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The mission of the Tanzanian Dental Project (TDP) is multifaceted.
- Provide ongoing yearly dental care to the children of Rift Valley Children ’s Village.
- Create a mobile dental program that would bring dental professionals, including specialists and students, to volunteer in outlying villages and orphanages where it is most needed.
- Create educational opportunities and provide scholarships for locals who want to give back to their communities in order to establish long-term, sustainable dental care in this area.
Karatu District of Tanzania
Tanzania is located in East Africa and is home to Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is a country of unparalleled natural beauty and has one of the largest wildlife populations in the world. Sadly, however, Tanzania is plagued by HIV and has one of the highest rates of AIDS in the world. The average life expectancy is 52 years with an estimated 38% of children in Tanzania being malnourished. It is faced with a death rate that is growing exponentially, leaving millions of children without families. Those children are the living casualties of the AIDS epidemic. With neither parents nor homes, they are left to a life on the streets.
The children’s village is located in Oldeani Village, a remote, impoverished village in northern part of Tanzania, about 35 minutes from Karatu. The Karatu District has been plagued by drought and crop raiding by elephants, which has pushed most plantation workers into poverty and hopelessness. Many of the people were former coffee plantation workers and settled into small villages, where their families have continued to grow. The people living in these now overpopulated villages have little hope of finding work or climbing out of poverty.
Tanzanian Children’s Fund
India Howell (also known as “Mama India”), founder of Tanzanian Children’s Fund (which operates the Rift Valley Children’s Village), is working to change this. She is creating a unique model that is providing a life-time solution for some of these orphaned children. Not only has she created a “home” for more than 75 children, but her work has expanded into local village education, health care, farming and “micro finance.”
Recreational Activities
The opportunities for active and passive recreation in Tanzania are virtually limitless, including:
- Safaris(Ngorogoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, et cetera)
- Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or Mt. Meru
- Visit Zanzibar (aka the “Spice Islands”)
Allan Phillemon, the “Kiliman,” can help you decide how to spend your recreation time and dollars in Tanzania. Allan is an accomplished high-elevation climber and a safari guide, and he has created a boutique guiding business (called African Outdoor Expeditions) that will pamper you while also introducing you to the real Tanzania. Check out Alan’s website at www.kiliman.com or send him email at allan@kiliman.com.
Preparing to Come
Please send us two copies and bring two copies with you of the following:
- Resume/CV
- Itinerary
- Professional Diploma
- Professional License-
- Copy of passport
- Extra passport photos
- Letter of Intent (I will provide this for you). The purpose of this is to have some kind of “official” letter in case you get pulled over by immigration. (Don’t worry about it though, it is highly unlikely)
- Immunization card with Yellow Fever documentation
Currency
Tanzania is a “cash economy,” so bring CASH. This means that there are very few places that accept traveler’s checks or credit cards. Those that do, pass on a 7% service fee. You can change money in Arusha at a local bank, but there is no guarantee on the exchange rate. However, your guide or driver should be able to take you to the banks with the best exchange rates. The currency is the Tanzanian Shilling ($1 US dollar equals approximately $1,200shillings). You can check the current exchange rate at: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Very important: You must bring U.S. currency that is 2000 series or newer! It is unknown why this is, but it is, SO…be prepared! There are a few ATM machines in Arusha. (They generally work; sometimes they don’t.)
You may not spend a great deal of money during your stay, but you may wish to have money for tipping, special purchases, et cetera. Bring a variety of denominations. Depending on your own shopping and dining out habits, about $200 should be sufficient for your stay.
Note: We will stop at an amazing cultural center that is filled with amazing African masks, carvings, fabrics, crafts and jewelry (Tanzanite) that does accept credit cards!
Passport
If you are a U.S. citizen and do not have a passport, you can apply for one at your county courthouse or at a U.S. Government Passport Office. You will need a birth certificate, identification bearing your signature, and two 2”X2” front-view photographs. Passports normally take three to four weeks to process, but allow up to 10 weeks. If you already have a passport, check the expiration date. The Tanzanian government requires that your passport be valid for 6 months from date of entry.
VISA
A tourist visa is required for entering Tanzania. We recommend that you get your visa when you arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport. This is the easiest and least complicated way to obtain your visa. The current cost is $100 CASH only per person (remember, dated 2000 or later). WHEN APPLYING FOR YOUR TOURIST VISA, DO NOT STATE THAT YOU WILL BE A VOLUNTEER, BUT INSTEAD APPLY AS A VISITOR OR TOURIST. If you prefer to obtain your visa is advance, you can download a visa application from www.travisa.com/Tanzania/tanzania.htm to get the visa mailed to you. However, this will require that you send off the application and your passport to the Tanzanian Embassy, and they may be slow to return your passport and visa to you.
Insurance
It is up to you whether you want to purchase travel insurance (www.imglobal.com, www.sevenseastravel.com or www.travelinsure.com). It is recommended that you check your health insurance policy to make sure you are covered in case of illness or accident in a foreign country. Usually, however, few places will bill your insurance directly. Good news, we do have access to medical doctors near Karatu!
Immunizations
All volunteers should follow the Center for Disease Control guidelines (www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica.com). Check with your nearest travel clinic about what vaccinations are recommend for travel to Tanzania. You should arrange to get these started 6 weeks before you will have adequate time to get them in.
Malaria is not as common at this altitude (Karatu’s altitude is 5,036 feet), but does occur. You will have three choices of anti-malarial drugs (Doxycycline and Mefloquine/Larium and Malarone). I personally recommend taking Malarone (although it can make you a little gassy).
Luggage Information
- If you are flying from the US to Arusha on KLM/Northwest Airlines, you allowed two 50-pound bags and one 22 pound carry-on.
- If your bag weighs over 50 pounds and under 70 pounds, you will be charged an additional $50for each bag over the 50-pound limit. If you are taking additional bags (max: 2), you will be charged $150 per bag. The additional bags can weigh up to 70 pounds.
- You should check with Northwest and KLM (or whatever your airlines are) for any changes in their luggage guidelines. The KLM phone number is 1-800-447-4747. If you are flying another airline, you will need to contact them directly for their specific guidelines.
Food and housing
While at the Children’s Village, we will eat our meals with the other volunteers in the Volunteer House. The cook, Lewis, likes to have everyone seated before he serves the meal. Breakfast is usually served around 7:15 – 7:30 a.m. Lunch is typically served around 12:30 p.m. and dinner around 6:30 –7:00 p.m. The meals are very good and, as a vegetarian, I had plenty to eat. I do recommend bringing extra snacks and your favorite teas/hot cocoa, etc. The Volunteer House also serves as a hang out place, where you can watch movies, relax, use the computer or socialize. You cannot drink the water directly from the tap, but they do filter water daily, so that there is plenty of water to drink.
Watches and Jewelry
We strongly urge you not to bring any watches or jewelry that are expensive, flashy or have sentimental value.
Language
Kiswahili is the main language. Some villagers will speak Maasai or Iraqwi languages. We will have translators available to help and a number of the regular staff speak English and are happy to help with translation while you are in the Children’s Village. We suggest picking up a self-teach Swahili book or phrasebook before you arrive and reviewing the basics. You will find that being able to communicate in Swahili actually enriches your experience and shows the staff and kids that you are interested and respect their culture.
Things to do on your own
Although the village is in a remote and rural setting, there are a variety of ways to entertain yourself there. Villagers are always willing to pick up a game of soccer on the field adjacent to the school. There are miles of red clay paths that are excellent for running or walking. Just beware that we are on the slopes of Ngorongoro Crater, which holds the greatest concentration of wildlife on the planet, so it is not unusual to catch a glimpse of a male buffalo or elephant during your daily exercise. Having said this, a weekend safari is another great idea for a getaway. On the weekend, you can go into Karatu and spend the day walking, eating local food, and visiting local businesses. When shopping, it is a good idea to know what you are looking for. There are many stores that selling anything from clothes to hardware, soap to gifts and curios, et cetera. Knowing how to bargain is essential.
Internet
There is a computer set up in the volunteer house, but access for volunteers is on a limited basis. It is available from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. daily. Please beware that the satellite is powered by solar energy, so they must limit the use in the evenings to maintain enough power for the morning.
Rules – Please respect the following:
- DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO EMPLOYEES OR PATIENTS – It is not uncommon for an employee or patient to ask you for money. This usually will come in the form of a request to help a sick relative or maybe help with school tuition. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you give them money. Please simply say, “Sorry, I cannot help you, and I would appreciate it if you would not ask me or other volunteers again.” Or “I am unable to give more than what I have been giving here, which is my time and energy.” We understand that at times it this is very difficult to say no, but it is very important because of the following reasons:
- It sets a bad precedent for other volunteers who will also be asked for money, and it will create an expectation that volunteers will give them money.
- There is an issue of fairness: “Why did one employee get help with her tuition while I didn’t?” This causes strife within the organization that the administration has to deal with long after you are gone.
- It often makes volunteers feel uncomfortable when asked for money. We want volunteers to have an enjoyable experience and return often.
- If you want to help, you may do so by making a donation to Smile Power or TCF.
- DO NOT MAKE PROMISES TO EMPLOYEES OR PATIENTS. Often volunteers make remarks such as, “I would like to bring you to the States to study or visit me.” NEVER make such promises. Even if you intend to follow through, please first ask the director of the Children’s village or the trip leader of Smile Power/TDP before making any promises. Please understand that it is the dream for many to come to the United States, Canada, or Europe. When volunteers make such offers it causes lots of problems in the organization. First and foremost is the issue of fairness, “Why does she get to go the U.S. and not me?” Second, it creates a lot of work for the administration. We are usually the ones who help get the visa, and subsequently we end up having to find a replacement for the employee. We are an organization that depends on our employees. How would you feel if somebody took one of your best employees away?
Liability
Neither International Smile Power nor the Tanzanian Children’s Fund is responsible for any injuries, accidents, or illnesses you may sustain on your trip.
Donations & Fundraising
If you want to bring items to donate to the orphanage, refer to their wish list at www.tanzanianschildrensfund.org. We encourage all volunteers to fundraise for International Smile Power as part of your experience. You will be surprised how excited your friends and family will be to support something that is important to you and for such a good cause. Set up a goal, say $500 or more. You may want to do this after you return from the orphanage so that you can use the pictures and stories that you will accumulated during your stay. You may contact Teresa at International Smile Power for ideas and suggestions.
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