volunteer in kitenden

Our volunteering opportunities span the Maasai steppe in Northern Tanzania, ranging from urban-based opportunities in Tanzania's tourism capital Arusha, to the footsteps of Kilimanjaro in the small Maasai community of Kitenden.

Volunteer with children in Kitenden, West Kilimanjaro

Volunteer in the Maasai community of Kitenden with our preschool or at the local high school

Volunteer in Arusha, Tanzania's picturesque 'international' city

Volunteer in Arusha for our Maasai Women's Bead Network and our head office operations and use it as your base for our Maasai Villages Cultural Tourism Project

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Imagine waking up at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, with views over the plains of the Amboseli, surrounded by a patchwork of agricultural fields and Maasai bomas. Idyllic much? But the serenity of this setting is not the only reality of Kitenden, a village inhabited mostly by Maasai agro-pastoralists, many of whom face severe food insecurity and have not had the opportunity to obtain an education. FWP runs an early childhood program in Kitenden and supports the local Health Clinic.

Kitenden is a remote community with a population of approximately 3,000 inhabitants, located close to the Kenyan border in West Kilimanjaro, on the edge of the Kilimanjaro National Park. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to reach by car from two of the largest cities in Northern Tanzania, Arusha and Moshi (far longer if you take local transport options!).

As a volunteer, there are a number of ways you can help us make a difference to the local Maasai community. Helping at the local preschool or school is core to this, but the combination of activities you choose will depend on your interests and skills

We have purpose-built accommodation for volunteers. The building includes two bedrooms, a toilet and shower room (sorry, cold water available only, but you can have a warm “bucket shower” on any day), an equipped kitchen with a gas stove and an amazing view of Kili!.

While you are there you will enjoy delicious meals provided by local cooks. During the day you will eat with the children at the preschool, and in the evenings you will have your meals prepared by a local cook or family. Kitenden has a good water source so you will not go without water while you are there. The water comes straight from Mt. Kilimanjaro, however to be on the safe side, we recommend that you boil the water before drinking. You can also purchase bottled water.

Walking is the main way to get from place to place around Kitenden. You can also hire a motorbike taxi to get a ride for very low cost. There are numerous day trips you can take to interesting and scenic areas and towns, including visits to fair trade coffee plantations and cooperatives, visits to waterfalls and other interesting activities around the Kilimanjaro/Moshi area. For an easy trip, you may wish to get a mini-bus to a nearby town.

No doubt at some point during your stay you will hanker for access to email and a good shower. Arusha is the largest city in Northern Tanzania, the gateway to safari tours of the Serengeti and home to numerous volunteers and expats. You might wish to break the solitude of your volunteering experience with a weekend trip to Arusha, or A-Town as the locals call it. Another option is to visit the smaller, quieter city of Moshi, which is at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro on the opposite side to Kitenden. You will be able to access most of the facilities you can in Arusha.

Future Warriors Project will go to a significant effort to ensure you have a well-organised and managed stay, while respecting your independence as a traveller and volunteer. As a charity supporting Maasai communities, we have given great consideration to how you can enhance our projects and make a difference to the local community. This distinguishes us from many volunteer-based organisations which are set up purely to manage volunteers and offer them placements wherever they can find them. Your volunteer contribution goes directly towards local staff salaries, ensuring you are housing and fed, as well as towards the preschool operations. Your volunteering contribution will cover the following costs

The following table outlines a schedule of costs over the time you will be volunteering.

* These fees are subject to change with any significant fluctuations the exchange rate or local conditions

+ For every friend who comes with you the cost will be significantly discounted

First night’s accommodation in Arusha: we would be able to arrange accommodation for your first night in Arusha at a budget that suits you.

In addition to this, we recommend that you provide us a copy of your passport and travel insurance documents, along with an emergency bond of Tsh600,000 (approximately US$300) in case you lose your money, belongings or get stuck, or in any other emergency situation. This money will be returned to you at any time you request if it goes unused.

Express your interest in volunteering with us here.

Have more questions? Check out our 'Essential Information for Volunteers' section.

Nestled in the northern highlands of Tanzania, beneath the twin peaks of Mt. Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha is the ‘international’ capital of the country. With a large expat population, it is also a popular base for the northern safari circuit where guests prepare for their journeys into the African bush. Arusha is also the de facto home of the East African Community, and the regional United Nations International Tribunal headquarters.

Future Warriors Project’s Tanzanian office is based in Arusha, so is the base of our general office operations. Arusha is the location of our projects supporting urban Maasai migrants who migrate to Arusha due to poverty and drought, including our Maasai Women’s Bead Network. We also base our Maasai Cultural Tourism Capacity Building project in Arusha, which supports multiple Maasai villages across Northern Tanzania to participate in the burgeoning tourism industry.

As a volunteer in Arusha, there are a number of ways you can help us make a difference to Maasai communities. The activities or projects you work on will depend on your interests, skills and experience. Essential to all activities is patience, a curiosity for new ways of doing things, flexibility and commitment.

You can support our Maasai Women's Bead Network by:

Support our overarching operations and help build the capacity of local staff by:

Get off the beaten track and support the burgeoning growth of Maasai nature and cultural tourism. Your expertise will be needed both in Arusha and in the villages. You can:

The beauty of volunteering in Arusha is the wide-ranging choice in accommodation. There are accommodation options to suit all budgets in Arusha. Because different people are after different options, FWP does not include accommodation in its Arusha volunteering fee. Instead, we will work with you to secure accommodation that meets your needs. Potential options, including their price range, are listed below.

Budget / Hostel accommodation (from USD$10 per night)

Many volunteers choose to stay in budget accommodation in the centre of town, which can be booked for a good price if you are staying long-term. The quality varies, so please speak with our staff about securing something with a good reputation that meets your needs. Breakfast is usually included.

Homestay with a Tanzanian family in Arusha (USD$250 per month including breakfast and dinner)

You can get a very authentic experience staying with a Tanzanian family in Arusha. All families have been selected for hosting volunteers by FWP at least one person who speaks English, and you will have your own room.

Rent your own house from around USD$300 per month

FWP can help you rent your own place in a good location from around USD$300 per month. A whole house, with 3-4 bedrooms can be rented for USD$600. Houses typically include security and can include an internet connection.Share a house (USD$100 per month)

FWP would be happy to explore whether there are any rooms available in houses with other volunteers or Tanzanians if this is your preference. These are not always readily available, but we are happy to explore for you or check out a property that you have found.

The accommodation you choose may cover some of your meals. If not Arusha has a range of restaurants and cafes where you can access local and a variety of other cuisines. Tanzania has a delicious range of fresh produce including tropical fruit such as bananas, mangoes, avocados, melons, papaya and pineapples that you will be able to access from markets quite cheaply. If you get homesick for particular foods, you can find almost anything at the large Nakumart supermarket in Arusha.

The water in Arusha is not good for drinking, and even if filtered or boiled can contain very high levels of fluoride. Bottled water is readily available.

Your fees for volunteering in Arusha will depend on which project you are helping with. The Maasai Cultural Tourism Capacity Building Project fees are higher as your volunteering experience will include amazing trips to Maasai villages, covering your accommodation, food and transport.

FWP goes to a significant effort to ensure you have a well-organised and managed stay, while respecting your independence as a traveller and volunteer. As an organisation supporting Maasai communities, we have given great consideration to how you can enhance our projects and make a difference to the local community. Your volunteer contribution goes directly towards local staff salaries, local operations and includes a contribution towards a project of your choice.

Your volunteering contribution will cover the following costs:

The following tables outline a schedule of costs for the different projects, with costs dependent on the amount of time you will be volunteering.

* These fees are subject to change with any significant fluctuations the exchange rate or local conditions

For every friend who comes with you and volunteers on the same project (or in the same location) the cost will be significantly discounted

First night’s accommodation in Arusha: we would be able to arrange accommodation for your first night in Arusha at a budget that suits you.

In addition to this, we recommend that you provide us a copy of your passport and travel insurance documents, along with an emergency bond of Tsh600,000 (approximately US$300) in case you lose your money, belongings or get stuck, or in any other emergency situation. This money will be returned to you at any time you request if it goes unused.

Express your interest in volunteering with us here.

Have more questions? Check out our 'Essential Information for Volunteers' section.

Do you have a specialist skill that Maasai people or communities would benefit from? Or are you seeking to combine a volunteer experience with travel? Because we have great links with a number of Maasai communities, we have the flexibility to pull together an experience that is tailored to your interests and situation.

We also work with students to co-design and implement research projects. Talk to us about designing a volunteering opportunity around your specialist skills, interests or research project.