Are you also wondering about your life? On your daily life? About your job? About your future?
You are not fulfilled in your work? Do you feel the need to give of yourself for something that speaks to you more?Or do you simply want to take a little break from your routine to give up your time?
There are so many reasons that can lead a person to go on a humanitarian trip. But passing the course is not such a simple thing.
So I decided to write this article for you tell my experience et you push to take the plunge to venture into this extraordinary experience which will bring you a lot, believe me.
Why go on a humanitarian trip?
We can find very many reasons that can push a person to go on a humanitarian trip. As a general rule, reasons are unique to each person. There is therefore no official answer to this question.
But you may want to to make a break in your daily life; of take a step back from our society of mass consumption to get back to basics; of give your time to support a project that is important to you; of do something bigger with your life; From discover a new culture by immersing yourself completely in a local life etc ...
It is me impossible to name all the reasons that could push you to go on a humanitarian trip.
For my part, before leaving, I worked as a Contract Manager in large international firms (especially in industry and insurance) but I did not feel fulfilled in my work. I felt like I didn't really have a goal and lacked an “ethical” connection with the work I was doing. I couldn't find a sufficient interest that matched my way of seeing things and thinking.
I had been attracted to volunteering for a few years now, so I spent some time educating myself.
Then I took advantage of the end of a fixed-term contract to take the plunge. Indeed, to convince myself as well as to convince those around me, I told myself that it was the moment for me to try this experience which attracted me for a long time. Having no professional or personal obligations, it seemed to me that it was the right time.
Giving of my time to "help" at my own level with local populations, to be able to give in turn what I have been able to receive since my early childhood ...
Going on a move like this seemed to be what was most agree with myself.
Why go on a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar?
Although the idea of going on a humanitarian trip appealed to me very much, I didn't know where to start.
Indeed, I have not study in humanitarian, I am not not a teacher, ni in trades health...
I was wondering how to go on a humanitarian trip without having experience in the field but also in wishing to avoid :
- To pay € 2 to € 000 to participate in a mission over just 3 days.
- To go volunteering: namely paying a relatively large sum to go with an organization that offers a travel / discovery part and a “volunteering” part to give yourself a "good conscience".
I wanted to leave at least 1 or even 2 months and concentrate entirely on a volunteering project, even if it means extending my stay in the country thereafter to visit the surroundings.
So I chose to go and join a project in a local association in Zanzibar.
Why Zanzibar?
Well to be honest I was hesitating between Tanzania and Nepal… You will tell me that they are two completely different countries, of course, but before choosing a country I chose a project.
The project I chose was a project with the local PDS association (Perspective Development Skills) which is a small local association which aims to help the inhabitants of the village and therefore the members of the association to develop skills to be able to improve their living conditions and therefore find a job etc.
The project spoke to me a lot, by exchanging with the president of the association, I projected myself thinking that I could perhaps bring some of my skills to help them a little.
And then, I'm not going to lie to you, on top of that, by doing some research on Zanzibar, I saw that this island archipelago seemed heavenly and beautiful.
In addition, by leaving this place I was also going take the opportunity to visit Tanzania and make a safari as well as the rise of Kilimanjaro.
If you are looking for a place to make a humanitarian journey which combines the beauty of the landscapes, the paradisiacal islands, an adorable and welcoming local population, an exceptional fauna, the Tanzania et Zanzibar , this is the perfect choice for you!
How to prepare for a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar?
This is an important question, however, it is necessary accept the vagaries Parts and accessories we can't prepare for everything before taking off on a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar.
However, I can give you some advice to follow.
Learn about the culture and history of Zanzibar before setting off on a humanitarian trip
Before joining your humanitarian project in an unknown country like Zanzibar, it is important to learn a minimum about the country.
Indeed, the culture, traditions, the history of the country are totally different from our western countries. Obviously, it is very pleasant to discover on the spot but you must being a minimum informed on certain points so as not to act on the spot in a totally extreme way with local customs.
Indeed, know that Zanzibar is an archipelago island 98% Muslim. The Religion is very present and respected in Zanzibar.
As a guest in the country, you will therefore have to follow certain rules.
For example, as a woman it is better to cover your shoulders and knees etc.
You must also prepare for culture shock which is relatively important.
Health precautions before going on a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar
Before leaving for Tanzania, do a visit to your doctor and check that all of your mandatory vaccines are up to date.
There is no compulsory vaccine for individuals to Tanzania.
However, depending on how long you want to spend in the country, it may be advised to be vaccinated against:
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis a
- Typhoid
By inquiring about the internet, I have read a lot of different reviews concerning the yellow fever vaccine.
Indeed, everyone agrees that when you arrive at an airport located on the mainland (Dar Es Salam or Kilimanjaro Airport) proof of yellow fever vaccine is not required.
However, certains write that the Proof of this vaccine is requested when arriving at Zanzibar airport.
Officially, the yellow fever vaccine is not not mandatory.
For my part, given that I was not arriving at Zanzibar airport directly, and in view of the differences on the internet, I preferred to do this vaccine. Indeed, I did not want to risk being bitten when I arrived in Zanzibar in hygienic conditions that could be borderline ...
Verdict, I arrived in Zanzibar with my little full vaccination booklet… But no one asked me anything when I arrived…
The choice is yours, either you take the risk or not!
Prepare for the project before volunteering in Zanzibar
You have taken your tickets, you are ready to embark on this fabulous adventure of humanitarian travel. However, before embarking on this experience, you may need to prepare a minimum for your project.
Obviously, the preparation for your project will depend on the type of project you will be participating in.
Some projects may look like building a school or houses, teaching, gardening, sharing knowledge in certain areas, etc. There are many projects that you can participate in as an international volunteer.
Choose the project that suits you the most.
However, also be aware that it is very important to be flexible and adapt and not to arrive with a too closed idea about what you will do during your humanitarian trip.
I think this is all the more true in less developed countries such as countries in Africa or Asia.
Stay flexible and open to last minute changes and bad organizations because it's a bit of a specialty in Tanzania including.
What expectations do you have before going to volunteer in Tanzania?
To continue the momentum of what I started to explain just above, it don't have too many expectations when going on a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar and Africa in general.
Indeed, Zanzibar, or even Tanzania, is not a country where the inhabitants are very organized compared to our Western societies.
Indeed, it does not it is better not to have too high expectations on the project in which you will participate. Do not think that by arriving in the project you will be able to completely change things and revolutionize certain ways of working etc.
You will quickly be disappointed and will quickly get your feet back on the ground when you realize that things are not going at the speed you want.
You have to arm yourself with patience in Zanzibar because the culture is totally different from ours.
Also, you risk experiencing a culture shock for which you will have to prepare. The poverty is present in Zanzibar.
Tourists tend to see only the purely touristy side of this archipelago with the extremely luxurious hotels that are found all along the beaches. This is absolutely not representative of the current situation in Zanzibar and Tanzania.
Indeed, a large part of the population in Zanzibar lives in a very precarious way, so be aware of this before you go there.
Adapting is the key to having this humanitarian travel experience in Zanzibar.
What were my first impressions upon arriving in Zanzibar?
When I landed on this small island of Unguja, also called Zanzibar, a sultriness got hold of me.
Indeed, I had just left the winter temperatures of France to go to a country where temperatures do not drop below 20 ° C during the coldest months of the year.
So I landed with my little down jacket under a bright sun and a temperature of around 35 ° C.
When I arrived, I had planned to spend a week in a hostel on Kiwengwa beach before joining the project which is located in Tunguu, Kibele.
My first impressions were therefore as a "tourist" before integrating, subsequently, the local community and local life.
Ma first impression concerned the fact that Zanzibar is a dirty place. Indeed, in the taxi to go from the airport to Kiwengwa, I observed the landscape that we crossed. Whether small villages, larger villages and the countryside… I was shocked by the dirt. Indeed, all waste is by the side of the road, there are no garbage cans. In some places you can see, along the roads, mountains of garbage which are surely waiting to be burnt.
I realized after that there is no environmental awareness raising among locals, which is a shame.
My impression that followed was poverty. I didn't really know what to expect, especially when you generally search the internet for “zanzibar”, you come across magnificent photos of fine sandy beaches with turquoise waters.
Certainly all of this is real, but there is a real shocking paradox, in my opinion, between:
- These magnificent paradisiacal beaches, postcard-worthy with extremely luxurious and gorgeous 4 or 5 star hotels with huge prices for a sandwich or a hotel night
- And the homes and precarious living conditions of the locals which are only a few meters from these luxury establishments.
This parallel really made me shocked ! And even more so when I really integrated with the local population during my volunteering project in Zanzibar.
How much time to adapt for a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar?
I will not lie to you, I lived a real culture shock when arriving in Zanzibar.
Indeed, the major difficulties that I encountered concerned:
- Adaptation to heat and climate with heavy heaviness and high humidity. Our body needs some time to adapt
- Hygienic conditions : there is not necessarily running water everywhere on the island, especially in the villages. Indeed, the inhabitants provide themselves with water thanks to the wells. Showers are done with buckets of water; there is no toilet paper in the WC. So you have to get used to wiping yourself with water and your left hand ...
- Cultural and religious traditions: in Zanzibar you eat with your right hand on a carpet on the floor; as a woman you have to dress enough to cover your shoulders and knees despite the scorching heat
- The language barrier: indeed very few people speak English in Zanzibar. Only the most educated people, but this is rare. The national dialect is Swahili. It was probably the hardest part for me. Communication remains a very important thing to be able to be integrated into a community and when it is impossible to communicate, I can assure you that one can feel lonely and time can pass very slowly.
Because of all these elements, it took me a while to get used to and adapt to the living conditions in Zanzibar which are totally different from Western countries.
Indeed, it took me 2-3 weeks to really feel good.
If I can give you a consulting it's'learn some Swahili to be able to communicate with the locals. This is probably what made me feel more integrated and better understand the environment around me.
How did my project go during my volunteering in Zanzibar?
I am delighted with the experience of humanitarian volunteering that I have had.
On paper, the volunteering project I participated in consisted of help the inhabitants of a small village to develop their skills in different fields. Some areas were already given (teaching, help in the garden ...) but it was also possible to bring your own ideas to be able to develop the association as much as possible and in the most beneficial way possible for the members of the association.
On the the land, on the 2 months that I spent on the volunteering project, most of my assignments consisted of teach French and English to a large audience of students aged between 4 and 50 years old.
Indeed, I gave between 3 and 5 hours of lessons per day from Monday to Saturday. The organization was done gradually according to the needs and availability of each. We have created groups of levels as well as language groups according to the preferences of each student.
The course mostly took place afternoon and evening, which allowed me to take advantage of my mornings to prepare the lessons in particular.
Among my missions I also organized debates in schools etc.
When taking part in a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar, and in Africa more generally, it is you have to adapt. Indeed, adapting to program changes, to bad organizations.
We can tell you something, sell you "a dream" about a project in which you are going to participate when in reality it will not happen or it will be completely different from what you imagined.
We must develop a real capacity for adaptation and great flexibility at all levels.
Give French and English lessons during my volunteering in Zanzibar
Although I never had any training to be a teacher or a teacher, I think I did not do too badly.
I loved having this teaching experience which allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and exceed my limits. Indeed, I found myself facing students with a great thirst to learn a new language.
I mostly retained the immense motivation to learn from these students. This motivation was reflected in a lot of participation, questions, great listening, homework that was done etc.
Even when you are not a trained teacher, with motivation as well as a good pedagogy one can manage to give lessons during a humanitarian trip.
La greatest difficulty that I met was about the language barrier. Indeed, I went to teach English in particular to people who speak only their language, namely Swahili. However, personally, I did not speak Swahili when I went on this humanitarian trip to Zanzibar.
How do you teach someone a language when you can't communicate in the same language?
It was a real difficulty to which I had to adapt quickly. Indeed, he quickly I had to learn Swahili so that the students and I can understand each other. We can see it as an exchange of good process because by teaching them English, I was learning Swahili.
What is the outcome of my humanitarian trip to Zanzibar?
I totally enchanted of this humanitarian travel experience in Zanzibar that I lived.
Looking back now I think this experience brought me a lot of things from a personal point of view.
At first, I have learned a lot of very enriching things about the Tanzanian people and about this beautiful country. I was able to discover a new culture in depth and a new way of life by living in immersion with the inhabitants, which is very interesting and rich. I experienced a real integration with the locals; something difficult to achieve when you visit a country quickly and do not take the time to meet the inhabitants. Well, I won't go into the details here but I will in a future article 😉
Then I learned a lot about me, my personality, my vices and my limits.
Among other things, I can assure you that Tanzania, and Africa more in general will teach you the patience. Indeed, the people are of an insane serenity, without stress.
Tanzanians repeat all the time " Hakuna Matata ”Which literally means“ there is no problem ”but that we can generally translate it as“ everything is fine, you worry 😉 ”.
I cannot give you the number of times I was willing to lose my patience during this humanitarian trip, but I have gradually learned to relax, put things into perspective and take a step back. Which does a lot of good in the society in which we currently live in our Western countries.
A humanitarian trip to Zanzibar allowed me to get out of my comfort zone, exceed my limits and put myself in danger (obviously not in the literal sense of the word). Indeed, go alone as woman, in a Muslim country with a culture totally different from the one we know is not an easy thing. It is in a way jump with both feet into the unknown and dare.
Obviously, such an experience leads to very beautiful encounters, often very rich!
It is this kind of experience that makes you aware of the luck that one can have by being born in a framework and a favored country like in France.
Conclusion on a humanitarian trip to Zanzibar
I think this humanitarian trip brought me a lot of good things. I think that I learned more from my students and the Tanzanians than I was able to teach them ! However, I still hope to have managed to give a little in my turn to my little level
If a humanitarian trip makes you want to but you still hesitate, I have only one thing to tell you: Go for it! You will not regret it, it is an exceptional experience to live! "
Similar items
Zanzibar, an archipelago of paradisiacal islands in Tanzania offers much more than beautiful beaches. Lots of activities are possible in Zanzibar.
You want to go on a humanitarian trip but you do not know where to start your research?
When you set off to discover a new country and new cultures, it is better to know how to dress to respect the locals as well as possible.
If you liked this article, I advise you to read my articles on the same theme:
- What to do in Tanzania?
- With which organization to go on a humanitarian trip?
- What to bring on a humanitarian trip?
- Learn the basics of Swahili
- Traveling alone in Zanzibar
- Zanzibar: is it dangerous?
- Where to go on a humanitarian trip?
- What does a humanitarian trip bring?
- How to take a free humanitarian trip?
- How to find a cheap humanitarian trip?
- Climbing Kilimanjaro via the Machame route
- My 5 day safari in Tanzania
- Zanzibar in 4 days: what to do?
- One week itinerary in Zanzibar
- 10 Day Zanzibar Itinerary
- 2 week itinerary in Zanzibar
- 2 week itinerary in Tanzania
- 3 week itinerary in Tanzania
- Traveling in Tanzania on a low budget
French
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Thank you Margaux for this rich and colorful testimony with these beautiful photos which can only make me want to take the plunge and leave like you in such a beautiful project by joining more the useful (meaning) to the pleasant (pleasure) . What a great experience, thank you for sharing it with us !! 👍
Thanks Charles!
Don't hesitate to go for it if you feel like it!
I HAVE READ AND EVEN DEVORE YOUR MESSAGE.
I saw myself in MADAGASCAR SOME YEARS AGO
IN 2011 (I WAS BORN IN 43) IN THE BROUSSE
I WAS A PARTY ALONE FOR 2 MONTHS IN THE SAME STATE OF SPIRIT AS YOU ON A SMALL UNKNOWN ISLAND STE MARIE AND I COME BACK WITH THE SAME IMPRESSIONS. I JOINED AN ORPHANAGE HELD BY A FRENCH WHOM I HAD SEEN AN ISSUE ON FR3.
YOU HAVE EXPRESSED VERY WELL THE GOOD AND THE »BAD« DIMENSIONS OF EXPERIENCE AND THAT IS IMPORTANT. TODAY AGAIN I AM MOVED THINKING OF EVERYTHING I HAVE LIVED AND FELT
MIREILLE
Hello Mireille,
Your message makes me extremely happy! It's true that an experience like this is great and it's always nice to be able to recall good memories 🙂
I have never heard of the island you are talking about, but it makes me want to take a look on the internet!
Margaux
Hello Margaux,
Thank you very much for this testimony of the experience you have had and all that you
brought them, they who so deserve it.
Your story moved me a lot because I came back a month ago from a one-week stay and I
met very beautiful people, kind, smiling never complaining with whom I
kept in touch. I would go back to this paradise where the people have wealth in their hearts
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for this feedback which makes me very happy! Indeed, these are very beautiful moments and rich memories! :)
I have just read these pages with immense pleasure. What a lesson in life.
thank you for sharing these experiences that make you stronger and less self-centered. I had read À.david Neel who had jostled me, confused now I read you and feel the same force. Respect
A big thank you Nana 🙂
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed!
Extremely helpful info specially the last part:
) I care for such information a lot. I was looking
for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
Hello
On vacation 10 days in zanzibar in February, I would like to bring equipment for the children. Can you tell me what they need and how to forward them please? Thank you
Hello,
Thank you for your message. I can send you the contact of the President of the association where I was. To do this, send me an email to my email address that you find on the contact page and I'll send you this 😉
Thank you for this message of humanity ...
Thank you for taking the time to read it and for this little message which is very pleasant 🙂
Hello Margaux,
Thank you for this sharing and for this feedback !!!
After a few days of vacation in Zanzibar, I sincerely want to go back there to help these people who have touched me a lot.
I recognized myself in the reasons for your departure and that inspires me a lot ...
Could we discuss the subject?
Hello,
Thank you, this message makes me very happy! I send you an email to be able to exchange 🙂
I've been surfing on-line more than three hours
as of late, but I by no means discovered anything
fascinating article like yours. It is beautiful worth sufficient for me.
In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you
probably did, the web might be much more useful than ever
before.