Levels of English across Zanzibar are very low, especially when compared to the Tanzanian mainland. Children begin learning English at primary school level and are taught solely in English once they reach secondary school level. If a child is not competent at English this affect all of their other subjects. Volunteers are especially needed to aid in English lessons, the sciences and sometimes with computer classes.

In 2009 the Shiriki Programme was piloted on the Unguja Project. Shiriki is a partnership between Tenteleni and Edlite, a Zanzibari organization promoting quality education and increasing literacy; 1 Tenteleni volunteer and 1 Edlite volunteer work together in each of 2 placement schools, Mahonda and Mfenesini Combined Schools. The aim of the programme is to maximise cultural exchange and promote in-country volunteering.

Any questions? Contact the Zanzibar Communications Officer: zanzibarcomms@tenteleni.org.uk.

Accommodation

Fukuchani School - The volunteers at this school live in the headmaster’s house. They share a bedroom and facilities are basic with running water but no electricity.

Kiboje School – The volunteers at this school live in the village of Kitumba with Bi Jokha, a teacher at Kiboje Primary School. Bi Jokha has hosted volunteers for the past 4 years in her home. The volunteers share a bedroom with each other and the house has electricity but no running water. Water can be fetched from the nearby well which volunteers can help with and meal times are shared with Bi Jokha and her family.

Mahonda and Mfenesini Schools - The Tenteleni volunteers at Mahonda and Mfenesini schools live together with the headteacher of Mfenesini School in Mfenesini. The Edlite volunteers live in separate accommodation within the community or in their own homes. The house has running water and electricity.

Vikokotoni School, Streeters and Mazazini Children’s home (formally known as Forodhani Children’s Home) - The volunteers at these placements live in a flat in the centre of Stone Town with the Project Coordinator. The flat has running water and electricity although it should be noted that power cuts are common in Zanzibar. Volunteers will either share or have a bedroom of their own.

Transport

Volunteers in Fukuchani, and Kiboje cycle to school from their accommodation (approx. 15 mins). Volunteers at Vikokotoni and Mfenesini walk a short distance to school. Volunteers in town take a short bus ride to Streeters and Mazazini Children’s Home.

Volunteers in the 3 shamba homestays normally stay in the flat in town with the rest of the group at weekends or go on trips around the Island. The journey to town takes 20-60 minutes by bus.

Experience of riding a bicycle is beneficial.

Food

In each of the 3 ‘shamba’ homestays volunteers will be provided with simple, traditional food (such as biriyani, chappati, beans, stew and rice). Volunteers are expected to help prepare meals and with housework; food is an important part of Zanzibari culture and this is a fantastic opportunity to integrate into the community.

Volunteers living in the flat in town can cook and eat together in the flat or can go down to the open air fish market in the evening which sells local food, cooked in front of you at a reasonable price including the world famous Zanzibar pizza!

Culture & Religion

Zanzibar is predominantly an Islamic island, providing the opportunity for volunteers to experience the customs and culture of religious practice. With this in mind, volunteers need to be aware of the need for modest attire and moderate behaviour in public. Zanzibari’s proudly converse in Ki-Swahili and desire, passion and willingness to speak the language earns much acclaim!

Additional Information

The in-country training week is held in Stone Town with all Tenteleni and Edlite volunteers staying in the Stone Town flat.

Formal Education Placements

Fukuchani Combined School

Fukuchani is a small, rural fishing village in the north of the island. The area is famed for its ruins and is walking distance from the beach. Volunteers have been working in the placement since 2007 and volunteers have build up good relationships with the staff at the school. The school is fairly small (400 students) and volunteers assist mainly in the secondary school but there are some opportunities to get involved with the primary school. Volunteers in the past have taught teachers how to use the computer suite and have assisted in Science, Maths and English lessons. Volunteers have also been able to help reorganise the library and start reading clubs along with debating classes after school.

Westerners are a rare sight in Fukuchani and volunteers often become the centre of attention for the duration of the project. Playing sport with young members of the community and spending time with homestay hosts can be a fantastic way for volunteers to fully integrate into the community.

Kiboje Combined School

Kiboje is a rural village in the central district of Unguja. The area is particularly green with forests of litchis’ surrounding the school. Volunteers have been working in this placement since 2004 and so Tenteleni have good working relationships with the staff and young people at the school. The school is larger than Fukuchani (around 600 students) and, similarly, the volunteers assist in the secondary school. Volunteers in the past have mainly focused on English language skills including debates, poetry and spelling. They have also assisted in the Sciences and Mathematics lessons. After school clubs for debating, drama and accessing the library have also been set up by previous volunteers.

Westerners are a rare sight in Kiboje and have the chance to become really integrated into the local community.

Mahonda Combined School (Shiriki Placement)

Mahonda is a slightly more built up village in the centre/north of the island. Volunteers have been working in the school since 2009. Past volunteers have focused on computer lessons for the teachers along with English language skills but there is also scope to get involved in Maths and Science lessons.

As this school is a Shiriki placement the Tenteleni volunteer at this school works alongside a volunteer from our partner organisation, Edlite. This provides an opportunity for the volunteer at this school to experience a deeper level of cross-cultural integration and understanding.

Mfenesini Combined School (Shiriki Placement)

Mfenesini is the village next to Mahonda and is similar in size. Volunteers have been working in the school since 2009 and the volunteer last year focussed on English and Biology classes. This school is particularly welcoming to volunteers and as it is also a Shiriki placement there is a real chance for volunteers to become fully integrated into the community. Extra English revision classes and a debating club after school are particularly popular with students.

Vikokotoni Combined School (joint placement with Mazazini Children’s Home and Streeters English Language Club)

Vikokotoni School is located in Stone Town, walking distance from the sea front. Volunteers have been working in the placement since 2006. The volunteers assist at the school for 3 days a week, combining their time with the two non-formal placements, Streeters Language Club and Mazazini Children’s Home. The school is fairly large and oversubscribed; it has approximately 800 students and being in an urban area means that it gets more resources from the government than the rural schools. Volunteers at this placement assist with English language, Science and Maths. Debating clubs are usually lively and there is more chance to set up after school activities with the students.

Stone Town is a particularly touristy area and so volunteers have an opportunity to discuss with the students about culture, religion and to act in a culturally sensitive manner which can sometimes contrast with the behaviour that students at the school are used to from Westerners.

Non-Formal Educational Placements

Mazazini Children’s Home (joint placement with Vikokotoni School and Streeters English Language Club)

The home previously known as Forodhani Children’s home, mved to a new location in 2011. It is the island’s only government run children’s home and so is comparatively well funded. Volunteers have been working in the placement since 2003 and assist here for 2 days a week combining their time with Vikokotoni Combined School and Streeters Language Club. The home houses approximately 30-40 children and vulnerable young people aged from a few months to 25 years of age.

Motivation and creativity is essential for the volunteers that assist in this placement. There is very little structure and the children can often be dispersed around the home/local area. Volunteers have started clubs that assist the young people with their formal education such as revision classes and instigating educational play such as songs, dances and games. There have also been trips to the aquarium and ‘house of wonders’ organised. Volunteers have also spent time teaching the ‘mama’s’ (the women looking after the children) English, which is greatly appreciated.

Streeter’s English Language Club (joint placement with Vikokotoni School and Mazazini Children’s Home)

Streeter’s became a formal fixture of the project in 2009. The volunteers assist here 2 evenings a week alongside their other placements, Vikokotoni Combined School and Mazazini Children’s Home. The language club charges a small fee and in turn runs English Language classes for children and adults on the island. Many teachers from the local secondary schools work here to supplement their wages. Volunteers add input with conversational English sense and they can help facilitate debates which tackle sensitive issues.

The volunteers on the Zanzibar Project are Teaching Support Volunteers and as such are expected to support the permanent staff and volunteers of the placements in the following ways:

• Supporting teachers in English lessons and lessons taught through the medium of English
• Bringing new, creative ideas and activities to the curriculum such as songs, dance or word games
• Taking small groups of children who are struggling with the curriculum and working with them separately
• Running sessions for teachers on cross-cultural issues or IT
• Facilitating other organisations and NGO’s to come into placements
• Extra-curricular activities, especially within the children’s home, such as games, debating and homework clubs and spelling competitions.

Note: It is illegal for foreign volunteers to discuss sex and issues surrounding sexually transmitted diseases in government institutions in Zanzibar. Volunteers can facilitate other Zanzibari organisations to discuss these issues with young people but should refrain from talking about them themselves in their placements.

Additional Information

Examples of volunteers interpreting their role

Since 2009, volunteers at Fukuchani School have taught the teachers how to use their recently donated computers. Hopefully now teachers will be able to give classes to the children.

Volunteers in all schools have set up debating clubs - these allow the young people to express themselves and are easy to organise. Students can be asked to facilitate and continue the clubs after the volunteers leave.

A day on the Unguja project

Before School: You normally wake up at about 6:30 and have a quick wash before a breakfast of chai, chapattis and oranges at 7. You leave the house at 7:30 and school is about 10 minutes away on a daladala.

During School: The school day usually runs from about 7am – 1pm and volunteers normally plan lessons with teachers, teach a mix of subjects and sometimes help cook lunch which is ready for 1:30.

After School: The lessons at school only run in the morning so at 2 o’clock, if you have not planned any after-school activities, like teaching computers or practicing debating skills, you’re free to do pretty much anything you want, for example visiting other volunteers at their placements, doing washing, chatting and playing with local children or just have a nap! Dinner is usually around 8pm.