from 552€

Excellent 4.8rating (71)

Maasai Women's Health & Empowerment Advocate

location
2 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Experience a life changing cultural journey to Africa.
  • Gain perspective of how developing nations keep their cultures alive in our modern fast changing world.
  • Become more passionate about healthcare and gain a sense of community!
  • Make memories you will never forget with people from all over the world sharing your experience with you.
  • See some of the most incredible nature scenes in the world including Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Hot Springs, waterfalls and so much more.

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Volunteer to support an NGO advocating for Maasai women against FGM and forced marriage. Help to provide free medical and psychological care as well as medical outreach.

The NGO we have collaborated with is a non-partisan, multi-sectoral development initiative with good collaboration with local government. The NGO was founded nearly 20 years ago by a Tanzanian woman an active advocate in the Maasai empowerment groups to end FGM practice and sits on several Health ...

About the program

The NGO we have collaborated with is a non-partisan, multi-sectoral development initiative with good collaboration with local government. The NGO was founded nearly 20 years ago by a Tanzanian woman an active advocate in the Maasai empowerment groups to end FGM practice and sits on several Health Boards. Interlinking with government bodies is a key element to their ability to provide cross agency support without coming across bureaucratic issues as well as resistance from conservative opposers who do not support the change to cultural practice.

They provide a holistic approach to supporting Maasai women and girls, providing medical, educational, empowerment support as well as a rescue home for those that need to be sheltered. 

What they do: 

  • The NGO provides a rescue home for any Maasai girl who needs to flee hardship in their villages by refusing forced marriage or FGM.
  • They employ a qualified female doctor, laboratory technician, pharmacist and nurse providing medical services in general medicine. 
  • There is a small 6 bedded ward which is oversubscribed and low resourced
  • There is a small delivery room with a non functional incubator, autoclave
  • There is a small, well run laboratory providing HIV testing, STI testing, pregnancy testing and other various functions. There is an out of date centrifuge that needs to be updated.
  • Healthcare education and community awareness: 
    • They go out to hard to reach Maasai villages to provide mobile clinics for expectant mothers, new mothers and women who have health complications from female genital mutilation (FGM)
    • Health education and support for traditional Maasai birth attendents
    • They service pregnant women and new mothers in the Maasai catchment area through their reproductive and child health service
    • They provide a Youth Friendly Service which is a department teenage girls can privately receive support, treatment and/or contraceptive/family planning services
  • They have a women’s empowerment group aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM) practice from rural villages. 
    • The group has stopped or saved over 200 girls from being mutilated
    • They provide a safe haven and medical support to women and girls who have suffered severe complications after giving birth due to FGM i.e severe tears, emergency caesarians, severe blood loss, fistula’s, psychological trauma.
    • The group supports mothers who do not want their daughter to go through generational trauma of FGM or forced marriage by defending and advocating for them when they are harassed or assaulted for helping their daughters escape.
    • The group advocates and provides a defensive network for Maasai young girls and women who need to escape Forced or Child Marriage

Who do we accept:

  • Doctors
  • Midwives
  • Nurses
  • Students (pre-qualification and post graduate)
  • Psychotherapists/Counsellors
The mission

A top priority for the Ministry of Health Tanzania is the country's high infant mortality rate. The government and healthcare teams on the ground are working tirelessly to ensure that babies are delivered safely and live well up to age 5! 


The Problem 

According to the WHO 45% of children's deaths under 5 years old were newborns, many only living the first few days after birth. Now more than ever is medical professionals are called to duty beyond their borders. 

Now is the time to challenge ourselves as practitioners and help to empower those who do not benefit from medical advancements and knowledge. 

"Neonatal deaths are inextricably linked to the health of the mother during pregnancy and to the conditions of delivery and newborn care. Close to 8,000 women die every year during pregnancy and child birth as a result of conditions that could have been prevented or treated. Poor quality of care due to an insufficient number of skilled health workers and lack of basic equipment, as well as long distances from home to health care facilities are major deterrents to facility delivery. Women living in rural areas, those who come from the poorest families and those who are less educated, have the least access to skilled attendance at delivery. Women who start having children in adolescence tend to have more children and shorter spacing between pregnancies – all of which are risk factors for maternal and neonatal mortality. The neonatal mortality rate is highest among mothers under-20 years of age at 45 per 1000 live births compared with 29 per 1000 for mothers aged 20 to 29 years.

Maternal death rates are closely linked with the high fertility rates and low socio-economic status of women, especially the lack of influence that women have over their own health care or over the daily household budget. According to national statistics, every year over 450 women die from pregnancy related complications for every 100,000 live births. Causes of maternal death include obstetric haemorrhage, unsafe abortions, eclampsia, obstructed labour and infections. Low availability of emergency obstetric and new born care services, chronic shortage of skilled health providers together with a weak referral system contribute to the observed high maternal deaths."-UNICEF 

Medi Trip Placements

At Medi Trip we are distinguished in being able to use our healthcare experience and expertise to pick the most suitable settings for our professional volunteers to experience. When you volunteer with Medi Trip, your volunteer placement would have been chosen specifically to suit your area of interest. Each of our 7 placements facilities are carefully assessed and selected for suitability to our professional volunteers, as well as how much contribution goes into the local health and social welfare. 

Medi Trip Placements

Founded and run by a qualified medical professional, Medi Trip is clinically led, medically focused and patient centred. At Medi Trip we are distinguished in being able to use our healthcare experience and expertise to pick the most suitable settings for our professional volunteers to experience. When you volunteer with Medi Trip, your volunteer placement would have been chosen specifically to suit your area of interest. Each of our placements are carefully assessed and selected for suitability to our professional volunteers, as well as how much contribution goes into the local health and social welfare. 

So what exactly is medical volunteering? 

It takes truly committed people to this abroad! With medical volunteering, you will be volunteering to work with patients or in a healthcare specific area on a voluntary basis. Unlike other types of volunteering, medical volunteering is a difficult, challenging and profound area. Medical volunteers will witness and experience things other volunteers never will or what they never would have at home. This can be a huge challenge as often times volunteers experience situations that can leave them feeling sad, shocked or confused. But for the most part volunteers are often left amazed at the resilience of their patients and at the skill and dedication of their new colleagues. It truly is a hugely moving experience and one most Medi Trippers never forget.

Your Stay

Many Medi Trippers will not have ever visited Africa, much less Tanzania and often don’t really know what to expect. At Medi Trip, we try not to build any particular expectations as every Medi Tripper’s experience and perception is very unique and individual, however none are let down or left anything less than amazed by Tanzania. Tanzanian’s uphold a strong reputation of being incredibly gracious, kind and warm people. You will often find yourself involved in an extended greeting or a long conversation of someone getting to know you or just simply finding out how you are and it is considered very rude not to greet people appropriately. Don’t be shy and enjoy the warm welcomes you will be greeted with walking down the street, socializing or at work! 

Although most Tanzanian's speak and understand basic English, language may be a barrier when communicating with your medical colleagues and your patients. It is important to remain open and confident while working as at times you may feel isolated and lost. Remember that you will always have your supervisor at hand to assist you and help guide you along the way. Many people find once they get to know their colleagues and get into the flow of things, this isn't much of an issue, however this is another challenge that you will have to be prepared to overcome.

About Arusha

Tanzania belongs to the East African community, neighboured by Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Mozambique. Arusha is in northern Tanzania; a very unique and vibrant city at the base of Mount Meru, about an hour away from the tallest mountain in Africa Mount Kilimanjaro. The city is surrounded by natural beauty being in close proximity to several national parks including Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Olduvai and Arusha National Parks.

Interestingly, Arusha hosted the international criminal tribunal for Rwanda and sits as the de facto East African Community capital. Despite being in a conservative and religious country, Arusha is regarded as more liberal and very open to foreigners. Perhaps due to it's historical significance in the 1961 Arusha Declaration, which gave independence to modern Tanzania from the British Commonwealth. The city is very much a melting pot, multicultural and populated by people from all different backgrounds. The main language spoken is Swahili and a visitor would do well by learning a few of the many greetings. 

Where will you stay?

We provide safe, clean and comfortable accommodation, comfortable bedding, excellent breakfast and dinner and housekeeping. This will be a quiet and friendly neighbourhood only 15 minutes from the main hustle and bustle of town. You will have wifi, hot showers, 24 hour gated security, a domestic/cook (who will happily do your laundry for a small fee) and a coordinator who will ensure you settle in quickly and comfortably into your new town. This is a shared home where you will be staying with other volunteers and guests from across the world, so you will never be on your own in your new environment. The house is impeccably clean, well kept, modern and spacious.

How will you get around?

You have the choice of local taxi’s (we have contacts of affordable, trusted drivers) who can get you around town or you can use the famous ‘dala dala’ mini buses that most Tanzanian’s use to travel locally everyday. 

Important VISA & Permit Information

You will be required to pay a for a VISA & Permit for voluntary work assignment. Please enquire for details.

MEDICAL PRACTICE FEE
This is a payment all medical volunteers in Tanzania must make towards the Ministry of Health, Tanzania. This is a stand alone fee all medical volunteers and workers make.

Where do my placement fees go?

Most of your fees are spent locally. Fees ensure you have above local standard accommodation, that you have a personal coordinator picking you up at the airport, orientating you and you have a coordinator day to day and your program is planned and facilitated specifically for you, to match your skills and get you to provide the very best to those that need you. 

Do any placement fees go directly to the projects?

​Yes they do. Although we don't necessarily think that making financial contributions solve the complex issues faced by deprived areas, we do make a charitable donation on your behalf to your project placement. We do this as we know how challenging it can be for our partners to host, supervise and very often teach volunteers. We want our partners to know they are valued and respected for their time as best we can. This residual income also helps to elevate the work and resources provided by the NGO.

Is Africa safe for me to travel alone? Do I need to be with other volunteers?

​Regardless of whether you're volunteering on a clinical mission, you're still a tourist. Forward planning is key to protecting yourself from risk as you would anywhere in the world. It's important to try and be conscientious of your new surroundings and respect local customs as much as possible and insure yourself from any possible risks. 

​Africa is a large continent with every country varying greatly in local culture, customs, rules and regulations. Research your destination as much as possible and ask as many questions as possible. We would never place you at risk or in harm's way, however it is important you take ownership of your journey and behave responsibly. 



Typical day

Your typical day will usually begin very early, receiving a general and bedside handover of your patients. You will then be given supervised charge of a group of patients/patient list for the day and either observe or assist in managing the care and needs of those patients for the day.  You day ...

Typical day

Your typical day will usually begin very early, receiving a general and bedside handover of your patients. You will then be given supervised charge of a group of patients/patient list for the day and either observe or assist in managing the care and needs of those patients for the day.  You day can be either very hectic and extremely challenging or slow and very quiet. You will need to be motivated, resilient and work well in a team in order to get the best out of your experience. 

What will your schedule look like?
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Report to placement
12:00-13:00 Lunch Break
15:00 Placement ends

The rest of the day will be yours to relax and enjoy what the town has to offer you!


Free-time activities

Arusha provides an array of activities to get involved in during your free time. Explore the numerous walking trails, enjoy the large amount of cafe's bistro's and local food in town. There is a newly built mall in the town centre which also now has a cinema complex and more places to relax. There ...

Free-time activities

Arusha provides an array of activities to get involved in during your free time. Explore the numerous walking trails, enjoy the large amount of cafe's bistro's and local food in town. There is a newly built mall in the town centre which also now has a cinema complex and more places to relax. There is a vibrant night life on most evenings in Arusha, whether you want to enjoy a quiet drink, watch outdoor cinema or go dancing. 

Siret Trip Adventures provide a unique opportunity for our special volunteers to experience more of Africa's beauty. Take a scenic weekend walking tour of the lush rolling foothills of Mt Meru or a breathtaking day trips to some the world's most admired national reserves. Arusha is packed with opportunity to experience unique and unforgettable outdoor adventures. 

What else is there to do?

There are endless possibilities. Most volunteers rave about climbing Kilimanjaro. This usually takes about a week, so ensure you organise this with us before you arrive. Take advantage of this amazing tourist treasure.

Hot springs

  • An oasis in the middle of a barren landscape. The hot springs are truly magnificent. This can be organised as a day trip at any time. 

The Waterfalls

  • Another hot favourite. Hiking across lush vegetation to the spectacular waterfalls.

Safari

  • Ah yes, what Tanzania is world famous for. Safari is once in a lifetime adventure that is unique to the Africa experience. Unforgettable and jaw dropping landscapes is what is promised. This will need you to sacrifice some days, so please ensure you organise this long in advance. 
Tour packages, Safari's and cultural experiences are all available. 


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Psychology at University level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV, proof of education, relevant certifications, passport copy and criminal background check or two signed character references

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Studying or work experience in a related healthcare field. STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS are welcome. All medical volunteers will be supervised by a superior or equivalent local professional.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 07:30 - 15:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Medi Trip

  • Volunteer placement facilitation-full program scheduling 
  • Placement supervision
  • Pre-arrival support & preparation of your project/work placement
  • Video face to face Consultation with Program Director
  • Airport Pick Up 
  • Airport Drop Off
  • Orientation 
  • Accommodation Room & Board (Breakfast & Dinner)
  • Housekeeping
  • Wifi
  • Daily in-person availability of coordinators
  • EXCLUDES

    • Flights and insurance
      • Medical Practice fee paid to the Ministry of Health
        • VISA and PERMIT fees

      Airport Pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport

      PICK UP POINTS:
      Kilimajaro Airport
      Arusha Airport
      Arusha Bus station

      Accommodation

      Our volunteers stay in a newly refurbished volunteer house with modern amenities for a comfortable guest house experience.

      • Conveniently located in town
      • Housekeeping daily
      • Hot showers
      • WiFi
      • Beautiful spacious grounds 
      • Gated security with electric fencing and intercom entry
      • Overnight security guard

      Private double bedrooms available on request.

      Food & Beverages

      Breakfast and Dinner (dinner monday to friday) 

      You will eat clean, organic, nutritious food sourced from local farmers. Wholesome and delicious cuisine providing a burst of flavours and variety.

      • Continental breakfast 
      • Dinner Mondays to Fridays. 
      • Kitchen facilities available at weekends.
      • We have a filtered water cold/hot water dispenser to save on buying bottled water and make sure you keep hydrated with clean and safe water!

      And of course the kitchen is yours to use! We have a fabulous chef who can guide you to local supermarkets if you want to buy your own personal food and snacks!

      During orientation you will be shown tasty and affordable places to get lunch during your work day. You will have a good variety of local and western food places. There are amazing cafe's, bistro's and affordable western restaurants to enjoy a burger, salad, seafood etc!

      Internet Access

      Good access at the project site

      What's NOT included?

      What's NOT included?

      Flight Tickets

      The nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Kilimanjaro. We assist you to find cheap flights to Tanzania. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

      Travel Insurance

      Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Tanzania provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

      Vaccines

      If you are intending to volunteer in Tanzania you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Tanzania. VACCINE CHECKER

      Details on arrival

      We host volunteers all year long. Placement begins on the first Monday of each week, except for the last week of each month. Placements still available during public holidays. Please book according to your arrival/landing date. 

      Availability
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

      Program fees

      2 weeks (min. stay) 552€
      3 weeks 739€
      4 weeks 925€
      5 weeks 1,113€
      6 weeks 1,299€
      7 weeks 1,486€
      12 weeks (max. stay) 2,419€
      Average fees 238€/week

      Program fees

      238€ per week 2 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

      Payment methods

      Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

      NO CREDIT CARD FEES


      Duration

      2 - 12 weeks

      Deposit

      The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


      Final Payment

      Your final payment will be agreed with Medi Trip during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


      Meet your organization

      Medi Trip

      Excellent 4.8 rating (71 reviews)

      Agency - founded in 2014

      Verified by Volunteer World

        Good response rate

      Coordinated by

      Pearl

      Spoken languages: English

      About the project

      Medi Trip is the volunteer specialists in Tanzania for gap years, students, nurses, doctors and inspired travellers.

      Meet your organization

       Medi Trip - Company Profile

       Medi Trip is a limited company registered in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in November 2014 by current Director Pearl Sakoane (Nogi) (Chief Executive Officer). Pearl is a qualified nurse registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK), who graduated from King's College London and holds a Psychology Bachelors (with honours) degree from the University of Greenwich, London. She's worked in General Nursing, as a Research Nurse/Assistant on a research team with Kings College London, in a mental health rehabilitation facility and as a maternity care assistant along 10 years in the health care system in the UK. She also interned in Tanzania as a student and returned with the idea of establishing Medi Trip, going on to win the national Edith Cavell Leadership Award in 2015, featured in the Telegraph newspaper amongst other publications. 

      Medi Trip - Volunteer Programs

      Medi Trip specialises in bespoke volunteer programs for healthcare professionals and individuals passionate about making a real difference. We aim to facilitate volunteering experiences in healthcare facilities and within the community. The aim is to create the opportunity for individuals from different countries to learn, share knowledge of best practice, discuss areas of mutual concern and exchange ideas Medi Trip offer volunteer placements to doctors, nurses, students, healthcare/medical assistants and allied healthcare professionals. Some professionals want to share their expertise and experience, others choose to learn in an environment completely removed from their regular area of practice. 

      The main goal is to share knowledge amongst both local and foreign professionals. Meds Trip's volunteers have the opportunity to understand the socioeconomic and health implications of poverty within a developing nation. They experience first hand the care of vulnerable patients within a healthcare system with limited resources. 

      We are different from other volunteer companies in that Medi Trip specifically seek specialists or people with big ideas. Whether you want to simply use your clinical skills in different environment, help set up something new or want to raise awareness in a particular area of interest, we can help you realise your vision. Our purpose is to open up new possibilities for brilliant people. 

      At Medi Trip we are distinguished in being able to use our healthcare experience and expertise to pick the most suitable settings for our professional volunteers to experience. When you volunteer with Medi Trip, your volunteer placement would have been chosen specifically to suit your area of interest. Each of our placements are carefully assessed and selected for suitability to our professional volunteers, as well as how much contribution goes into the local health and social welfare. 

      71 reviews · rating4.8

      Leslie Stavig rating5

      2024 at Emergency Department Assistant

      I spent 4 weeks volunteering with MediTrip in Arusha, Tanzania. This is a public and busy hospital that aslo gets many referral from the other private hospital in Arusha and provide teaching to the medical interns and students. As an experienced Registered Nurse, I was grateful to be placed in ...
      Selina Jung rating4.8

      2023 at Nurse Hospital Assistant

      My knowledge as a nurse was almost exclusively limited to psychiatric care, which is why I was able to learn and experience a lot during my internship on the maternity ward. This included, among other things: - Attending and assisting normal births - Deepening my knowledge of birth complications ...
      Edurne Taravillo rating5

      2023 at Emergency Department Assistant

      I would like to thank you for the incredible experience in my volunteering trip. In general, I can say that it was a unique an unforgettable experience that I would highly recommend to everyone. Regarding the organization, and although there were some setbacks, they ended up responding to all our ...
      Leslie Stavig rating4.6

      2023 at Emergency Department Assistant

      Work as a Registered Nurse in busy public Emergency Department in Arusha Tanzania for 4 weeks. Integrate experience and practice in a very different country and ...
      Trinda Cyrus-Chow (Dr) rating5

      2023 at Hospital Medical Assistants

      We used Medi Trips to do some volunteer work while on a trip to Tanzania. We chose them as we felt that they were a company that prioritised the organisations they were supporting and that they really worked to ensure that there was a true need for volunteers at any particular programme rather ...
      Steven Samuelson rating5

      2023 at Emergency Department Assistant

      The program's organizers and local staff in Arusha, Tanzania were incredibly supportive and attentive to my needs. They provided me with guidance, mentorship from the doctors, and supervision and translation throughout the program, ensuring that students had a wholesome experience. The supervisors ...

      Location


      You might also be interested in

      Contact Pearl
        Good response rate
      English

      Most volunteers ask about


      Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Pearl
      Please do not share personal contact details for your privacy