Amani Children's Home | Volunteer Global

Introduction

Amani provides street children with a safe and loving home, healthy food, education, medical care, and counseling. In addition to providing long-term care, Amani works to reunite children with a relative (for example, an aunt, uncle, or grandparent), so they can grow up in their families. Amani, which means ‘Peace’ in Swahili, has been transforming the lives of homeless children since 2001.

Types of Projects

An Amani long-term volunteer works directly with the children as a teacher (English, art, music), library manager, classroom assistant, health assistant, or computer teacher. All volunteers help tutor the Amani children. Specific job descriptions can be obtained by writing to volunteer@amanikids.org

Locations

Amani Children's Home is located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Moshi, Tanzania. The environment is lush and green, even during the dry season - which is very hot and dusty. Banana plants, coconut palms, and hibiscus decorate the landscape. Primary crops are maize, beans and sunflowers. Moshi is a small town with a variety of restaurants, hotels with swimming pools, even a movie theatre.

Accommodations

Housing depends on one's budget and preferences. Housing possibilities in Moshi range from host family situations, sharing a house or apartment with other volunteers, renting a room or tent at a hostel, self-contained rooms at lodges with shared kitchens, dorm rooms at the YMCA, to upscale hotels with all amenities. Amani can help volunteers secure initial housing.

Prerequisites

Amani Long-term Volunteers must be at least 22 years of age; commit to at least 6 months; have specific skills and abilities to fill necessary positions; work at least 6 hrs. a day, 5 days a week; be part of a weekend rotation to welcome visitors to Amani; actively learn Swahili; provide all living, travel, visa/permit expenses; be mature and able to live and work independently; love children!

Costs

Amani does not charge a fee to volunteers. However, volunteers must provide all their own travel and living expenses as well as visa and residence permit fees. Most volunteers are able to live comfortably on $200-$300 US per month, including rent, local transport, food, phone, internet, entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses.