Social Work & Community Outreach Internships in Arusha
Assist social workers and healthcare professionals who work to address inequalities in underprivileged communities around Arusha. Interns help to deliver important health and education resources and services to people in their homes and communities, as well as providing specific assistance for social issues such as abuse and unemployment.
Internship Highlights:
- Provide a range of resources and supplies to help address community issues
- Make a vital difference to the lives of people in under-privileged communities
- Enjoy spare time in Arusha, go on safari in the Serengeti, and explore world famous natural landscapes
Type of host organizations:
- NGOs
- Charities
- Rehabilitation centers
Internship details
Assist social workers and healthcare professionals who work to address inequalities in underprivileged communities around Arusha. Interns help to deliver important health and education resources and services to people in their homes and communities, as well as providing specific assistance for social issues such as abuse, addiction, mental illness, and unemployment.
This is an in-country internship with accommodation and meals included. Click here to view remote Psychology & Social Work internships which you can undertake from home.
This is a multi-faceted Social Work & Community Outreach internship, where interns help to overcome inequalities that exist in underprivileged communities. Interns can be placed in NGOs, rehabilitation centers, charities and with community programs that provide assistance to address specific social issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, domestic abuse, youth pregnancy and unemployment.
Interns can help to improve access to vital healthcare services. In the communities you’ll work in, people are at risk of contracting preventable disorders, such as malnutrition, anemia, tuberculosis and respiratory disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, and alcoholic liver disease.
You’ll deliver medical supplies, help raise awareness of healthcare practices and issues, provide guidance and support in individual recovery journeys, all while gaining insight into diverse challenges, and how they are managed on a day-to-day basis. Interns travel alongside social workers and/or medical professionals, making welfare visits in homes, receiving cases and referrals from the local community, visiting community health centers, assisting with health promotion, addiction and health education, making observational reports, developing vocational training programs, general facility support and teaching English language, literature and writing.
As an intern, you’ll learn about the prevalence of social and health issues in these unique communities, as well as how best to address them. You’ll also be making a significant difference to the lives of local people, exchanging ideas, reducing stigma surrounding mental health and providing a safe space to get the care and support they need.
It’s important that interns come prepared to encounter differing cultural beliefs and traditions. While you may experience culture shock, which can be quite emotive, it is important to remain professional and compassionate at all times. You’ll be encouraged to consider your supervisor and in-country coordinator as valuable and knowledgeable resources and mentors. They’re in the best position to provide guidance and local context into the needs and challenges of the local community, and will be happy to support your learning experience throughout this internship abroad. For placements, interns will travel like a local, walking or taking public transport to their placement each day.
This internship is conducted in English. Some individuals you deal with may only speak limited English, in which case local staff may need to conduct work in a local language. In these instances, staff will be available to debrief you in English afterwards.
Outside of your internship, you’ll have the opportunity to discover for yourself why Tanzania is one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations. The country is well-known for nature and adventure tourism, particularly its incredible safaris and wildlife reserves. People come from all over the world to visit Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, and the golden beaches of Zanzibar. Your in-country internship coordinator will assist you in advance to arrange day trips or longer excursions (such as multi-day safari adventures). If you’re planning your internship in Tanzania, don’t miss the opportunity to schedule an itinerary that incorporates these wonderful, unforgettable attractions.
Career Benefits
Social Work & Community Outreach interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Delivering supplies and resources to communities around Arusha
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Raising awareness of health practices and social issues
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Conducting welfare visits
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Working with families and individuals to address specific issues
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Developing vocational training programs
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Day-to-day facility support
Professional development opportunities:
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Gain an understanding of how to address a variety of social and healthcare issues
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Gain experience helping families and communities to address their specific needs
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Learn about basic healthcare supplies and why they’re needed
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Build your communication skills assisting families and communities
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Tanzania photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$449 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$449 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Non-medical internships
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $1,619Equivalent to $57/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,829Equivalent to $43/day |
| 8 weeks | $2,094Equivalent to $37/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,304Equivalent to $32/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,514Equivalent to $29/day |
| 14 weeks | $3,034Equivalent to $30/day |
| 16 weeks | $3,314Equivalent to $29/day |
| 18 weeks | $3,594Equivalent to $28/day |
| 20 weeks | $3,874Equivalent to $27/day |
| 24 weeks | $4,434Equivalent to $26/day |
Medical internships
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $1,719Equivalent to $61/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,929Equivalent to $45/day |
| 8 weeks | $2,194Equivalent to $39/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,404Equivalent to $34/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,614Equivalent to $31/day |
| 14 weeks | $2,934Equivalent to $29/day |
| 16 weeks | $3,214Equivalent to $28/day |
| 18 weeks | $3,494Equivalent to $27/day |
| 20 weeks | $3,774Equivalent to $26/day |
| 24 weeks | $4,334Equivalent to $25/day |
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- Airport pick-up
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Optional extras, such as language lessons
- Souvenirs and leisure activities during your free time
- Personal spending money to cover basic expenses such as drinks, snacks, laundry, public transportation, and any meals not included in your Program Fee
- A deposit of $449 USD is required to secure your internship
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Tanzania begin every Monday. Exceptions may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid public holiday disruptions or closed when the program has already reached capacity. The minimum duration requirement is 2 weeks up to a maximum duration of 24 weeks.
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Sunday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Sunday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.
Typical ports of entry include the local Arusha Airport (ARK) or the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). If you are planning to spend time independently in Tanzania prior to your internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics with you.
Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation.
The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Return transport to the airport will be provided to interns at no cost, provided they’re making their way back to the airport on either the Saturday or Sunday of their final week.
Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability.
Orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
Check what’s required to visit Tanzania
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Accommodation and WiFi
Interns in Arusha are accommodated together on one of the city’s most top-rated guest houses, located in a quiet and friendly neighbourhood (just 15 minutes from town center). Living is safe, clean, modern and comfortable, including 24/7 gated security, housekeeping, and a live-in local coordinator. (Laundry services are not included but can be arranged directly for a small fee). Amenities include hot showers, WiFi, and satellite television (in common areas). Interns can expect to share a bedroom with 1- 5 other guests, of the same gender. Bathroom facilities are shared. Private/en-suite room upgrades are subject to availability and must be arranged directly with the local team, once registered.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we may work with more than one apartment (depending on capacity), the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ slightly from the photos. Rooms sizes, along with storage space, may also vary.
Meals
Interns in Arusha include breakfast and dinner, prepared and served Monday to Friday at the guest house accommodation. Typical dishes in Tanzania are influenced by seasonal produce and the dinner menu is usually set according to a weekly rotating schedule. For example, dinner meals may cover Wali Rosti (rice and meat stew), spaghetti bolognese, Wali Umboga (rice and vegetables), pilau, and chapati maharage (a thin wholemeal pancake cooked on a griddle, with beans). Dinner dishes are accompanied with salad. Breakfasts consist of fresh seasonal fruit, fried eggs, and bread with spreads (plus tea and coffee). A filtered cold water dispenser is available in the common area for use to reduce the amount of plastic bottle use. Bottled water is readily available in Tanzania and volunteers should budget approximately US$5 per week for this (2 liters per day). Please be sure to let us know of any specific dietary requirements that you have in advance (i.e. allergies and intolerances), so that we may ensure your hosts are aware and make recommendations to you accordingly. However, it is important to note that the provided meals will not reflect what you are used to eating at home and flexibility is required. Interns are encouraged to budget extra spending money for any special snacks/treats.
Activities and tourism
There is an array of activities to enjoy during your stay in Arusha, as well as touristic excursions to attractions within Tanzania. Located on the “safari circuit”, the internship program is based near to some of Africa’s most beautiful environments, including Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Arusha National Park on Mount Meru. Whether you’re content with local entertainment, such as Maasai markets, cafes, music, nightlife, and cinema, or you’re planning to book in big ticket items such as overnight safari camps and mountain trekking adventures, our local team will assist you with itinerary advice and planning.
Day trips
Day trips are popular among interns and perfect for taking advantage of the weekends during your internship. Depending on the excursion, the rates can range from US$60 up to US$450, including round trip transportation and lunch. (The more expensive day trip rates cover transportation to destinations that are further afield, such as Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Note that the day trip cost will typically exclude additional gate entry fees, which may be subject to change). While you’re planning your internship in Tanzania, don’t miss:
- Arusha National Park: Near Mt Meru, the park offers easy game drives and scenic walking tours, where you can discover beautiful streams, waterfalls and rivers.
- Tarangire: This destination offers the chance to spot the Big Five. Keep an eye out for herds of elephants, lion prides, giraffes and many more animals within their natural habitat.
- Lake Manyara: This lush oasis was once described by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest in Africa”. Relax on a peaceful game drive and enjoy the vista of buffalo, flamingo, lions, impala and more.
- Serengeti: One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the famous Serengeti ecosystem extends right up to Kenya.
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Located in northern Tanzania, the region is home to the Big Five and boasts the vast, volcanic Ngorongoro Crater - a breathtaking natural wonder.
- Metaruni Waterfalls Hike: Go trekking to the waterfalls through the foothills overshadowed by Mt Kilimanjaro. Enjoy lunch in the town of Moshi.
- Hot Springs: It’s a longer drive to visit the natural hot springs in Moshi, but worth the trip! Soak in the warm waters against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Maasai Culture Tour: Visit a Maasai homestead for a friendly guided experience and meet members from the impressive nomadic tribe, who retain their unique cultural identity.
- Snake Park: Check out a variety of snake breeds, from small grass snakes to cobras. The park is also home to other species of birds and amphibians and features a Maasai market.
Overnight safari tours and trekking
If you want to plan a Tanzanian adventure before or after your internship, we can assist you to arrange overnight camping safaris of the Northern Circuit (Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro), as well as a Mount Kilimanjaro trekking package (all inclusive six day climb). Extended safari tours are popular and two all-inclusive options offer either camping or lodge accommodation. Pricing details can be provided to interns once they have registered.
Essential country information
| Capital | Dodoma |
| Population | 47.78 million |
| Languages | Swahili and English |
| Currency | Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 |
Weather and climate:
In Arusha, where the Tanzania internship programs are based, the warm season typically lasts from January till late March. During this period, the average daily high is around 81°F / 27°C. The cooler season is from mid May till late August and the coldest month of the year is usually in July, when the low reaches around 56°F / 13°C. The dry season is considered to run from late May through till mid November. Rainfall can occur during the rest of the year, December through April.
