The primary goal of SHANGA & River House is to provide employment for deaf and disabled people living in Arusha. These people work at the Shanga shop designing and making a wide variety of crafts to sell. The famous and unique "Shanga Necklaces" are their speciality and are currently being sold locally as well as to international clients. The River House is a restaurant located in the Shanga workshop gardens serving daily breakfasts and lunches to residents, tourists and guests to Arusha. The staff at Shanga and River House have a variety of disabilities that would otherwise limit their employment opportunities in Tanzania. Many are deaf or with severe hearing impairments, and others have physical disabilities. Their main goal is to be able to employ as many deaf and disabled people as possible.

Volunteers are needed to help out in all areas including the workshop, tours, the restaurant, kitchen and the shop. This placement is truly unique and any volunteer is guaranteed to be busy and feel as though they are truly making a difference every single day. Volunteers will get to chose which area best suits them. Specifically, help is needed greeting tourists and guests, performing daily inventory and stocking of the shop, helping in the shop with sales and purchases, helping to balance books and ensure proper financial governance.

The Program Fee Includes:

• Placement Selection and Coordination
• Pre-departure Orientation Materials
• Fundraising Support
• In-Country Orientation and General Training
• In-Country Language Training
• 24/7 Emergency Support
• Airport Meet and Greet
• Meals - except on Sundays
• Accommodation at the BaseCamp Centre and/or Home Stay

The Program Fee Excludes:

• Flight
• Insurance
• Weekend excursions
• Visa fees
• Immunizations
• Sunday meals, extra meals or drinks

No specific skills or qualifications are required, except the intrested volunteers must be very comfortable working with people, both residents and tourists. Must be comfortable speaking in front of small groups, working independently and as part of a team. Experience doing administrative task would be an asset.

Accommodation: During orientation week, volunteers will be living together at our BaseCamp Center with other volunteers and interns arriving in the same month. Once volunteers have completed their Orientation and language training, some will remain living at the Base Camp Center and commute to their placements from there, and other will transfer to their placement where they may have a choice between living in a lodge or home stay.

Meals: During your orientation and language training three meals per day are provided, except on Sundays. Sundays you are responsible for your own meals. Once at your placement, if you are living in our Orientation Center you will continue to receive 3 meals per day (Sundays excepted). If you are living with a home stay family, then you will continue to have three meals per day including Sundays.

Interested candidate can apply on line through the given link: http://www.basecampvolunteerabroad.ca/sites/online-application/index.cfm?retail_partner_id=1 or you can contact us at info@basecampcenters.com or africa@basecampcenters.com

Weather: Despite its closeness to the equator, Arusha\'s elevation of 1,400 m on the southern slopes of Mount Meru keeps temperatures down and alleviates humidity. Cool dry air is prevalent for much of the year. The temperature ranges between 13°C and 30°C with an average around 25°C. Arusha has distinct wet and dry seasons, and experiences an eastern prevailing wind from the Indian Ocean, a few hundred miles east. Highest average rainfall occurs in March, April and May. Arusha is considered to be one of the best African cities when it comes to great weather and tourism combined.