Special Education Volunteer

Please Note: Volunteer positions are temporary and the length of your volunteer term can be anywhere from 3 weeks to 1 year. You must be at least 21 years old to be a volunteer with us.

Organization Overview

The Tanzanian Children's Fund (TCF) works to eliminate generational poverty in rural northern Tanzania by ensuring that the children and families in this region have access to all of the care and services they need to lead healthy, secure, and fulfilling lives. Our work falls into 4 key program areas: Education, Health, Home and Family, and Economic Opportunity. You will be supporting activities in the Rift Valley Children's Village, which provides a permanent home and family for orphaned and vulnerable children in our community, as well as our Early Childhood Care and Education Center (ECCE), a combined day-care and preschool for children in our community.

Position Overview

The Special Education Volunteer provides individualized learning and developmental support for children in the village who may have learning differences, cognitive delays, behavioral challenges, or special learning needs. This role focuses on building supportive structures within the village, strengthening staff capacity, and creating inclusive learning environments—while collaborating respectfully with Tanzanian teachers and caregivers.

Ideal Background & Skills

• Degree or ongoing studies in Special Education, Inclusive Education, Child Psychology, or a related field
• Experience working with children with learning disabilities, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, or behavioral challenges
• Understanding of individualized education plans (IEPs), differentiated instruction, and behavior-support strategies
• Strong English fluency; ability to turn English-language exposure into supportive learning tools
• Patient, creative, calm, and culturally sensitive
• Comfortable adapting strategies to a low-resource, rural environment
• Collaborative and respectful of local caregiving structures

Core Expectations

• Work in partnership with Tanzanian staff to identify and support children with special needs
• Respect and adapt to cultural approaches to disability, learning, and child development
• Maintain clear documentation while ensuring confidentiality
• Focus on capacity-building so caregivers and teachers can continue support beyond the volunteer’s stay
• Integrate English-language development naturally into learning support
• Participate in village life during weekends and school holidays as part of the holistic child support model

Primary Responsibilities

1. Identification & Informal Assessment
   • Observe children in classrooms, play spaces, and home environments
   • Conduct informal, culturally appropriate screenings to identify learning or developmental needs
   • Document strengths and challenges
   • Discuss findings with caregivers, teachers, and leadership to develop support plans
2. Individualized Learning Support
   • Provide one-on-one or small-group sessions focusing on:
     • Early literacy and numeracy
     • Language development
     • Social-emotional skills
     • Behavioral regulation
     • Fine and gross motor skills
     • Adapt teaching strategies to each child's pace and needs
     • Create enjoyable, play-based learning opportunities that encourage engagement
3. Support for Pre-School and School-Age Children
   • Assist Early Childhood Care and Education staff with strategies for inclusive classrooms
   • Support older children during after-school study hall
   • Help modify assignments or learning materials for children who need scaffolding
   • Model techniques for breaking tasks into manageable steps
4. Caregiver & Teacher Capacity Building
   • Train caregivers and teachers on:
     • Recognizing early signs of developmental delays
     • Communicating and engaging with children who learn differently
     • Positive behavioral support methods
     • Inclusive classroom strategies
     • Using routines and structure to support learning
   • Share practical tools staff can continue using after the volunteer leaves
5. Resource & Material Development
   • Create simple, low-cost educational tools such as:
     • Visual schedules
     • Behavior charts
     • Flashcards and literacy materials
     • Task breakdown cards
     • Sensory-friendly activities
   • Help organize materials so they can be easily reused by staff
6. Weekend & Holiday Village Engagement
   • Support weekend programming with inclusive activities where every child can participate
   • Lead small-group activities: arts & crafts, games, music, drama, nature exploration
   • Assist during evening study hall with reading support, homework help, and confidence-building tutoring
   • Provide encouragement and emotional support in a nurturing, consistent way

Impact of the Role

The Special Education Teacher volunteer/intern helps ensure that every child—regardless of learning style or developmental need—has the opportunity to grow, access English-language learning, and feel confident and supported. By empowering caregivers and teachers with practical strategies, this role builds long-term capacity and strengthens the village’s ability to meet diverse needs holistically and compassionately.