from 892€

Outstanding 4.9rating (12)
  • Good Health And Well-Being
Available from Feb 2025

Physical Therapy for disabled children

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Below average response rate

Highlights

  • Become a part of the More Africa family by joining our volunteer program
  • Get closer to the local people and culture of Zanzibar by learning the local Swahili language
  • Train our local therapists, show or improve your physical therapy skills and contribute to the development of children.
  • Make memories you'll never forget! In your weekend you can explore the island or go on a safari. We can organize everything for you!
  • Did you know that several researches have shown that people who volunteer are happier and healthier than people who don’t?

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups

About the program

Special education, physical therapy, social skills training & more. More Africa is looking for professionals and students who want to work with disabled children.

About Zanzibar
Known as the Spice Island, the beautiful island of Zanzibar on Africa’s east coast is bursting with culture and history, seemingly at odds with its idyllic geography of white-sand beaches with palms swaying lazily in the sea breeze. Together this makes Zanzibar a fabulous place to ...

About the program

About Zanzibar
Known as the Spice Island, the beautiful island of Zanzibar on Africa’s east coast is bursting with culture and history, seemingly at odds with its idyllic geography of white-sand beaches with palms swaying lazily in the sea breeze. Together this makes Zanzibar a fabulous place to explore as well as a dream to relax and unwind.
Zanzibar is the semi-autonomous part of Tanzania in East Africa. It is composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometres off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islands and two large ones: Unguja (Zanzibar) and Pemba.
The capital of Zanzibar, Stone Town, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Every culture lover will love this diverse island with many Arabic influences. Zanzibar has a rich history, which is largely characterized by slave trade.
Zanzibar has been the entrance of eastern Africa for centuries and it was here where most slaves were sold; and Indian, Chinese and Arabic merchants would arrive to trade their wares and buy spices, ivory and slaves. The history of Zanzibar has created a unique mixture of Indian, African and Arabic influences which can be seen in its people, food, culture and building styles.
In Zanzibar it seems as if time has stood still. People live very traditional lives. The local Zanzibari are 95% Muslim. As a volunteer you have an exemplary role in the community and it is important that you show respect for the local community, its people and culture.
This means that you adapt to the culture and customs. That is why all our volunteers need to dress appropriately (shoulders covered and long pants).
On the beaches you can of course just walk around in swimwear.
For this volunteer program we are looking for serious people who don't come to Zanzibar for the parties. We are looking for people who really want to contribute to the community, our children and the project. People who want a unique experience and who want to work together with others and learn from each other.

 

About our volunteer program
As a physical therapy professional or student, you want to empower people. The children that More Africa supports are all children with incredible potential, but at Zanzibar they don't get the opportunity to develop in their own way and at their own pace.
At More Africa we believe that every human being, regardless of (dis)ability, has the right to education and development.
Every day you treat our children. You make treatment plans together with the local physiotherapist. You try to get the best out of the children, to motivate and stimulate them. You write reports and evaluate.
After corona time we want to start a small clinic for local people and expats. Every Saturday (and if you want on Monday) people other than our children can come to the clinic for treatment of their problems.

Because a large part of our children cannot talk, we offer all our education in Swahili.
During your stay here, we also offer a basic Swahili course. This way you will be able to communicate more easily with our children and local teachers.

Funding
Because More Africa depends 100% on help from volunteers and donations, we really appreciate it if you want to do a fundraiser before arrival, during your time here, or after returning home. Your help will be much appreciated!



Typical day

A typical day at More Africa looks like this:
07:30: The volunteers eat breakfast in the volunteer house (bread).
08:00: We pick up all the children together.  We do this to make sure that the children actually come.
09:00: Start school and physiotherapy. The children play outside.
10:00: Start ...

Typical day

A typical day at More Africa looks like this:
07:30: The volunteers eat breakfast in the volunteer house (bread).
08:00: We pick up all the children together.  We do this to make sure that the children actually come.
09:00: Start school and physiotherapy. The children play outside.
10:00: Start lessons. The children start with a welcome moment. After this we start with the didactic lessons. We do this partly in a group and partly individually, so we can respond to the level and needs of the individual child. We teach the children practical skills, which they can use in daily life. We teach the children shapes, colors, fruit/vegetables, family members, bodyparts, animals etc. The children with a higher level learn reading, writing and mathematics. In addition, we offer music lessons, sports lessons, geography, science, creative lesson and for some also English lessons.
12:30: Lunch. The children bring food from home. Some children don't get to eat well, that's why we share everything.
13:00: We bring the children home.
13:30: Lunch. The volunteers eat in the volunteer house (bread).
14:00: Reports and preparations for the next day. The volunteers write the reports. Important things are written down. Once a month an evaluation is made and every three months goals are adjusted. Also the work for the next day is prepared. Think of preparing toys for experiential learning, preparing the creative activity, writing and maths exercises.
16:00: Depending on what needs to be done you will be ready between 15:00 and 16:00. A few days a week we also have an afternoon program with Swahili or beach/village cleanups. We find it important that our volunteers are immersed in the local culture and customs and participate in local life.
The other days you can enjoy; take a dip in our pool (if there are any guests) or go to the beach.
18:00: During weekdays we expect our volunteers back at 18:00. At 18:00 dinner is ready, which is prepared by our chef. In the evening the volunteers can play a game together or watch a movie.

The working days are from Tuesday to Saturday. Volunteers have weekends from Saturday afternoon until Monday evening.
In the weekend we can arrange excursions and trips for volunteers. We expect volunteers to return on Saturday and Sunday at 23:00 and on Monday at 21:00 at the latest.

The care offered by More Africa is 100% free for parents. Parents do not pay for transport or education. We do this deliberately, because people here either have no money, or do not see the need. This makes More Africa 100% dependent on donations.
To make the project self-sufficient, we opened a guesthouse with 10 rooms in 2019. Guests staying in our guesthouse donate directly to the project. Volunteers with a background in tourism/marketing are welcome to volunteer within our guesthouse.



Free-time activities

In your free time you can discover all the beauty that Zanzibar has to offer. We can help you book and arrange everything for you. As a volunteer you will pay the cost price, we will of course not charge you any more!
We advise you not to book tours locally or on the beach.
On our website you can find ...

Free-time activities

In your free time you can discover all the beauty that Zanzibar has to offer. We can help you book and arrange everything for you. As a volunteer you will pay the cost price, we will of course not charge you any more!
We advise you not to book tours locally or on the beach.
On our website you can find all information about excursions. There is something for everyone; diving / snorkeling, kite surfing, relaxing on a sandbank, visiting national parks, or culture sniffing in Stone Town. We can even arrange a safari for you!


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 (intermediate level)

Education Requirements

Physical Therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy at level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV

Nationality Restrictions

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

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 08:00 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by More Africa

 What do we offer you for this amount?

- You will stay in our dormitory. Men and women separately. We offer bunk beds. The dormitory has 3 basic bathrooms with western toilet. The dormitory has a fridge, living room and small garden.
- Electricity and water
- We offer 3 meals a day (during working days). Breakfast and lunch with bread (nutella, jam, peanut butter) and dinner made by our chef. It is not possible to cook for yourself. In the weekend (Saturday afternoon until Monday evening) you have to take care and pay for your own food. It is possible to eat in our restaurant (when it is open). Fresh drinking water is always available.
- Pick-up service from the airport or ferry. The costs for the way back are not included.
- Supervision. You will be supervised by the project leader.

Internet is NOT included in these costs. You will get a SIM card on loan from us and you can use it to decide how much you want to use per month.

Airport Pickup at Zanzibar International Airport

Pick-up service from the airport or ferry is included. The costs for the way back are not included. We pick volunteers up every monday between 8.00 and 20.00.
The projectleader, OR the driver of the project will pick you up. It is a 1 hour drive from the airport/ferry to More Africa.

Accommodation

You will stay in our dormitory which is on the same premises as the school and our guesthouse. Men and women separately. We offer bunk beds. The dormitory has 3 basic bathrooms with western toilet and simple shower. The dormitory has a fridge, living room and small garden.
If you prefer to stay in one of our private bungalows, let us know. We charge extra for this and it is always on availability.

Food & Beverages

We offer 3 meals a day (during working days). Breakfast and lunch with bread (nutella, jam, peanut butter) and dinner made by our chef. It is not possible to cook for yourself. In the weekend (Saturday afternoon until Monday evening) you have to take care and pay for your own food. It is possible to eat in our restaurant (when it is open). Fresh drinking water is always available. If you have special requirements we will ask you to inform and discuss with us before arrival.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar. 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

Volunteers can arrive every Monday between 8.00 and 20.00. We will pick you up at the airport or ferry. Because it is an hour's drive, we ask volunteers who arrive the same day to take the same flights where possible. It is not possible to start at the project on another day than Monday. If you like to acclimatize before you start, you can of course arrive earlier and we will arrange a hotel for you in consultation with you.


April and May is rainy season on Zanzibar. Normally we are closed all month in May. However, if you want to come for a long internship, we can sometimes deviate from this.
Furthermore, the school is closed from the week of Christmas for 3 weeks.

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

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 892€
5 weeks 1,116€
6 weeks 1,339€
7 weeks 1,562€
8 weeks 1,785€
9 weeks 2,008€
10 weeks 2,231€
11 weeks 2,454€
12 weeks (max. stay) 2,677€
Average fees 223€/week

Program fees

223€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 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 More Africa during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

More Africa

Outstanding 4.9 rating (12 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2015

Verified by Volunteer World

  Below average response rate

Coordinated by

Ellen

Spoken languages: Dutch, English

About the project

More Africa is a special school for physical and/or mental disabled children in Paje, Zanzibar. We provide special education, physical therapy, daycare and medical care.

Meet your organization

More Africa
More Africa is a non-governmental organization (NGO) on Zanzibar which focuses on children and young adults with physical and/or mental disabilities. The special school provides special education, physical therapy, medical help, training and daycare to children who aren’t allowed anywhere else because of their disability.

Goals
More Africa is a NGO founded in 2015 by the Dutch Ellen van Beers.
The main aim of More Africa is the special school, in order to provide every child the right to education, therapy and/or meaningful daytime activities. On Zanzibar, education, counseling or therapy for children/young adults with disabilities are not obvious. Parents often struggle with the fact that they want the best for their child, but the child cannot go anywhere and will not be accepted at regular schools. For these children, More Africa is there. We provide customized education, counseling and therapy.

Our approach
The More Africa school offers a nursery, primary and physical therapy department. Besides, More Africa offers job opportunities for young adults with disabilities from the age of 18 and older. In this way we strive to increase positive impacts of tourism and decrease the negative sides of tourism, by focussing on community based tourism.
The More Africa school offers these children and young adults the opportunity to develop themselves in a familiar and safe environment, as More Africa works with individual careplans and all children have their own personal goals they would like to achieve. 
More Africa is a progressive organization on Zanzibar when it comes to involving parents in the development, guidance and support of their child. More Africa is convinced that it is essential to involve parents in the development of the child. In this way parents can continue the development at home, in the familiar surroundings.

Departments
More Africa supports children and young adults with special needs in their development through physical therapy, training, special education and daycare. More Africa works with five departments:
1. Nursery
This group consists toddlers and children with major development delays. We prepare them for the primary school by teaching them basic scholar and social skills.
2. Primary school
This group consists of children who are not allowed in Zanzibar to go to a government school due to their disabilities
3. Daycare
More Africa offers daycare for children with severe mental disabilities. We offer these children education by experiential learning. This means that it is about education in which you allow children to gain as much experience as possible, so that they learn to experience and discover for themselves.
4. Physical Therapy
This group consists of children with multiple disabilities. We offer these children especially physical therapy and daycare through sensory stimulation. These children often have Cerebral Palsy.
5. 18+ Trainingprogram
More Africa offers a training programme for people with disabilities from the age of 18.
The training program prepares our employees to work within the hospitality sector. We teach our employees to work as security, gardener, bartender, chef or housekeeper. We believe that everyone has the ability to be a meaningful member of the community. In this way we create employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

 

12 reviews · rating4.9

Lisette van der Sijde rating5

2019 at Physical Therapy for disabled children

My experiences as a pediatric physicaltherapist at More Africa. It was a great experience. The hospitality and open minded vision gave me the opportunity to use my expertise and experience from the past 30 years. Together with Ellen, we mapped the children well: what is the diagnosis, what are ...
As the headline says: "experience for life". I had contact with the project as part of my graduation internship. Graduating abroad has always appealed to me. From the first moment of contact it felt quite at easy and welcome. During the preparation I was able to ask enough questions about the ...
Amy Verhallen rating5

2018 at Physical Therapy for disabled children

It is the ideal project for physiotherapists or physiotherapy students, who are looking for something special. Taking initiative is appreciated and something is actually done with the ideas you give. Very nice to take the project to a higher level together with the other volunteers and to see ...
Renee Delhaas rating4.2

2018 at Physical Therapy for disabled children

I thought it was really cool on zanzibar. I was there for 2.5 months but it felt much longer! it was so nice to be with the children at More Africa and see where they live. I wouldn't have missed it for the world to see them so happy and also to play with them and do school lessons. it was a magical ...
Google Translator: More Africa is a great project, working with the children was fantastic. Everything is well organized. Ellen provides great guidance. Zanzibar is a beautiful island with many fun things to do and a great beach. I look back on this memory with great ...
Worked on school for children with a disability. Liked it very much and went back a few times. First volunteering in 2015 The people are very friendly and always want to help you. There is a dormotory which is basic but good. The food is also ...

Location

Africa > Eastern Africa > Tanzania > Paje, Zanzibar

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Contact Ellen
  Below average response rate
Dutch, English

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