UKEREWE ISLAND VOLUNTEERING PROJECT
About us
Ukerewe Island is the largest island in Lake Victoria and the largest inland island in Africa with an area approximately 630 km2, 100km2 of which is occupied by land the rest is covered by water bodies. Ukerewe Island is situated in the Ukerewe District, nearly 45km north of Mwanza to which it is linked by ferry and it takes 1:30 hours for speed boat and 3 to 4 hours for normal ferry to travel. The shoreline of Ukerewe Island is carved into numerous bays and it is surrounded by other 38 small islands with 3 of them not occupied by humans and the rest are occupied by fishermen with their families. Its largest community is Nansio. Its simple lifestyle and rocky terrain broken by lake vistas and tiny patches of forest makes an intriguing, offbeat diversion. With a population of over 400,000 people Ukerewe is populated by natives, an indigenous of one ethnic group, which has lived traditionally depending on fishing and subsisted by farming. Ukerewe is known for having a larger population of Albinism today they live a safe life on the island, although they are still suppressed minority in Tanzania.
We people of Ukerewe island, Mwanza, Tanzania are delighted to welcome you to the green island where you can experience the really Kerewe culture and enjoy tropical vegetation in its natural state. Learn about traditional uses of local vegetation, visit historical and archaeological sites, spectacular view of the blue greatering of Lake Victoria walk around for identification of endemic flora and fauna especially bird life.
Ukerewe island volunteering project will give you a chance to talk to these little children of beautiful Kerewe land and enjoy their games and songs. Here you can witness how the project is committed to help villagers’ orphans, homeless, and the abandoned. All profit made from Ukerewe Island volunteering project goes to charity. Our main objective is Ukerewe Island School and orphanage.
Ukerewe Island volunteering is founded by Dickson Bakarazya Magomba and still run under his direction.
Our mission
is to provide orphans and children living in difficult conditions with the basic education, proper housing, adequate health care and nutrition along with the daily necessities to ensure them a better quality of life and prosperous future. To do this we have established an orphanage center at Bwiru-Village-Homestay and we are looking ahead to have a preschool and a primary school. We are currently support 13 children in the age of three to nine years old, but its newly started and constantly growing. Besides of the fund originating from Ukerewe Island Volunteering Project we have the mother project Ukerewe Cultural Tourism Enterprise which also receive many tourists and to support the ongoing project by contributing 50% of its profit. We also welcome the volunteer workers from abroad to play a great part in the development of Ukerewe Island Volunteering Project.
Guiding
The guiding team lead and coached by Dickson Bakarazya Magomba who is Tanzanian born, well trained in his job and proficient in English to make sure his beloved client get a unique and unforgettable experience of the superb landscape spectacular bird life and magnificient nature-culture in Ukerewe Island.
Ukerewe Island
The few proper sights include agricultural activities in which the resident’s farm maize, sweet potatoes, millet, cassava and rice including the main activity here are agriculture activities and fishing. Seen from Nansio are 38 small islands surrounding the neighborhood with 3 of them not occupied by humans and the rest are occupied by fishermen and their families. They are visits to Kagunguli, the oldest Roman church built in 1895 located near a hill with the same name; the old school and dispensary which were built in 1911 and servings to date with few repairs all are still in use. The chiefs palace (the modest 1928 European style palace of the islands former king) which is still in use is a must see place if you are in the area and find out from the palace guide why one of its rooms has remained closed more than a half century.
Others include Irondo point where visitors see amazing views of Entebbe in Uganda and Nairobi in Kenya; a chance to be part of traditional dance group Buzegwe Staff Band that is surely to leave you fascinated, a visit to the historic sites including the Kings graves in Murutanga/Kitale village. As part of the activities here, visitors are introduced to local fishing, Canoeing, biking, village tour, farming, teaching English at nursery school and secondary schools, volunteering in poor families and support the children who are living in difficult life, hospitals, sharing life with the Kerewe people living with them at BWIRU VILLAGE HOMESTAY, learn how to cook the Kerewe traditional food and more are mildly interesting, but deeply rural life between them is the real attraction.
With its indescribable beauty, fresh air and excellent panorama, spiced up with a rich history and friendly cultured people, one cannot afford to miss the beauty of Ukerewe.
Book Donation Program
Books donation programs for local libraries and schools in Ukerewe Island. Most public libraries and school in Ukerewe Island accept gift books. The school libraries and public libraries are in always need of aid and they warmly welcome the aid. Persons seeking to donate books to libraries are encouraged to contact us so we will send up to local libraries. It would be very good if you make it a part volunteering and directly giving book by yourself organizing a function.
You can either buy here or collect new or used books there and bring it with yourself or send up to us. If possible you can help create and furnish libraries within existing children’s centers and schools. We enable children who may not have access to a public library to discover the world of books. Let’s purchase and donate library bound books to create actual lending program to familiarize children with standard practice. Books should be carefully selected to reflect the backgrounds and life experiences of children in that community. We can donate also child friendly chairs and tables, colorful carpets, listening centers, puppets, motivational posters and more if possible.
Cultural Exchange Volunteer – Bwiru Homestay
In Ukerewe Island the general concept of tourism is changing. Government is aiming developing the main culturally, naturally, historically important villages as village tourism centers. In those villages there is facility of home stay. They have fulfilled the basic tourist standard as coded by the government in Ukerewe Island this concept of village tourism is new.
If you have had been in any home stay places all round globe, you best experience can be used to enhance the quality of village tourism here in Ukerewe. This project will be mile stone to help to develop village tourism in Ukerewe. The indigenous Kerewe people Furahisha group of this area invite you and can give you trainings on hygienic management, cooking, cultural preservation etc. We are looking ahead to take you in our famous home stay at Bwiru Village Homestay.
The best village among other Ukerewe villages, Bwiru Village Homestay is the perfect example of homestay based cultural tourism destination in Ukerewe island which belongs to the warrior ethnic Kerewe tribe locally Wakerewe. This beautiful village lies along the Kagunguli to Buguza/Bugorola route. Most of the men’s serve in fishing activities and besides that the main occupation is agriculture and animal husbandry. The total houses at Bwiru Village Homestay are about seven and a large area for camping and majority inhabitants are family member. This majestic village is only 20 km north of Nansio town. It has attracted many foreigners as well as the domestic visitors. Welcome to share unforgettable hours with the Kerewe people, come and enjoy our hospitality.
Agricultural Volunteer
Ukerewe island major economic sector is agriculture and fishing activities. More than 80% of the population in Ukerewe Island is depended on agriculture and fishing .Agriculture in Ukerewe Island still done traditionally. Agricultural volunteer program will give you an opportunity to live with local farmer family, learn agricultural practices carried out by them since ages, and take part in agricultural work. This program will let you experience real Kerewe people being a local like for few days. Here we farm maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, and rice depending on the rain pattern. Simply in the month of November to March are the best months for rice, maize and sweet potatoes and March to May cassava is grown and on September to November. The research oriented and culture oriented volunteers can take part in this project. If you are born in city and you have no experience of the agricultural life, you will learn a lot and may be you will wonder what life means to these people. The rural parts of Ukerewe still give you an opportunity to experience the Kerewe ways of life which goes traditionally. Learn different medicinal plants and there uses, milking the cow and grazing them as well as collecting some firewood just for cooking. These small experiences will transform your life and make you morewise. Be a local everywhere to know.
Teach English Program Ukerewe
This teaching English volunteer program enables you to explore Ukerewe Island as a local. In Ukerewe society teacher is regarded as everything and has high prestigious position. In one hand you will have chance to be a teacher and in other hand you will have good opportunity to have cultural study of Ukerewe society, way of life and more, joining this program. Be a candle to drive away darkness and keep in mind that light is necessary where there is darkness.
In Ukerewe we have two types of education system, the private schools where medium of teaching is English and governmental school where more subjects are taught in English and rest in Swahili. The governmental schools are handled with very less resources and the English teaching volunteers are always in demand. Ukerewe Island as a touristic destination has English second language and the young children in Ukerewe are trying to learn English language because it is international language in this global world trade, commerce and communication. Without knowledge of English language a person in this time not only remains incomplete but opportunities will be severely restricted too.
There are many schools and institutions that educate children but they are unaffordable to those who need them most. Our volunteers in teaching English projects will work in schools attended by students of low income families in rural villages. You will teach students eager to learn. You will converse with them to improve their pronunciation, teach English according to official curriculum, or use your own material or creative ideas in a different but fun way. This is also a good opportunity to gain teaching experience, serve those who need and appreciate you, and to help build your own career.
Your Activities as a Volunteer
As a volunteer you will work in public schools or in child care homes teaching English language. In public school the size of the class is usually 20 to 45 students. You will teach English 2-3 hours a day from Monday to Friday. You might also be asked to train local teachers and take part in other activities like games, painting, music, sanitation, computers and arts. Ukerewe island schools follow fixed courses for teaching English. However you are welcome to implement your own method.
Project Skills required
Prior experience in teaching is desired but not required. You will need to have sound communication skills in English. Volunteers should also be flexible, self-motivated and a strong willingness to learn and take new initiatives.
Arrangement of Room/Supervision
Bwiru home stay manages your entire accommodation, food and supervision during your stay either with a host family or in a home base. In the home base you will share a room and communal shower facilities with other volunteers. You will be served 3 meals a day. Staying with a host family provides a wonderful opportunity for you to experience the Kerewe lifestyle. You can even learn how to cook the Kerewe traditional food. Our staff will visit your placement every two weeks. During the visit we will check on your progress and make sure you’re satisfied.
The program fee will be
| Duration | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | 6 weeks | 12 weeks | Extra week |
| Amount | US$ 430 | US$ 570 | US$ 710 | US$ 1000 | US$ 70 |
The Program Fee covers
Pre departure information: Volunteer information
Land Transportation: Ferry Pickup & drop off, transportation during cultural sightseeing program
Homestay accommodation 2 weeks night accommodation during program induction period at Bwiru village homestay.
Land transportation to project site
Accommodations and meals:
Contribution to projects and host family
Support for ongoing community development projects
Assistance for your departure
Assistance to extent your visa
All administration cost
Hold a medical Camp (dental/eye/women health)
Ukerewe Island Volunteers Program has a variety of health placements to ensure that your medical expertise reach the neediest people.
Adequate medical care is a serious problem especially in rural and urban areas of Ukerewe Island.
For many of the poor living in Ukerewe Island seeing a doctor for themselves and their children is simply not an affordable option. In rural areas also health facilities are also in short supply due to poor transportation link, drugs and funding.
On top of this, there is also a cultural challenge in providing modem health care. Many traditional Ukerewe people are suspicious or do not know about Western
medicine. To improve both these situations organizations like Ukerewe Island Volunteers Program have established health clinics and health camps to provide basic health checks awareness in needy communities. (U.I.V.P) is also affiliated with some government hospitals that are in need of extra financial and personnel support.
How does a Volunteer help?
(U.I.V.P-Tanzania) has three different types of health placements for volunteers in Ukerewe Island:
1. Pre-medic placements.
These placements are available for those who have a desire to work in the medical profession, but are not yet qualified or studying medicine .As a volunteer on these placement you will be given the opportunity to observe doctors in clinics and run your own health awareness programs in schools , women’s group ,orphanages and other community organizations . These awareness groups may provide local communities with sanitation knowledge and first aid training.
2. Medical student placements
If you are in the process of becoming a medical professional then these is the placement that will best suit you .Volunteers on this program will have the opportunity to carry out basics health checks in health clinics. Observe Tanzania doctors in hospital and in practice in your elected field. For most of this placement you will shadow Tanzania doctors, who will have good spoken English .On this placement you may also get the chance to run/take part in Tanzania’s own health camp, which moves between needy communities offering basic health care .If you come in group of 4 or more medical students then you may have the opportunity to run the health camp yourselves at Bwiru village.
3. Medical professionals’ placements.
If you are qualified medical professional then you have the opportunity to work in government hospitals, health clinics and health camp. Depending on the length of your stay you may prefer to work with Ukerewe doctors or establish your own clinic/health camp practice.
Please note that working as a medical professional/student in Ukerewe island district hospital may be very different to your experiences in your home country .Medicine names and practices may differ here and volunteers have to adapt to these changes .Although (Ukerewe District Hospital and Kagunguli dispensary) provides the services of an interpreter where necessary, communication can sometimes limit the actions of our volunteers. This said, often volunteers feel that these factors enhance their experience in Ukerewe Island, Tanzania forcing them to learn quickly on the job.
Do I need any specific qualifications or skills for volunteering placement?
For pre-medic placements you must have a keen interest or be planning to study medicine in some capacity. For medical student placements you must be currently studying/have studied medicine .For our professional placements you must be practicing in the medical profession. On applying for these placement let us know your level of experience and field of expertise and we will do our best to find you a suitable placements.
HIV AIDS awareness program
AIDS has become a global crisis challenging the humanity .Further; the crisis is projected to get worse turning into a catastrophe. This epidemic transcends geographical, gender, racial, ethnic as well as economic barriers, and thus, Ukerewe remains no exception. Health experts have projected that it will become a leading cause of death over the coming years. Surveys detected HIV infections among sexually transmitted infection patients and female sex workers throughout most destinations in Ukerewe.
With the increasing rate of migration, trafficking within and across the country, child labor and injecting drug users, the HIV/AIDS rate will only go up. Those who are at higher risk compromise migrants, child labors, the younger population in general intravenous drug users and unborn child of infected mothers. Unprotected sex, use of intravenous unsterilized injections, and mothers to child infections has been the important risk factors. But the major mode of transmission remains sexual intercourse. In most cases, the HIV epidemic is driven by the behaviors such as unprotected sex, use of unsterile injectable, and stigmatizing and condemning the infected puts individuals at higher risks. Therefore, raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and clarifying the misconceptions is an effective tool toward prevention. Moreover it is also vital to break down the stigmas and misconceptions associated with HIV/AIDS so that effective treatments of HIV-positive persons can be carried out in a manner that ensures their basic human rights. Latest figures show that over 100,000 people have the HIV infected and there is increasing alarm that the disease is escalating. We organize awareness program in world aids day and distribute condoms in society. You can also participate in HIV awareness programs. Volunteering in awareness program, it is necessary to raise the vow together, stop aids crisis and eradicate the curse of human beings.
Sport Volunteering in Ukerewe Island
Many sports are famous in Ukerewe Island and sports volunteering are one of the good Ukerewe volunteer program. Ukerewe people take part in different competitions in the whole island, also in some games out of the island. If you are good at any sports and would like to volunteer in Ukerewe as a sports coach or teacher you are most welcome. We make your volunteer position based on your level of expertise like in school, in local clubs or in national clubs. You can choose the game you would like to volunteer like swimming, athletics, shooting, tennis, table tennis, boxing, judo, karate, chess etc. The football volunteer coaches are in high demand in rural parts in Ukerewe. The volunteer duration depends on your availability of time and the enrollment is always open.
Contact us:
Ukerewe Island Volunteering Project,
P.O.Box151 Bwiru village,
Nansio, Ukerewe, Tanzania,
Cell: +255745663275,
Email: Not yet opened,
Website: Not yet opened.