If You Want To Help Volunteer your time to help others be able to learn
We are currently identifying projects for June 2011 in Africa and are seeking volunteers.
Volunteers raise money and work closely with rural Tanzanian villages to build primary and secondary schools that meet or exceed local standards. Volunteers grow to understand life in impoverished Africa through sustained communication with the people of these remote villages and by working “shoulder to shoulder” with the villagers to finish their year’s labor of building the school.
In the past, we have had individuals, couples, groups of friends, family members—all of whom plan their trip and travel together. We have had young children—ages eight and up—teenagers and adults. Regardless of age, it can truly be the trip of a lifetime.
If you are interested in finding out how you can volunteer, go on a trip or help in other ways please email
The following are some frequently asked questions for people considering a trip with us.
What is ASAP?
The Africa School Assistance Project (ASAP) is a Denver-based non-profit that works with villagers in rural Africa to build schools for their children while fostering among American volunteers an understanding of life in impoverished Africa. Our first area of focus is a rural school district in Tanzania between mountains Meru and Kilimanjaro. Tanzania is a particularly good place to concentrate our efforts because the government is committed to increasing education in rural areas and will put teachers in villages where schools have been built.
How does ASAP work?
ASAP works a local Tanzania partner to identify rural villages that need help building or improving a school for their children. Once a decision has been made to “adopt” a school, we recruit volunteers and raise money to cover the costs of the project. Finally, we travel to the village for a week (five days) of hard work to help the locals finish their new school and to live shoulder-to-shoulder with the Africans we are helping.
What is required of volunteers?
Volunteers meet with their “village group” approximately once a month throughout the spring to discuss details of their school project, plan for their work week in the village (takes place in June/July), discuss fundraising and plan extra African travel if desired. Each volunteer is also asked to donate or raise $1,500 per person.
What kind of work do volunteers do in the village?
Volunteers do manual labor while in the village. Work is done on the school, the grounds or time is spent working with the kids. In the past, this has meant anything from hauling dirt, working on stabilizing the roof, building a cistern, painting, reading with the children, teaching them playground games, etc. There isn’t really a set formula – it is decided by what needs doing and what the volunteers feel up to tackling. However, each member of the trip is expected to participate in the work project.
How much does it cost?
Travel expenses vary year to year, however you can plan on roughly $2,000 per person for airfare and the expense of living in the village for five days. With a bit of comparative shopping, airfare can run between $1,500-$1,800 and the expenses for food and accommodations in the village run from $300-$500. You will also need to plan for one night in an Arusha hotel before and after the work week in the village. A double room costs approximately $100 per night.
Are the expenses tax deductible?
ASAP is a 501c3 so all donations to the organization are tax deductible. Travel expenses are paid by volunteers; you should consult your own tax advisor regarding deductibility of these expenses.
When are the trips to Tanzania?
We are planning trips for the weeks of June 12-17, 2011 and June 19-24, 2011. If possible, we will add a third trip during the week of June 26-July1, 2011.
How long will I be out of the country?
Volunteers should plan on a minimum of ten days for your ASAP trip. It will take roughly one full day to get to Arusha, Tanzania from Denver, CO. We then spend the first night in Arusha (Saturday) at the Impala Hotel and then six days working in the village (Sunday – Friday). We return to the Impala Hotel on Friday afternoon at which time you can fly home (another day or two, depending on your itinerary) or depart for tourist travels of your own. In the past, volunteer groups have traveled on to do safaris and visited the island of Zanzibar. There is also, of course, Mt. Kilimanjaro and the chimpanzee preserves. Much to do and see!
What kind of food and water should volunteers expect?
The food in Tanzania is delicious—mostly derived from locally grown meat and produce and prepared with lots of local spices (think cinnamon, curry, cloves, etc). The area is semi-tropical so there is plenty of fruit (and coffee!) as well. Vegetarians are easily and happily accommodated. During time in the village, volunteers are provided three meals a day. Bottled water is provided in most restaurants and hotels and is provided to volunteers for the duration of the time in the village – local water is to be avoided.
What is the climate and geography like?
Tanzania is equatorial Africa however June/July is early winter in Tanzania. Temperatures are in the 60’s and 70’s during the day and 50’s at night. It is the end of the rainy season but there is still a chance of some light rain.
How safe is Tanzania and are volunteers vulnerable in the village?
Being a tourist in the developing world is never risk-free, however Tanzania is a relatively safe country. The government is a stable democracy and, according to the U.S. State Department, “Tanzania is a developing East African nation noted for both its history of stability and its astounding natural beauty.” It is heavily reliant on its tourist industry and “the majority of American tourists enjoy Tanzania in peace.” (U.S. State Department). However, please check out the State Department website for a more detailed description of crime in Tanzania.
In the village, the villagers are diligent about protecting ASAP volunteers. Not only is it the right thing to do but they feel it is in their best interest to protect the very people who are giving them so much. Past ASAP volunteers have felt personally safe and their belongings were well guarded.
What is required ahead of time?
You will need a valid passport, a tourist visa for Tanzania (and other countries if you plan to travel) and up-to-date vaccinations for yellow fever, hepatitis A & B, rabies, and typhoid. You may also choose to take prophylactic malaria medicine, though our villages are not in the malaria zone of Tanzania. Check out http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations for current health information about travel to Tanzania and make an appointment with the travel clinic of your choice (Rose/Global Travel Health, Denver Health) for complete information on immunizations.
What should volunteers bring with them?
If possible, it is best to pack in one or two carry-on bags so that you are never separated from your belongings. You will need minimal clothes when in the village and almost never will you need fancy clothes. Just like in Colorado, plan to bring layers of clothing – zip-off pants, t-shirts, fleece, etc. Be aware that Zanzibar (if you choose to go there) is a Muslim culture and women should plan to wear pants or a long cotton skirt in public places (though swimsuits are fine for the beach). We will supply a packing list as the trip gets closer.
Bring plenty of cash, an ATM card and a credit card. ATMs are available in the big cities but not in most remote areas. The hotels will accept credit cards but almost everywhere else you will be expected to pay in cash. Traveler’s checks are virtually useless in Africa.
Leave most of your electronics at home! Not only will the experience be a better one if you are unplugged but it is hard, if not impossible, to plug in your electronics for recharging. Cell phone coverage is spotty – accessible to some in Arusha and Nairobi but inaccessible in the village or on safari, etc. Cameras are a must though those with rechargeable batteries can be a challenge. Cameras that rely on disposable batteries work best but remember to bring extra batteries. And a hair dryer is just plain dead weight!
