English Fluency Program Volunteer

Nurturing Minds, Inc. and SEGA Girls’ School are seeking volunteers to help with an 18-day English Fluency Program in Morogoro, Tanzania, from October 9th - 26th, 2024. 

Position Title: English Fluency Volunteer 

Goals of the Role: To engage diverse students in intensive English training for students to build their confidence in speaking English. 

Impact of the Role: To achieve academic success, SEGA students must become fluent in English. With more than 120 tribal languages spoken in Tanzania, most students arrive at the school speaking a local language from their home communities and Kiswahili. Kiswahili, the national language, is generally their second language and the language spoken and taught in Tanzanian primary schools. In secondary school, instruction switches to English, presenting a huge challenge to most students as they transition from having one English course in primary school to having all of their subjects, like physics, history, and commerce, all taught in English.

Volunteers will become English Fluency Role Models and Story Tellers to foster a sense of belonging in learning English among SEGA students by exposing them to experience motivation, excitement, and interest and to have fun learning English. They will think of themselves as confident in their language abilities and find engaging with a new language fun. Through the program, students will develop emotional connections and personal relevance to impact their language learning. 

Role Models are very important in showing students where they can thrive in the world. Volunteers are role models for our SEGA students who are available to students for questions and interactions throughout the program and after.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Follow a predesigned curriculum to implement an English Fluency Language Immersion program, including a poster-sharing project 
• Assess and document student skill level and progress
• Submit all required paperwork promptly
• Develop strong, positive relationships with students to promote personal and academic growth
• Ensure consistent attendance and learning outcomes for the class are met
• Document and review student learning progress to share with staff
• Fulfill all other duties deemed vital to the function of the organizations

Time Requirements: English Fluency Volunteers will be engaged in lessons from 8 AM until 3:30 PM during the 8 days of program lessons. It is roughly 6-7 hours of teaching per day. There are breaks for tea, rest, and lunch. Our schedule includes a field trip day, a poster-sharing day, a hiking day, a visit to SEGA’s Modern Girl Program, and a weekend safari! 

PROGRAM AGENDA

Location: SEGA Girls’ School in Morogoro, Tanzania 

Land Cost:

Single Accommodation Land Cost: $2,599 (single hotel room options in Dar es Salaam)

Double Accommodation Land Cost: $2,531

Not included in Land Cost: International airfare, carbon off-setting for flight, travel health insurance, any medical-related costs, visa, and souvenirs.

Work Environment: You should expect to be very active and on your feet throughout your volunteer time. You will need to listen to your body on when to sit down, find shade, or find a cool area or fan. Please note the Visitor House and the classrooms where the program will take place are not air-conditioned. There are fans in the classrooms, but with the temperatures, you can still expect it to be pretty hot. The average temperature fluctuates throughout the year from 82-90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Skills & Qualifications:

• High school or University Student who studies or is interested in teaching English
• Teacher of English or language subjects or has an interest in teaching 
• TEFL Certified or trained professional or has an interest in learning more about TEFL 
• Creative, solution-oriented, and adaptable 
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to build supportive and professional relationships with high school youth and staff
• Ability and willingness to have fun in the classroom!

Orientation & Training:

Before traveling and volunteering with Nurturing Minds and the SEGA Girls’ School, Zoom orientation calls and emails will help prepare you for your destination and job responsibilities. 

Before traveling: 

• We will have a series of weekly Zoom orientation meetings to discuss the pre-designed Curriculum, meet volunteers, and answer questions.
• We will have an orientation to discuss all travel, volunteering, and teaching at SEGA, health, and safety logistics.
• We will discuss cultural humility, Tanzanian culture, and what it means to be a foreign volunteer in Tanzania. 
• You will have an opportunity to meet with SEGA’s Communication Coordinator and Hospitality Coordinator, who will help you get settled in once you arrive, before arriving. 
• We share with you via email visiting manuals, emergency contact lists, COVID-19 protocols, and more. 

Arriving at SEGA: 

• Once you arrive at SEGA, the Communications and Hospitality Coordinators will greet you and help you settle into your home for the week. They will discuss safety, transportation, ways to explore Morogoro and Tanzania, culture, food, and health, and give you a tour of SEGA’s Campus. They will help introduce and welcome you to SEGA’s staff and students. 
• Once settled at SEGA, we will have a volunteer orientation, co-teacher planning sessions, and time to organize all lesson materials. 
• Every evening, we will have debriefing sessions and preparation for the following day’s activities. 

Supervision:

Long-term Nurturing Minds volunteers, advisors, and Board Members will be co-leading this year's English Fluency Program to the SEGA Girls’ School with our English Fluency Committee Curriculum Development Team members. They will work in partnership with Mr. Aliko, Deputy Head of School at SEGA, Mr. Abdallah, English Fluency Teacher at SEGA, and with the support of the Hospitality Coordinator, Ms. Isabella, and Communications Coordinator, Ms. Rhona. The SEGA School Headmistress, Mrs. Elly, supervises all individuals. 

Volunteer Benefits:

Volunteering with SEGA is a unique opportunity to foster life-long friendships and become a mentor for a SEGA girl. Most of our volunteers stay connected with their student groups well into their university-level studies and exchange letters and photographs, and many return to SEGA for their graduation. 

How to Apply:

Complete the application linked below!

LET US KNOW YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER!

MOROGORO REGION, TANZANIA

Lying at the base of the magnificent Uluguru Mountains, the Morogoro region is the agricultural land of Tanzania. The region supports tobacco vegetation and complete processing before being transported to market areas. Along with agriculture, the city is known for its educational centers and hospitals. The short distance from the lively city of Dar es Salaam makes Morogoro popular among travelers. The region exhibits its beauty with its culture and art. Adventure and leisure can be best here with less chaos and amazing food. One can even enjoy a Safari at the closely nestled Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve.

FIND YOUR HOME AT SEGA 

Nestled near the beautiful Uluguru Mountains base, the SEGA Girls School is located 7 miles north of Morogoro, approximately 5 hours west of Dar es Salaam by car. Experience the school in person and relax in our comfortable visitor house while enjoying delicious dishes from your private cook and experiencing the vitality of our vibrant school and nearby cultural immersion activities. 

The SEGA Visitor House includes 3 daily meals, fans, solar power, a private bathroom, toiletries, free wifi, daily housekeeping, mosquito netting, and a private chef. 

 All bookings from the SEGA Visitor House go to supporting scholarships for SEGA Students.

IN-COUNTRY STAFF

Nurturing Minds and SEGA is excited about our partnership with our dedicated, passionate, and motivated volunteers. The SEGA Staff and SEGA School teachers welcome you to join them to enrich girls' lives and help end the cycle of poverty by educating a girl through the English Fluency Program! 

CULTURAL IMMERSION ACTIVITIES

Upon arrival, volunteers will be welcomed with the SEGA School Welcome Song special for SEGA Visitors and Volunteers. Volunteers will then be led around the campus by Form 3, Hosting Students on a school tour to learn about the girl's daily life, school activities, and campus.

The English Fluency Volunteers will have a special opportunity to participate in the SEGA Form 4 Graduation! You will spend the day celebrating Form 4 students’ success and wish them luck as they begin their next journey!

In addition to exploring Morogoro's natural wonders, volunteers will visit local markets, learn about traditional batik fabric dyeing, learn how to make chapatti, learn how to tie a kitanga, engage in football competitions, and movie nights with students. Volunteers will have an incredible opportunity to meet SEGA graduates, staff, and the Executive Director and Headmistress.

WEEKEND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

On the weekends, our expert staff will guide your group on local cultural and learning activities, including hiking through the Uluguru Mountains to visit and swim in the Choma Waterfall, being included in a soil cake-making demonstration, and visiting SEGA’s Modern Girl Program!

FAQ

Do I need to have a teaching background to apply?

No, and several current and past team members didn’t have any background in teaching before joining! There are a few roles where a teaching background is important, but for most roles, we’re keen to welcome students, professionals, or educators with all academic interests!

Do I need to have previous experience to apply?

For most roles, no! If you want to join as a Program Lead or to lead certain program lessons, you’ll need some general teaching or TEFL understanding and experience. Generally, we’re not worried about whether you’ve done something like this before if you’re applying to be a volunteer. 

I don't have every skill listed - can I still apply?

Yes! Though having at least some of the listed skills will help you have a good foundation for your chosen role, enthusiasm to learn and grow is more important to us than past experience, and you’ll develop many of the skills you need during your time in the team. Remember, though, you can tell us about your skills through anything you’ve done before or been previously involved in, whether through school, clubs, work, community action, or personal experiences.

How does the team work together and communicate with each other?

We mainly work through email and WhatsApp. We will have several Zoom orientation meetings to meet everyone before traveling, and we will have a welcome dinner on our first night together in Dar es Salaam! 

What makes an ideal applicant to join the English Fluency Program?

No one thing makes someone an ideal applicant - everyone on the team has different backgrounds, skillsets, interests, and levels of previous experience in making a difference through education!

There are a few things every member of the English Fluency Program team has in common though…

• Passion for the Nurturing Minds mission - to transform lives and communities by educating and empowering Tanzanian girls.
• Enthusiastic to learn and grow - your enthusiasm to get involved is much more important to us than your previous experience or qualifications.
• Commitment to getting involved in all aspects of the volunteer program - both for your own development and the team’s collective progress toward our mission.

To view more information: https://www.nurturingmindsinafrica.org/events/2024/englishfluencyprogram-gpkcs