Dates: Flexible dates and durations of stay. Available throughout year, from 4 weeks-3 months+. You pick your start and finish dates.
Cost: Costs vary depending on length of stay. Starts at $500-750usd for 4 weeks including accommodation, food, transfer from the airport, full pre-departure support, local in-country team support and backup, 24-hour emergency support.
Contact MICATZ HQ via: Tel/Fax: +255272546233
Contact MICATZ Coordinator in Europe via; Tel; +4536987167 or Skype; micatz
Website: www.micatz.org and Email us via; info@micatz.org