Gap year teaching in Tanzania, East Africa!

Village Education Project Kilimanjaro

Village Education Project Tanzania

Gap Year Teaching English in Tanzania

E-mail: project@kiliproject.org

Teach the primary school children in the beauty of Kilimanjaro.

A unique opportunity to be involved with Tanzania’s rural primary schools. Most village children only have the chance of primary education – so you can help where the need is greatest.

You will be teaching English as a foreign language in two village primary schools in the Marangu area, and teaching any extra-curricular activities of your choice – such as sport, art, music, drama. The children of Kilimanjaro are very bright and very keen to learn.

Katy Allen set up the charity in 1994 and lived in Mshiri village teaching in the primary schools. The charity is involved in whole school development, in-service teacher training, renovating school buildings, and the teaching of English to ensure that the children gain a good educational foundation.

The cost for the eight-month project is £2900 (subject to change)

Woman teacher in Tanzanian rural classroom

Classroom teaching in Tanzania

What is included:

  • Return flight UK-Tanzania
  • Village accommodation
  • Valuable teaching experience
  • Training before leaving the UK (English teaching methodology & essential Kiswahili language course
  • Most teaching materials.

What you need to provide

  • Living costs and spending money
  • Insurance
  • Initial entry visa to Tanzania
  • Energy and enthusiasm.

The Teaching Project is small and specifically focused, and the staff, pupils and villagers want it to continue and expand. Training will prepare you for planning and giving your lessons, and there are people on hand to help with any difficulties.

You will learn to be more independent and resourceful, and you will be kept active walking to and from your schools in the beautiful countryside of the mountain slopes.

Pupils eager to learn

Indian Ocean school trip

At the local market


You will accompany pupils on an outing to a National Park and to the Indian Ocean. In the school holidays there is the chance for travel to Zanzibar or to climb the mountain or to venture further afield.

You will be living in rented houses in Mshiri village sharing with other student teachers. You will be part of the community, and can enter into village life, and shop at the local market and cook using local foods and village cooking equipment. You could join the local church choir, or just attend to hear their wonderful music, or try playing football with a local team.

Teaching staff discussions

Teaching

Exploring a Tanzanian forest


UK training is for two weeks in November/December. The teaching in Kilimanjaro begins in January and continues until August/September

If you are interested please complete an application form

Comments from previous participants on our Teaching Programme

‘I’ve had a wicked 8 months. There’s no part of the project I can fault. The schools really appreciate what we're doing, and the children – well what can I say except that I love them to bits’
Michael Goldingham

‘For me this is such a wonderful project, and it is visibly clear how much it really makes a difference’
Catriona Watt

‘The training course was brilliant and prepared all of us and gave us confidence’
Sophie Ellis

‘In 8 months I never thought it would be possible to see the Serengeti, the Indian Ocean, climb Kilimanjaro, raise a pig, manage a vegetable patch, play the guitar, learn Swahili, run a football team and still have enough energy to teach Tanzania’s delightful children’
Paul Bamford

‘It’s been an honour to work for such a genuine project’
James Bishop

Terrie Chilvers has a BBC report on her gap year with the Village Education Project Kilimanjaro. After travelling the world, spending time in New Zealand, and writing for 'Transitions Abroad', Terrie now works as a writer for the Which? Computing magazine.

What is Village Education Project Kilimanjaro?

  • Registered in the UK as Charity No. 1041672.
  • Address in UK: Mint Cottage, Prospect Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3UA.
  • E-mail: project@kiliproject.org. UK Tel: 01732 743000 or 01732 459799.
  • Patron: Dame Judi Dench CH. Trustees: Miss KJ Allen MBE, Ms AG Beldam, Mrs ML Branson, Mrs S Todd, and Mr GO Todd.
  • Registered as an International NGO in Tanzania: SO No 9680.
  • Works in association with the Education Projects Committee, PO Box 737 Marangu, Tanzania.
  • Tanzanian Co-ordinator: Dilly Mtui.
  • Telephone in Tanzania: 0754 312086 or 027 2756555

Why not visit the Village Education Project Kilimanjaro website now?

For further information, please email us project@kiliproject.org.