Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Tanzania

  Tanzania

• Other Cities in Tanzania: 
Arusha

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Monthly Start Dates throughout the year.

Description: Educate community groups on Biointensive Agriculture methods, sack gardens and nutrition while living with a host family in Arusha, Tanzania.

The GSC Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program offers participants opportunities to learn about and teach organic farming methods and increase food security for rural Tanzanian communities, especially those families affected by HIV/AIDS. GSC promotes biointensive agriculture (BIA), a specialized form of organic agriculture involving the use of double-dug beds, locally available crops, organic compost materials, crop diversification, intensive planting, and water harvesting. Biointensive agriculture is a much more viable option for most rural Tanzanians than is chemical based farming, which requires expensive chemicals and fertilizers and is not sustainable.

Participants educate Tanzanian community members in BIA small-scale farming techniques and work with community groups to create sustainable small-scale farming plots in the Arusha region. In addition to providing community trainings, other activities include working in the demonstration plot at the local agricultural college, assessing group capabilities and preparing those requesting our trainings, and providing follow-up support to groups previously trained by GSC.

The sustainable agriculture program works parallel to the HIV/AIDS Prevention Program to educate HIV positive people, their families and orphans about organic small-scale farming. This type of farming creates not only immune system-building produce but also can provide income to benefit members of the community. Participants also learn about and share information about nutrition that is vital to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Additionally, participants may be involved in constructing and distributing sack gardens to people living with HIV/AIDS.

This program is especially suitable for those interested in agriculture and food security, environmental studies, natural resources, ecology, international development, public health or related fields.

Highlights: Homestays: Volunteers experience true cultural immersion by living with a local Tanzanian family. GSC places volunteers with hosts who enjoy learning about other cultures and appreciate the unique opportunity that hosting an international volunteer gives to their family. Host families have been carefully chosen by GSC and our partners, and many have hosted volunteers over the course of several years. Whether you are learning Tanzanian games or sharing a plate of ugali (corn meal) and sakuma weki (greens) with your Tanzanian Mama, your homestay experience with GSC hosts will provide memories and friendships lasting a lifetime.

Tanzanian Partners: The experience of GSC volunteers is greatly enhanced by their daily interaction with local counterparts, whether a nurse at a hospital, a teacher at a school, or a college-bound translator, Volunteers and their Tanzanian partners build mutually beneficial and often long lasting bonds of friendship. Local partners assist Volunteers with obtaining local transportation, finding the best local restaurants, learning local language phrases, meeting community leaders, and giving tips about and often participating in social activities. Counterparts play a vital role in providing a true cultural immersion experience while helping to insure that the volunteers interaction with and service to the community is appropriate and effective.

Cultural Orientation and Technical Training: All Tanzania Service-Learning programs include in-depth cultural orientation including Swahili lessons, a tutorial on how to use the dala-dala bus system like a local and an insider's tour of Arusha. Volunteers also receive technical training on biointensive agriculture techniques such as composting and double digging; how food security relates to HIV/AIDS in the Tanzanian context, and how to lead week-long educational workshops.

Qualifications: Prior agricultural experience is not required; simply a desire to give something back to the community in which you'll be living. Also necessary is a willingness to work outdoors and have dirty knees!

Cost in US$: Programs start at USD 2,825

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteers and interns are interested in having an unforgettable cultural immersion experience. You will live, serve, learn and play with your Tanzanian family and community. Our participants are all ages ranging from 18-85 years old. You will learn Swahili in our weekly lessons and enjoy weekend excursions into the beautiful Tanzanian countryside! If you want to see and enjoy the "wildness" of Africa and it's wonderful people from an insider's perspective, you will benefit immensely. A certain degree of maturity and independence is needed.

Age Range: 20 - 85

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Tanzania Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 2-20

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Service Corps's Mission Statement: Working from offices on three continents, Global Service Corps is dedicated to fulfilling our mission of designing and implementing effective service-learning programs that provide maximum benefit to our program participants and the communities we serve. Through the hard work of our staff, support of our advisory board, collaboration with our partners and the participation of hundreds of volunteers each year, Global Service Corps has earned its reputation as a leader in international volunteerism, service-learning and community development.

Year Founded: 1992