Join us in Tanzania this summer and make a difference in the lives of local children during service at a village school. You’ll immerse yourself in the rich cultural traditions of this East African country and have a chance to explore the nation’s spectacular scenery.
Our goal in our host village is to help improve the learning environment and the general quality of life for the local people. You will become a driving force in helping us accomplish this.
You will spend much of your time here working at the local school. Come create a positive learning environment for local kids who don't have much beyond the very basics. Arts and crafts, educational games, sports, and English classes are all rare treats here. Your projects will help inspire these kids' imaginations and ensure they receive the individual attention they deserve. They will happily welcome you into their school and they may even teach you a little Swahili in addition to some local customs in between English lessons! When you aren't working with the kids you will be completing work on two new classrooms including adding floors, plastering, and painting to help transform the school into a welcoming and positive environment for students.
The community service projects are designed to give you a first-hand introduction to Tanzanian culture and help you become a part of the community. You will get to know local people, learn about development issues in the region, and contribute to projects that have a lasting impact on your host village.
Tucked in the shadow of stunning Mount Kilimanjaro, Njoro village welcomes you with open arms. The atmosphere at the Base is rustic but comfortable, and not only will your neighbors be the very teachers and students that you work with during the days, but you'll fall asleep to the lullaby of exotic birds and the breeze swishing through the banana trees. Ideally situated in a small village, the Base will give you access to both the country's stunning natural wonders and authentic local life.
Spend your summer immersing yourself in a vital, ongoing effort to support, educate, and develop a community. You will gain a real understanding of another culture and are likely to leave with a new perspective on your own life. The Faces of East Africa program was designed for those who want to experience Tanzania’s rich culture while participating in worthwhile community service projects. If that’s you, then pack your bags and join us this summer.
All of Rustic Pathways scheduled group flights to Tanzania are escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader and depart from New York. The flight departs in the evening and takes about 16 hours. During your flight take the time to get to know other students on your flight, and get some sleep in preparation for your arrival into Africa.
You will arrive into Arusha, Tanzania in the early evening and will transfer to the Rustic Pathways Base. Spend the night getting to know the staff and as part of your initial orientation, you will be taught many aspects of Tanzania protocols and expectations of behavior.
Today you will transfer to your base which is located in the heart of Njoro village. The property has been set up for Rustic Pathways to have sole use of the Country Style Bungalow's and grounds throughout the summer. Our student's safety is our number one priority on all our programs. You will meet some of the most important people of the village and get a tour of your new home as well as the projects that you will be working on for the week.
Today will be your first full day of service work. You will be taking part in a number of different community service projects throughout the summer that will benefit the students of Poli Primary School, which is located in Njoro Village. Project work during the course of your program may involve participation in a variety of initiatives. You can expect to spend time within the local schools, tutoring students in English, helping with classroom activities and getting involved with local sporting events. Other projects will involve building two new classrooms for the school and painting the classrooms that Rustic Pathways' students built last year. Your time of this program of service will be varied, interesting, challenging and extremely rewarding and worthwhile. At the conclusion of each afternoon's work you will return to the base house for the evening.
During the next four days your focus will primarily be on the projects your group is undertaking for your time in Africa. Each morning and afternoon, you will be assigned a specific project, the team then works alongside and under the guidance of a Rustic Pathways staff member and various members of the local school that take an interest in the projects.
The description contained here should give you a good idea of what may happen during your stay. After your morning project you will typically continue your work for a few hours after lunch and then your group may head off to watch the village teams play a soccer match or set up a match with the local students. Another afternoon your group might explore the surrounding area, perhaps taking an enjoyable hike to a nearby waterfall or visit homes in the community to learn how to cook traditional dishes!
This morning will be the conclusion of your service work within the local villages. A time for farewells and best wishes and a chance to reflect on the experiences and memories which have encapsulated themselves in the hearts of your group over such a seemingly short period of time. Incredible friendships are made that will be cherished for many years to come. We will make the transfer back to Arusha for lunch.
If you are departing to the USA tonight, your afternoon will include a stroll through the streets of Arusha with staff checking out the local markets that are filled with high quality crafts for gifts or souvenirs. After a final meal with your group, you travel to the airport and bid Tanzania farewell (until next year perhaps). You will arrive back into New York on Thursday (Day 10) morning.
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.
All of the items below are guidelines. If you are doing a combination of trips over two or three weeks, be sure to check the packing lists for all sections of your trip to pack appropriately. You will have the opportunity to wash your clothing during this trip. The following are specific items suggested for each trip portion. Tanzania is a fairly conservative country, so although females are allowed to wear shorts during service work, please keep them modest (mid-thigh or longer). A long skirt is a good idea for going into town or visiting church etc. Keep in mind, it is Tanzania's winter season so temperature during the day is around (65-75) and cool and at night (40-50). If you have any questions about these packing lists please feel free to email our Tanzania team at tanzania@rusticpathways.com.
Yes, Rustic Pathways will provide bottled water for the entire program.
Upon arrival, you will be able to purchase a visa from the immigration officer. You do not need to obtain a visa before your trip. If you are an American citizen, you need to bring $100 USD with them (other nationalities need $50 USD). *Note: Make sure the bills are clean, undamaged and printed after the year 2000.*
Students will be staying in a a guesthouse directly in the village. Western toilets, warm water showers and school children as neighbors.
As a company, we are unable to advise students as to which type of immunizations they should receive, however we do recommend that you check on the World Health Organization’s website, the Center for Disease Control website or speak with a local travel clinic doctor for the latest information.
We recommend students bring spending money for souvenirs, extra snacks and if so desired, their safari guide. *Rustic Pathways guides do not, under any circumstances, accept monetary gifts/tips.
A flight leader will meet all the students at JFK and be with them until their arrival in Tanzania as well as their return flight home.
Due to lack of airline connectivity and Tanzania's geographical location, it is difficult to connect to the other countries in which we operate. We suggest any student interested in connecting programs, first return home and join the following week's group flight. This will allow enough time to smoothly integrate into the upcoming trip, without missing out on the first couple of days.
It is roughly 19 hours.
We have cooks that provide most of our meals and have worked with us for a number of years. They do a wonderful job of creating familiar dishes for the students, while also fixing the occasional local meal. Meals typically include soup, salad, main course and dessert. Special circumstances, such as being a vegetarian, can be accommodated.
Yes, there have been a couple small changes to the program, namely the accommodation moving into the village as well as several new cultural activities.
Contact Us: For more information about The Faces of East Africa you can email tanzania@rusticpathways.com.
The Faces of East Africa combines well with the following programs.
Ages: 14 to 18 years old
Length: 10 days from the USA
Hours: Up to 28 hours awarded
Cost: $1,695
International airfare is not included in the above cost. Please check our Travel Desk for airfare pricing and specifics.
| Departs Tue | Returns Thu | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun | 27 Jun | Limited |
| 25 Jun | 4 Jul | Available |
| 2 Jul | 11 Jul | Limited |
| 9 Jul | 18 Jul | Limited |
| 16 Jul | 25 Jul | Very Limited |
Dates shown are inclusive of travel time from the United States. Most Rustic Pathways trips interconnect, allowing you to design your own perfect summer program.
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