For volunteers

Volunteers are warmly welcome to work with Ni Hekima Pekee. They are very valuable to organisation by lending their support and manpower and using skills and knowledge they have. When applying to volunteer, we wish you to fill up background questionnaire. By answering this questionnaire you help NIHEP to plan and customize suitable tasks for your volunteering. Responses will be sent to NIHEP's contact person.

Programme lenghts
Volunteers need to be working for NIHEP for at least 2 weeks, up to 6 months. Weekly activities for the volunteer are planned together with the organisation workers, depending on volunteers skills, experience and interest.

Visa and permit information
When working as a volunteer in Tanzania, you should purchase yourself  business Visa.Volunteers are encourage to buy the business visa at the entry point,  You are not allowed to volunteer in Tanzania if you have only tourist visa. More information about the visa and permit requirements can be found here.We are encouraging volunteers to contact NIHEP for more information in case of changes from our migration department changes

Accommodation
Volunteers will have to search for accommodation on, www.airbnb.com or bookings.com

Insurances
It is strongly advised that volunteers obtain medical insurance prior to entering Tanzania. It is also very recommendable that volunteer has her/his own liability insurance during the voluntary work.

Transport
Usually volunteers will transport by public transport, by their own costs.

Volunteer arrivals and departures

Volunteers are encouraged to organized her/his transport to his /her staying place, One of NIHEP staff will pick you up to the office  
Volunteers can arrive any day during the week.

Vaccinations and medication
Volunteers need to obtain a valid yellow fever certificate, no less than ten days prior to travel. It is imperative that volunteers obtain malaria prophylactics before entering Tanzania. Volunteers are also strongly advised to bring with them any other precautionary items, e.g. insect repellent and mosquito nets. Volunteers are also advised to get immunized against cholera, polio, hepatitis A & B, typhoid and tetanus before coming to Tanzania.

If volunteers have medication, it is advised that they bring this medication with them rather than trying to purchase it in Tanzania.

Volunteers must drink only boiled or bottled water. More useful health information for travellers can be found here.

Facilities
Doctor/medical services are available in Mwanza city. Banks and foreign exchange facilities are available in the city as well. Banking hours are from 8:30 to 14:30 from Monday to Friday and from 8:30 to 13:30 on Saturdays. Visas and Mastercards are accepted at most hotels and shops. You can find ATM's in the city centre where you can easily withdraw cash.

Internet
Volunteers might buy own modems in Tanzania, or if they prefer, they might  buy SIM card and connect internet , this is done by help of our staff who can accompany you you to make sure you have reliable internet 

Language and culture
The official language in Tanzania is Swahili (Kiswahili), which is spoken predominantly with few other local languages. Kiswahili is the language the primary schools teach in. English is the second official language and the country’s commercial language. English is also the teaching language for all the scientific subjects in secondary schools and higher education institutions. Arabic is widely spoken in the coastal areas of Tanzania, particularly in Zanzibar. It is advised that volunteers try to learn at least few Kiswahili words before coming over, because this is greatly respected by the local people.

Some useful kiswahili words:
  • How are you? =  Habari? (You can respond nzuri, safi or salama).
  • How are you? (For one person) = Hujambo? (You can respond sijambo).
  • How are you? (For more than one person) = Hamjambo? (They should respond hatujambo.)
  • How is it going? (Slang, greeting often used in the streets) = Mambo? / Mambo vipi? (You can respond like poa, nzuri, safi or salama).
  • Respectful greeting to older person = Shikamoo. (Correct reply to greeting is marahaba).
  • Good morning / how is the morning? = Habari za asubuhi?
  • Good day / how is the day? = Habari za mchana?
  • Good afternoon / how is the afternoon? = Habari za alasiri?
  • Good evening / how is the evening? = Habari za jioni?
  • Have a nice day = Mchana mwema.
  • Good night = Usiku mwema.
  • Sleep well = Lala salama.
  • Thank you =  Asante.
  • Thank you very much = Asante sana.
  • Thanks for thanking = Asante kushukuru.
  • Yes = Ndiyo.
  • No = Hapana.
  • No, thanks = Hapana, asante.
  • Ok = Sawa.
  • Goodbye = Kwa heri.
  • See you (later) = Tutaonana (baadaye).
  • Where are you going? = Unakwenda wapi?
  • I'm going to... = Na enda...
  • Where are you from? = Unatoka wapi?
  • I'm from... = Ni natokea... (Finland/Sweden/England etc.)
  • What's your name? = Jina lako nani?
  • My name is... = Jina langu ni...
  • You are welcome = Karibu.