Health education volunteering in Zanzibar

In Stone Town, the programme brings prevention into everyday life. Activities in schools and the community focus on familiar habits: washing hands, looking after teeth and maintaining personal hygiene.

Prepare materials and activities with local staff. Listening helps you choose words and examples suited to the people you meet, making health topics easier to understand and put into practice.

The experience grows through working together: learn from local staff, contribute your skills and get to know the community through everyday encounters.

No. You can join health-education activities without a health-related degree. An interest in prevention, listening and working with others is a good starting point.

Prepare materials with the team and support sessions on hygiene, personal care and first-aid awareness. Explaining ideas simply and giving people your attention are an important part of your contribution.

Your role is educational. Diagnosis and treatment are carried out by authorised professionals. If you have health-related training, share it with HeyLocals before travelling so staff understand your skills.

The programme welcomes participants aged 18–65. Basic English is needed to understand staff guidance, prepare activities and communicate during the project.

Bring patience, a willingness to work together and consideration for the people you meet. Listening, asking questions and adapting explanations to the setting help you settle into activities.

Complete the HeyLocals self-declaration in your personal area before departure. If you have health-related training, send your CV and relevant qualifications at least two weeks before starting. HeyLocals helps you prepare the documents.

Yes. Guesthouse life offers opportunities to meet people through shared meals and communal spaces, talking about the day and exchanging ideas.

Your first Monday’s orientation and Stone Town visit help you settle in with fellow participants. The team also offers a Wednesday beach outing: time to take a break and enjoy being together.

Weekends are free to rest or explore. Share plans with people who have similar interests; optional excursions, personal transport and entry tickets are at your own expense.

Everyday essentials. Accommodation from Sunday to the final Saturday, with checkout by noon, drinking water, three meals on weekdays and two at weekends are included.

Arrival and activities. The fee includes airport pickup within the standard window, transport for scheduled activities, materials, supervision and a 24-hour local support contact. See the arrival section for pickup days and times.

Your personal budget. Flights, visas, insurance, return transfer, personal costs, extra nights and optional tours are separate. If arriving outside the standard window or extending your stay, agree additional services with HeyLocals before travelling.

A shared place to come home to. Your base is a traditional guesthouse in Chukwani, around 30 minutes by car from Stone Town. Rooms sleep 2–8 people of the same gender, with shared bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room. Return here after activities and get to know everyday life on the island.

What is provided and what to pack. Bedding, fans, mosquito nets, lockable rooms and a safe are available. Bring your own towel. Rooms do not have air conditioning, and showers have cold water. Knowing these details helps you prepare comfortably.

Meals. Drinking water, three meals on weekdays and two at weekends are included at the accommodation. Meals feature local food such as rice, spices and fish. Once a week, contribute to meal planning with fellow participants, sharing ideas and taking part in house life.

Practical details. There is no guesthouse Wi-Fi; local SIM cards are available nearby. Small shops and paid laundry services are in the area. Buyu Beach is around a 30-minute walk away. Look after communal spaces and respect other people’s rest.

Before travelling. Tell HeyLocals about allergies, dietary or accessibility needs so arrangements can be discussed with the team. Included accommodation runs from Sunday to the final Saturday, with checkout by 12:00. Extra nights are arranged separately.

A team you can turn to. Local staff supervise the project and provide a 24-hour support contact. On arrival, receive contact details and instructions for urgent situations. Save them offline for use during activities and while travelling.

Prepare activities together. Follow staff guidance in schools, respect families’ privacy and ask for appropriate permission before taking or sharing photographs and videos. Your role is health education; diagnosis and treatment remain the responsibility of authorised professionals.

Organise documents early. Complete the HeyLocals self-declaration in your personal area before departure. This is the document we use to review your criminal-record declaration; no separate police certificate or references are needed. If you have health-related training, submit your CV and relevant qualifications at least two weeks before starting. HeyLocals helps you prepare documents for your trip and planned activities.

Prepare for your health needs. Read Viaggiare Sicuri’s Tanzania advice, alongside your own government’s updates, and consult a travel-health professional about your itinerary. Bring regular medicines and copies of prescriptions. Arrange personal medical and repatriation cover separately from the programme fee.

If entering Tanzania through Zanzibar, the mandatory ZIC policy is available through the official portal. If entering through mainland Tanzania first, follow the current official guidance for that first point of entry.

Get to know the island. Ask staff about routes and transport, keep valuables secure and dress respectfully in schools and the community. Discuss difficulties with the team; advice from people who know the setting helps you find your way in everyday life.

Your first Monday is for settling in. Meet the team, learn house rules and get advice on local culture, transport and safety. The day includes an introduction to Swahili and a visit to Stone Town, helping you find your way around the area where your project takes place.

Prepare your contribution. Discuss the week’s educational campaign with the local health coordinator. Explore hygiene and personal-care topics, materials to prepare and ways to adapt explanations to the people you meet. Project activities continue from Tuesday.

Bring your questions. Share your experience, interests and skills. Talking with staff helps you understand your educational role and feel more familiar with preparing activities.

Get to know the group, too. Receive directions to activity sites, team contacts and ideas for free time. The city visit and shared moments offer a chance to meet fellow participants and begin to feel at home in Zanzibar.

Where to start. Fly to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, ZNZ, on Zanzibar. The project is in Stone Town and your accommodation is in Chukwani. Confirm your project booking before buying flights. HeyLocals helps you prepare and sends arrival instructions.

Choosing your arrival time. Airport pickup is available on Saturday or Sunday between 06:00 and 21:00. Included accommodation starts on Sunday, so Saturday arrivals require an extra night. For another day or a time outside this window, agree additional transport and accommodation, including the costs, beforehand.

Before flying. Share your flight number, airline, arrival date and time. Save personal instructions and staff contacts on your phone and offline, alongside travel documents. If your flight changes or is delayed, inform the team so pickup can be adjusted.

When you land. After checks and baggage collection, go outside the main arrivals hall. Your representative meets you with a sign. The car or van journey to the guesthouse takes around 30 minutes. Pickup may be shared with other participants, so there can be a wait for other flights.

If you cannot find the representative, stay at the instructed meeting point and call the transfer contact after 20 minutes. If there is no reply, send a message and use the other support contacts provided. Saving the instructions offline helps you manage this step.

If you are already on the island. Meet at the airport on Sunday between 10:00 and 16:00. Agree your meeting time with the team and organise travel from your hotel.

Your return journey. Checkout is by 12:00 on your final Saturday. The return transfer is separate, and staff can help you arrange it. A Saturday-evening flight leaves time for the transfer and airport checks. Arrange extra nights and onward travel in advance.