A local eye clinic has eye care elective opportunities. Volunteers will be involved in vision screening, prescribing and dispensing glass and detection of eye diseases. This elective program is ideal for all people aged 18 years and above.
| Highlights | Requirements | What’s Included | Â Dates & Fees | Reviews |
Assistant Optician Associate Program Tanzania
Highlights
- Enjoy unforgettable medical electiveing experience coupled with unforgettable Tanzanian cultural experience.
- Come and experience the difference passionate electives can make to lives of people.
- See what the land of unforgettable experience and cultural diversity has to offer, while creating understanding and friendship with the local people.
- Come and elective with us not for us, we are far more interested with your skills and desire to help than anything.
- Experience unforgettable wilderness by visiting the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro to name a few.
KIVOLEX Medical Placement
Kilimanjaro Volunteers Exposure (which we shorten to KiVolEx), is a electiveing organisation based in Dar Es Salaam, in eastern Tanzania.
We are a non-profit organisation, aimed at improving the lives of all those in need in the local community. Specifically, we work with underprivileged groups such as women and children through providing the needed healthcare and services from our electives. Established to bring Western enthusiasm, expertise and passion to tackling some of the problems which affect the most needy in Tanzania. Our ethos is that you’ll be electiveing with us, not for us. We’re far more interested in your skills and desire to help than your money.
In Tanzania, KiVolEx is run by a group of experienced social workers and doctors who have seen the difference passionate electives can make to people’s lives. We have support in the UK in the form of previous electives, who handle the recruitment and support of new electives before they fly out to begin project work.Â
Volunteering overseas is an enormously rewarding activity, both for yourself and the community you work with. Donât underestimate the skills you have that will make a difference: one of the most important is that you are a fluent speaker of English. With much of the higher curriculum in Tanzania being in English, just being exposed to fluent English is enormously beneficial for electiveing in Tanzania. Youâll make memories (and friends) that will last you a lifetime- knowing that youâve made lasting positive change to the community you electiveed with, but also became more independent and rounded as a person. We will try and match you with the best possible medical department/field for you. If thereâs something specific you want to do, then we will place you there, and if not we will work with you to find something that will benefit both you and the local community enormously.
Thousands of Tanzanian dies every year because of lack of proper medical care and equipment. We place our electives in a number of medical clinics and hospitals in suburban Dar Es Salaam. Most of these health centers and hospitals have primitive equipment and facilities that in most cases limit the practitionerâs ability to perform well. Volunteers are placed into hospitals and health centers according to their qualifications and experience. Medical electives need to show initiative and have a readiness to work in a new environment.
 Because of the utmost importance of proper healthcare coupled with the fact that most electives cannot communicate directly with patients due to language barriers, electives need to understand that they may not be allowed to take part in some serious medical cases. The doctors are understandably hesitant to allow electives to operate on patients. While a medical elective may be appropriately qualified to do so, the instruments available in Tanzania will probably not be familiar to electives. So, if working on the medical placement electives should not become frustrated if they are not actually conducting surgeries. Volunteers will be observing surgeries, taking blood pressure, administering vaccines, along with a wide range of other medical tasks.Â
What is expected form an Assistant optician associate
- optometrists by conducting diagnostic tests,
- recording and measuring vision,
- testing eye function,
- Â instructing patients in inserting and caring for contact lenses,
- preparing examination rooms,
- cleaning and arranging equipment,Â
Your Stay
This could very much be your first time in Tanzania, hence we will send you Swahili learning information prior arrival to help you with basic swahili. Once in country, you are picked up at the airport and taken to your accommodation. You receive two meals a day whilst on the project, and your accommodation is included too- either in group lodgings or you can choose to homestay with a Tanzanian family, which is a great way to really immerse yourself in the culture. The local KiVolEx team, including graduates with degrees in social work, medical  and project management, are on hand 24/7 to help you get the most out of your project. From tours of the city, to being constantly on call to answer your questions, to helping you book onward travel, we will look after you in country, because you will be a valued part of our team whilst working with us
About Tanzania
With such a perfect location, perched on the edge of the African continent, and facing the Indian Ocean, Tanzaniaâs weather and climate leaves nothing to be desired. Warm and sunny days are followed by cool and balmy nights, and whether youâre on safari on the Serengeti plains or enjoying the tropical beaches of Zanzibar, the temperatures are always welcoming and gentle.
Location: Situated in East Africa just south of the equator, mainland Tanzania lies between the area of the great lakesâVictoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi (Niassa)âand the Indian Ocean. It contains a total area of 945,087 sq km (364,900 sq mi), including 59,050 sq km (22,799 sq mi) of inland water. Comparatively, the area occupied by Tanzania is slightly larger than twice the size of the state of California. It is bounded on the North by Uganda and Kenya, on the East by the Indian Ocean, on the South by Mozambique and Malawi, on the South West by Zambia, and on the West by Zaire, Burundi, and Rwanda, with a total boundary length of 4,826 km (2,999 mi), of which 1,424 km (885 mi) is coastline. Tanzania claims part of Lake Malawi, although its internationally recognized boundary is the eastern shore.
Population: 50,483,923 inhabitants
Capital city: Located in the heartland of Tanzania, Dodoma is the nationâs new official political capital and the seat of government in the country. Today Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de-facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.
Ethnic Groups: Mainland-native Africans constitute 99% of the total population. About 120 peoples have been categorized into 5 ethnic groups distinguishable by their physical characteristics and languages. Approximately 95% of Tanzanians may be roughly classified as Bantu, a comparatively recent blend mainly of Hamitic and Negroid stocks. Tribes range in membership from only a few thousand to the Sukuma tribe, which numbers more than 2 million. Other major tribes include the Nyamwezi, Makonde, Haya, and Chagga. The Luo, east of Lake Victoria, are the only people of Nilotic origin; the Masai of the northern highlands are Nilo-Hamites. A very small number of Bushmen-like people are scattered throughout northern Tanzania, where small tribes of Cushitic origin also live. The inhabitants of Zanzibar and Pemba are chiefly descendants of mainland Africans or are of mixed African and Arab extraction. The remaining 1% of the populace is made up of non-Africans, including Arabs, Asians, and Europeans.
Languages: The official languages of Tanzania are English and Kiswahili. However, some 120 languages are spoken within the borders of Tanzania. The large majority of these (ca. 100) are Bantu languages. The others belong to the language families Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan and (controversially) also Khoesan. A small number are unclassified. Immigrant languages from Europe and Asia can also be found.
 Religion: Christianity and Islam are the predominant religions of Tanzania. About 40-45% of the population practice Christianity, about 35-40% practice Islam. The rest of the population adheres to traditional beliefs, most of which centre around ancestor worship and nature-based animism. Most Christians live on the mainland, where missionary stations and schools reach deep into the continent. Islam is the major religion of the coastal areas but is also practiced further inland along the old caravan routes.
Where will you stay?
AccommodationÂ
There are two types of accommodation available in Dar Es Salaam, Home Stay Accommodation and Volunteer House.Â
Volunteer HouseÂ
The Volunteer House is a western-style house with 6 bedrooms (all shared accommodations with bunk beds). It has 2 bathrooms with western-style toilets and occasional hot water for showers. The house also includes one double bedroom, and this room is generally reserved for married couples. The house is safe and secure, with a security guard and a large gate. In the elective house, there is a cook who cooks the meals for the electives.Â
(Please note that spaces in the elective house are very limited and can only accommodate 18 to 24 people).
Home Stay Accommodation
Living is basic but all the Home Stays have electricity and running water and accommodate electives in safe and secure homes (some rural home stays may not have electricity or running water during times of drought). All home stays have been inspected thoroughly by local staff and chosen because of their safety and security. Most electives love their home stays and feel that they get a more authentic Tanzanian experience by staying there.
Transportation within
We will provide you with reliable Taxi drivers phone number,which you could use in case you want to move around. However you could also use Daladala these are buses, public transport that most people use to travel locally on daily basis. There is also an option of using bodaboda these are motorcycles that are used as taxis. Other electives choose to walk whoever if you also choose to do so like any other new environment we encourage you to be very careful with thieves and pick pocketing  Â
Visa and Permit
A elective is required by the government to pay for a Visa and a permit to be allowed to elective in Tanzania. Kindly contact us for more information regarding this.
Hospital contribution
The ministry of health in Tanzania requires all medical electives to make a contribution of US $ 100 towards the hospital they will be electiveing. However we as KIVOLEX also make charitable contribution to these hospitals a way of supporting them for their role of looking after our electives.
Typical day
In general, expect to work 4-6 hours per day. Volunteers usually wake up early, around 7 or 8 and have breakfast. After breakfast, their workday begins, usually somewhere between 8 and 10 AM.
 Your workday will usually end around 2 or 3 PM.
Although you will be expected to be at your work placement every weekday, the rest of your time in Tanzania is essentially left up to you to decide how to use it.
Your daily schedule may change, as well, so you’ll need to be flexible and ready to adjust.
KIVOLEX anticipates and encourages your desire for travel and adventure. Your time away from electiveing is open for you to decide your activities. You may decide to take advantage of the local culture and spend time within the community over the weekend. Otherwise, there is ample opportunity to explore Tanzania and all it has to offer. Long weekends can be taken to go on safari or to travel further afield to places such as Zanzibar, Dar-es-salaam, Kenya or Uganda. If electives wish to elective over the weekends they can join local teams and visit other children organizations to spend time simply playing with and entertaining the children.
Tanzania is a big country full of exciting adventure. If you want to stay on in country after electiveing, weâll help you arrange any number of trips and activities. You can go on safari through the Serengeti or Ngorogoro- which has the highest density of safari animals anywhere on earth. You can relax on the spice island of Zanzibar, taking in non stop sun, white beaches and clear blue seas. Swimming with dolphins, PADI dive courses, spear gun fishing, sleeping in hammocks strung between palm trees on the beach.. We like Zanzibar! If physical adventure is more your thing, Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world is right on your doorstep. A five day climb, and nearly 4 miles high, with temperatures down to minus 25 at the summit, itâs not for the faint of heart, but it can be done, and the sense of achievement will stay with you for a lifetime.Â
Free-time activities
DAY TRIPS FROM DAR ES SALAAM
Dar es salaam City Tour
Spend a day getting to know one of the greatest cities in East Africa.
Dar Es Salaam Zoo
Want to see all of the animals of Africa, but donât have time to leave the city? No problem! Take our Dar es Salaam Zoo tour.
Mikumi National Park
Want to venture out of town and see some wildlife in its natural habitat? Â Then come with us to Mikumi National Park which is alive with wild animals and birds.
Saadani National Park
Sadaani National Park is the only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa right on the Indian Ocean, and is the closest safari from Dar es Salaam. The bush meets the beach in Saadani and the wildlife is abundant making it an amazing day trip.
Zanzibar Day TripÂ
This beautiful Island of Africa is one of Tanzaniaâs popular tourist sites. It has vibrant Islamic culture and beautiful white sand beachÂ
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
Language Skills You need to speak English (basic level)
Education Requirements Health or social care related disciplines at High school/University level
Required Documents CV, copies of certificates and related documents
Nationality Restrictions No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Time Commitment Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 – 15:00.
What’s Included
Volunteer Program fee covers the following
- Volunteer placement facilitation-full program scheduling and supervision
- Pre-arrival support & preparation of your project/work placement
- Airport pick upÂ
- Orientation (usually begins on a Monday
- Accommodation Room & Board (Breakfast & Dinner)
- Housekeeping
- Daily in-person availability of a local coordinator
EXCLUDES
- $150 USD contribution to placement facility
- Airport transport on departure (can be arranged)
- VISA and PERMIT fees
Living is basic but all the Home Stays have electricity and running water and accommodate electives in safe and secure homes (some rural home stays may not have electricity or running water during times of drought). All home stays have been inspected thoroughly by local staff and chosen because of their safety and security. Most electives love their home stays and feel that they get a more authentic Tanzanian experience by staying there.
Dates & Fees
Details on arrival
Our program run throughout the year but Volunteer arrival is usually Friday of every week and the program start day is Monday of every week. Unless there is a special arrangement. The arriving airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport Dar Es Salaam.
Program fees
| Length of Program | Program Fee |
| 2 weeks | $570 |
| 4 weeks | $880 |
| 6 weeks | $1,280 |
| 8 weeks | $1,685 |
| 10 weeks | $2,085 |
| 12 weeks | $2,355 |
| Registration Fee | $210 |
| Additional Week | $120 |
Past Volunteer Reviews
Martin C, United Kingdom. Volunteered in 2020
To sum it all up, it was a memorable and valuable experience, the rotation of work at the hospital was very nice; examination, scaling, fillings and extraction were among the activities we did. It was so nice to learn of the Tanzania dental clinic setup. Accommodation was very fine bedroom, food and bathrooms were all in good condition. Innocent our local coordinator is a very friendly and nice person. He helped us with almost everything and made our stay in Tanzania very comfortable. We also had a wonderful experience going for Safari and learning of the local culture.
Katie A, Australia. Volunteered in 2021
Loved my experience with KIVOLEX. I got to help out in the emergency department, pediatric/male/female wards and the maternity department of the hospital. I witnessed/assisted with natural births, as well as witnessed c-sections in theatre. The people at the hospital were fabulous, as was Innocent and Angel (at the elective house). The food was excellent, as was the accommodation. Lots of activities to do in spare time, I went up to Arusha to do safaris, and Kilimanjaro, and spent a lot of time with coworkers at the hospital. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was getting the bus to and from work – if you can organise a driver then I would recommend doing that. I would do this experience again, without a shadow of a doubt, and highly recommend it!
Heidi L, Denmark. Volunteered in 2021
The people at KIVOLEX are kind and helpful. My friends and I had a good time as KIVOLEX electives. It was my very first trip to Africa, and I would definitely want to go back. It was my dream to one day work in Africa and in exact environment KIVOLEX took me. As a nurse student I had not only a learning experience but also a working one, although supervised but at times they would let me practice as a nurse and get that feeling of being registered and licensed nurse. The hospital is a very good place to learn and grow as a junior nurse from abroad. If you are looking to learning and get experience in a different environment outside your comfort zone, then Tanzania is a place to be. Cardinal Lugambwa Hospital introduced to almost everything I wished to experience.
Sarah W, USA. Volunteered in 2021
This trip is a life changing and it actually made me believe there is a whole other world outside the United States. Life is completing different in Dar Es Salaam, everything about it. The food, the people, traditions and overall dynamics are different from the USA. At the clinic the kinds were wonderful; they changed me in several aspects. Kids with their parents visited the clinic for treatment but to see them having fun with a big smile on their faces was just wonderful. I integrated with these kids and created a very strong bond and I am so grateful for that. Recording their vital sign like heart beat, temperature and taking their weight was just amazing. I strongly recommend this trip to anyone who likes to deal with kids in a child and maternal health department of a hospital.