Teach essential subjects to children at a secondary school to help them build a future

Around the base of Mt Kilimanjaro there are many small villages where the youth are striving to improve their levels of education. With Africa becoming a major tourist destination, knowledge of English can help these young adults take up new jobs like tourist guides and earn a decent living.

GapGuru works with secondary schools which have been identified as most needy by the Regional Academic Officers. The secondary schools are close to Moshi town centre and all the children are particularly keen to learn. The schools have shortage of resources and some classrooms are still unfinished. Some classrooms have no ceiling boards and you can hear the teacher next door.

The pupils’ first language is KiChagga or KiSwahili and English is their second or third language. Their spoken English is limited and they are often not able to answer questions that they have not previously practised. Lessons are taught in English (except for Kiswahili), but it is old-fashioned and over-complicated in the textbooks of which there are few. Most of the teachers are recent school leavers who are untrained and don’t stay for long at the school. The teachers are overworked, and sometimes classes remain untaught.

Your role: At the Secondary School you will be assisting class teachers and teach English, Maths and/or Science. Currently the schools have very few teachers who can teach these subjects to any decent standard.

You will be teaching the equivalent of Year 8 to Year 11 classes. Your role could involve teaching English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (depending on background), working with the permanent teachers and supporting them in their teaching. There is an opportunity to contribute to the school by giving both the staff and pupils the chance to speak with a native English speaker, and therefore enhance the level of their spoken English. The head teachers are also very keen to have volunteers who are interested in helping with sports. These activities take place in the afternoons and can be tailored to your interests.

You don’t need to be a qualified teacher for volunteering at this project. Native English speakers are always welcome. If you can teach basic Maths and/or Science, it would help the school immensely.

What you gain: Working in Tanzanian schools allows you to develop excellent skills – planning, communicating, evaluating, being imaginative, perseverance, managing in challenging environments and understanding other cultures. You will build good relationships with staff and students, as well as other volunteers. Moshi is a great base for experiencing Tanzania and the ever present Mount Kilimanjaro provides the ultimate personal challenge after finishing your volunteering.