The Malaika Project - Karibu Sana

1. WHAT PROJECTS COULD I BE INVOLVED WITH?
A. Promote the use of mosquito nets and investigate the impact of the mosquito net distribution project.
B. Community health research projects in collaboration with the local village health worker, local clinic staff, and local performance education group. (e.g.: barriers to condom use study)
C. Health education in schools and community education with local performance education group and HIV positive speakers.
D. Teach English to NGO staff, secondary school students, and/or nursery and primary school students.
E. Teach Math or Science at the local secondary school.
F. Expand and develop more programs for children (school sponsorship, family support for AIDS orphans, empowerment peer education program at local secondary schools).
G. Participate in setting up an HIV Counseling and Testing Site with a local HIV group (training locals in HIV counseling and testing, creating formularies for AIDS related illnesses).
H. Unite for Sight eye screening and cataract surgery programs.
I. Establish a pharmacy, along with formularies for different sets of local diseases.
J. Projects to improve access to water.
K. Work with local women’s group on a small business education program.
L. Bring Internet access to Nyamuswa.
M. Clinical electives at district hospital and rural clinics (upper level medical students/residents only).
N. Share your own idea/expertise.

2. WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DUE?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round. First come, first serve. Anyone over 18 is welcome to apply for any length of time. Please see the Application Packet for details on application requirements.

3. HOW SOON WILL I FIND OUT IF I’M ACCEPTED?
One week to one month within submitting your COMPLETE application.

4. WILL THERE BE OTHER VOLUNTEERS IN THE VILLAGE WHEN I AM THERE?
The summer and winter breaks are the times when there are the most volunteers in the village (up to 20 at a time). There are fewer numbers of volunteers at other parts of the year and there is a chance that you could be the only one there depending on the time of year.

5. WHO WILL I BE WORKING WITH?
Volunteers who can function well in a foreign environment and work independently accomplish the most in the village. You will be working directly with local organization staff, including Zinduka board members (our partner organization), members of Nyamuswa Drama Group, local teachers, the local village health worker, health providers, local officials, and other volunteers. You will need a lot of initiative and cultural flexibility to work closely with local people and build on existing projects while developing new strategies to improve local capacity. It is imperative for you to speak with other volunteers before you go. Our program directors and the project coordinator will help you design an action plan and itinerary before you arrive.

6. WHERE WILL I LIVE?
Past volunteers have preferred home-stays, as they gain a unique cultural experience and develop relationships with the families in the village. Tanzanian culture is very welcoming. They consider it an honor to have guests and will do everything than can to make your life comfortable. All volunteers have lived with Zinduka Board Members (our local collaborating organization). Most homes have young children. You will not have electricity or running water but your family will have a gas lamp or two and an outhouse that they generally keep very clean.
Food will be prepared for you. Vegetarian diets are easy to accommodate.
Your family will heat a pan of water for you for bathing. Think of it like upscale camping.You may also stay in a local guesthouse, but you may have difficulty arranging for food, as there are very few dining options. You will likely have to buy a grill and a pot to cook your own rice and beans.

7. WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE?
A typical day depends heavily upon which project you do and also how much initiative you take. You wake up to roosters crowing and have bread and jam and tea. During the day you could be traveling to Bunda to meet with district officials, working with the youth group on community education, teaching a local class, going out to a rural village to distribute mosquito nets, interviewing focus groups or individuals for a study, doing a health education program at Nyamuswa Academy (nursery and primary school) or simply hanging out at the Zinduka office. If you plan on being home for lunch, just let your family know. Usually you’ll eat dinner with your family: potatoes, beans, stews, greens, chapati, rice, or ugali. In the evening you can hang out with the Zinduka crew at Rafiki bar, brainstorm with other volunteers, or spend a nice relaxing evening at home reading with an oil lamp. On a medical rotation you would be going on teaching rounds in the morning at Bunda District Hospital with clinic in the afternoon or spending the day at a rural clinic.
On a weekend you might travel to Mwanza or Musoma for email and other services.

8. WHAT IS THE COST OF VOLUNTEERING?
You are encouraged to fundraise from friends, family, and local organizations as the more money you bring to the village, the more you will be able to accomplish. If you could bring $300 to $500 towards your project, you will be able to make a larger impact. Below is an example of a basic budget of minimal costs based on one month. ($1 USD=1,000 Tsh)

Item	Cost	Comment
Room and Board	100,000 Tsh	$25/week
Tanzanian Visa	50,000 Tsh
Project Donation	200,000 Tsh	You keep $100 to be used towards your project
Photocopying, Printing	5-10 Tsh	May be included in Project Donation
Travel from Mwanza to Nyamuswa on arrival	4,000 Tsh
Travel to Mwanza on the weekends (3 times)	21,000 Tsh	Dalla-dalla to Bunda = 2,000, Bus to Mwanza = 5,000 round trip, so 7,000 Tsh each weekend
Miscellaneous Travel Costs	10,000 Tsh	Cabs around Bunda, May be included in Project Donation
Food in Mwanza (3 times)	30,000 Tsh	Approx. 10,000 per visit (lunch and dinner)
Hotel in Mwanza (3 times)	15,000 Tsh
Internet Cafes	4,000 Tsh	Usually 1000 Tsh per hour

Total	394,000 Tsh	$394

Note: This does not include airfare, vaccinations, travel insurance, or malaria prophylaxis which depends on country of origin. It also does not include souvenirs or other personal expenses.

9. HOW DO I COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE FROM NYAMUSWA?
There is email access in the towns near Nyamuswa- Mwanza and Musoma. To call out of the village or out of the country, you may use either the Zinduka landline
(Tsh 1,000/minute) or you can purchase a cell phone in one of the larger cities for $80 USD. You can purchase prepaid cell phone cards for 30 cents a minute.
You can be reached by people calling the Zinduka office. Incoming calls to the Zinduka office and to cell phones are free.

10. HOW DO I GET THERE?
You can fly into Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (DAR), Arusha Tanzania (Kilimanjaro) (JRO), or Nairobi, Kenya (NBO). Roundtrip ticket prices range from $750 - $3,000. Precision Air www.precisionairtz.com offers flights to Mwanza/Musoma from these international airports (flights cost approximately $140-$180 one-way). If you would prefer to travel by bus rather than fly within Tanzania , Scandanavia Buslines http://www.scandinaviagroup.com/Booking.html is highly recommended. Keep in mind that busrides across the country can be from 14-48 hours long, depending on the distance, and are often overnight. If you travel through Kenya, be prepared for a $20 transit visa (good for 24 hours) for passing through Kenya.
Our Project Coordinator can meet you in Mwanza or Musoma and accompany you to Nyamuswa.

11. WHAT IF I WANT TO GO ON SAFARI OR HIKE KILIMANJARO?
It’s best to go before or after your project. Tell Brian Singer from www.access2tanzania.com that you are volunteering for Malaika Project for a discount. They can pick you up or drop you off in Nyamuswa.

12. HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MALAIKA PROJECT?
A. www.malaikaproject.org
B. Send a message to the listserve: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/malaikaproject to get in touch with previous volunteers.
C. For information on the Malaria Program, email Stephanie Wilmore, Malaika Project Malaria Program Director: stephaniewilmore@gmail.com
D. For information on the HIV Program, email Jeff Pitcher, Malaika Project HIV Program Director: jeffpitcher@yahoo.com
E. For other information, email Jennie Howland, MD, MPH, Malaika Project Coordinator. jenniemalaika@yahoo.com

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