Zanzibar Orphan Day Care & HIV/AIDS Education Project

Pricing:

  • 2 weeks: € 970
  • 4 weeks: € 1555
  • 6 weeks: € 2075
  • 8 weeks: € 2595

Surrounding the beautiful area of Zanzibar lies the Historical Stone Town with many children, some of who are orphans, in need of education and care. There are some local crèches and day care centers which provide a place for children to go. Many of these places have little or no resources for play or education, even though the local carers try their best to make do with what they have. Our vision is to assist the carers and teachers by helping with basic learning, fun activities and lots of play for the children – in some places there are as many as 100 energetic children to be looked after! Volunteers play a huge part in this assistance and form special bonds with the children and teachers. Zanziplanet Tours also help with other needs in the community, including HIV/AIDS awareness programs, assist with the care and improving facilities for local orphans, farming to encourage healthy living and refurbishment of important community buildings. This project, with its adorable children, the chance to give important HIV messages and see the rewards of improving community facilities is truly a life changing experience.

Orphanage Day Care

The communities in Zanzibar Stone Town area are affected by HIV/AIDS. It is believed that in some communities, up to 30% of people are infected with the virus. HIV is prevalent particularly in the ages of sexually active adults; as a result, many children are left orphaned. In African culture these children then live with their relatives or community members, but they are often left by themselves during the day, as their caretakers are at work. Within Zanzibar Stone Town, there are several day care centers and crèches that have been established to provide a meal, basic education and the care and attention that they so often lack at home. Some days there are up to 50 children under 6 years old for the Carers to look after with little resources.

Volunteers visit the day care centres every morning (Monday to Friday) and will assist in taking care of the children and teaching basic lessons to a class of under 6’s. The volunteer role is fundamental to the development of the children and in the preparation for their next step into primary school. This is a great opportunity to help many children in the community through developmental play and education, by giving them the individual attention they desperately need. There are also opportunities to help with the babies and toddlers with play, singing, help them with basic skills and have fun. The one to one attention the children get from volunteers is as valuable as this is otherwise not available with the restricted number of carers and teachers.

As a volunteer, you will assist in taking care of the orphans, and giving them the individual attention they desperately need.
Volunteers will be involved in the following:

  • Teaching the children Basic English lessons.
  • Playing games, singing songs, and doing drawings with them.
  • Helping to refurbish the orphanage building.
  • Helping to cook for and bathe the orphans.

HIV/AIDS Education

In Zanzibar local community, many myths about HIV / AIDS still prevail. A large percentage of local Zanzibar peoples believe that the virus is a result of witchcraft, and people infected with it are often rejected from their own communities and families. As a result, many people who are infected do not admit to having the virus. Not many people know how to prevent infection, and even fewer people know how to deal with the virus once they have it.
Working together with a local organization dedicated to fighting the existing myths surrounding HIV/AIDS (and run mostly by people infected with HIV), you will go out into the local communities to help educate people about the virus. During your placement, you will visit both schools and community centers.

Volunteers will be involved in the following:

  • Explain, through a simple method approved by the UN what the HIV / AIDS virus actually is, and how it affects a human body.
  • Educate people about how the virus is transmitted, and how infection can be prevented.
  • Explain how, after infection, life can be prolonged through medication, healthy food, and a healthier lifestyle.

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