Marine Conservation
Known for their playful nature, visiting Zanzibar’s impressive local dolphin population is a popular attraction for tourists in the area. While tolerable of some positive interaction with humans, too much human activity in their waters and dolphins can become overly stressed, timid, and distant. With many tourists regularly embarking on dolphin tours in large numbers, there is a great need throughout Zanzibar to promote a sustainable eco-tourism model that puts the health of dolphins, and the local economy, first.
Joining one of our marine conservation volunteer projects in Zanzibar, volunteers will spend their days embarking on journeys across the Indian Ocean to promote positive dolphin-human interactions. Closely monitoring encounters between dolphins and humans during sightseeing tours, volunteers will conduct valuable research on local dolphin pods’ health and behaviour. Working closely with community members and the local government, this research data helps formulate ethical policies around dolphin ecotourism that balance the well-being of dolphins and locals in the tourism sector alike!
Teaching English and Community Development
Across Africa, tourism is a rapidly growing industry that provides stable, income-generating employment to locals. With travellers regularly drawn to Zanzibar’s well-deserved reputation as a beach paradise, tourism makes up a significant source of income and employment for the local economy. However, for locals to gain meaningful work in this sector, a degree of English spoken and written literacy is often essential.
Those who attend our Zanzibar volunteer projects will regularly teach English to keen groups of adult students, empowering them as they improve their English skills, and in turn, employability. Drawing students from across Zanzibar Island and mainland Tanzania, these English classes – held at our Kizimkazi Education Centre – are widely popular among locals and an incredible opportunity for volunteers to make an impact!
Additionally, volunteers will take part in teaching younger students at local nursery schools and after-school clubs. Supporting local teachers, volunteers will work closely with local children, engaging in playful activities to build fundamental developmental skills like basic vocabulary, motor abilities, and positive social play. Beyond school settings, volunteers have regular opportunities to work alongside locals in rewarding community uplift projects. These projects are highly varied and chosen by the local community’s needs at the time but can include anything from painting schools, engaging in coastal cleanups, or building eco-bricks!
