Volunteer
Interested in volunteering with Tenteleni? Why not come down to
one of our recruitment information events. Click here for more
information.
What do volunteers do?
The volunteer role varies between projects, although the all volunteers:
- Work as teaching assistants
- Assist with English language learning
- Work on Youth Issues such as self esteem, bullying, careers, relationships and Sexually Transmitted Infections (inc. HIV, except in Zanzibar, where this subject is not covered).
- Facilitate and support extra curricular activities such as sport, debating, young enterprise, and talent and cultural shows
- Get involved in the wider community
Although volunteers have constant support from their Project Coordinators, they require a high level of initiative and creativity to develop projects and activities within their placement, plan their day and get involved in the placement and wider community.
What do Project Coordinators do?
- Travel to Project placement at least one week prior to the Project start date in order to complete preparatory arrangements, often including visa applications for the group.
- Day-to-day management and support of volunteers and all Project activities while on Project, including management of the Project budget.
- Sustain and develop working relationships between Tenteleni and its Project Partners (including all contacts, stakeholders and placements).
- Carry out in-country research to contribute to the future development of the Project.
- Complete a comprehensive evaluation of the Project, completing a debrief with your Project Manager and presenting a post Project progress report at the Tenteleni AGM
The specifics of the role will vary greatly between the nine Projects depending on the size of the group. PCs may or may not have the opportunity to work part-time in a Placement whilst on Project.
Project Coordinators (PCs) are required to have at least one month voluntary experience abroad, experience of independent travel, experience co-ordinating or managing a small group of people within a voluntary/employment/social/educational context, independent travel experience and proven interest in global issues.
Please note: PCs DO NOT have to pay the project fee.
Why volunteer with Tenteleni?
Tenteleni is a youth and education-focused charity with a grass-roots management and development structure. The majority of the committee have previously volunteered on a Tenteleni project. This means that they have a real passion and understanding of each and every project, placement and in-country partner. Unlike lots of really big organisations, the Tenteleni committee knows each in-country partner and even lots of the young people by name – we are extremely well connected to our projects.
As a charity that is committed to the goals of sustainability and skill sharing, Tenteleni strives to be an enabling and culturally aware organisation that ensures its work is appropriate, effective and wanted by the communities in which it works.
Tenteleni offers volunteers opportunities to take on additional roles and responsibilities within their projects. In the past, volunteers have carried out research into the local educational systems and local Youth Issues such as sexual health provisions and career options. The research informs Tenteleni’s work and development. Keen photographers have provided the up-to-date PR material; and volunteers have even been involved in the production of a promotional video.
Tenteleni values the contribution of all volunteers’ evaluation and experience of working with the charity, and their ideas for the future development of its work. Volunteers have said how great it is that Tenteleni listened to their ideas for improvement and have seen their suggestions being put into practice.
Tenteleni strongly encourages volunteers returning from Projects to become involved in the running and development of Tenteleni at university, committee and management levels. Volunteers often join the committee and gain unique experience in various aspects of the management of the charity. This year, several volunteers fresh from their experience on a Tenteleni project during the summer have joined the committee taking up positions across the committee.
Homestays
Some projects offer volunteers and Project Coordinators the unique opportunity to live with local people. This could be with a local teacher and their family, at an orphanage or a street children’s centre. Volunteers gain an incredible insight into things such as how local people live, what they do during their evenings and how they cook. They will be able to become part of the community, as they will be living amongst locals. Volunteers learn a great deal about the culture, often learn the local language quicker and develop lasting friendships with the people they live with and their friends.
Homestays are not for everyone and are certainly not without their challenges! It is often a more intense situation and you would live with one or two fellow volunteers, rather than the larger group. The challenges are outweighed by the friendships volunteers develop and the experiences they have.
Shiriki
The Shiriki Programme is an exciting new development for Tenteleni. It is a partnership volunteering programme involving pairing Tenteleni’s volunteers with volunteers from the project country.
Shiriki means ‘participate’ in Swahili and participation is exactly what the programme is all about.
What our volunteers say:
“I feel compelled to write to you in order to thank you sincerely for a truly incredible summer. My eight weeks in Swaziland were exciting, entertaining, highly rewarding and at times challenging in the best possible ways. During the build up to the project and during, I was continually impressed by Tenteleni’s friendly and approachable yet professional stance, and found this to be a very much suitable and successful in supporting whilst simultaneously empowering the volunteers. And, hence, I hope that any impact I hope to have had on the pupils, teachers and those from the community I lived and worked in, will be likewise positive. They certainly affected me. For this, thank you all so much.” Finlay, volunteer on the Manzini & Mhlambanyatsi project, Swaziland, 2007
“This project is unbelievable. What we’re doing, when you really think about it, is mind blowing. I feel so incredibly privileged to have played a very small part in it. It’s been the most challenging, frustrating, at times lonely, and difficult thing I’ve ever done. It’s also been, without a doubt, the most rewarding, inspiring, life changing, unbelievable and enjoyable thing I’ve ever done. Thank you. Thank you so much.” Kisumu Project Coordinator, 2009
What have you gained from your experience as a Tenteleni volunteer?
“Self confidence, classroom management skills, communication skills with people from other cultures, persistence and resilience and how to get up at the crack of dawn!” KaNyamazane volunteer, 2008
“Greater awareness and knowledge of Islam, Swahili, and the opportunity to live with a local family.” Zanzibar volunteer, 2008
What do young people from our projects like about Tenteleni volunteers?
“They were good listeners and always allowed us to speak our minds, and taught us that the sky’s the limit.” KaNyamazane pupil, 2008
“I like them because they helped us with many things we needed to know about, things like their culture and sports. We had a wonderful sports day. We will never forget it.” KaNyamazane pupil, 2008
“They are friendly and they are interested in knowing more about our culture.” Nkomazi East pupil, 2008
What do teachers and educators think about Tenteleni volunteers?
“Volunteers were very flexible, hard working, punctual and serious about their work. They knew what they were doing and were always prepared to help.” Pienaar teacher, 2008
“It was superb. They tried by all means to let the learners understand through activities.” Nkomazi East teacher, 2008
Volunteers: Who do we recruit?
Students with:
- An interest in global issues
- A commitment to the Aims and Objectives of Tenteleni
- An enthusiasm for education
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Self-motivation
- A lively imagination
- An ability to work under pressure
Volunteers must be able to commit to the duration of the Project.
No previous work experience abroad necessary.
Recruitment Process
Tenteleni currently recruits students from 23 Universities across the UK. Find out more here.
Volunteer Training
Volunteers are expected to attend weekly meetings in the university groups, ran by ex-volunteers, our University Co-ordinators. Through these groups volunteers participate in fundraising and preparation activities. Tenteleni has developed an incredibly useful, dynamic and fun UK training programme. All volunteers attend a residential raining weekend before their project. This focuses on teaching assistance preparation, Youth Issues, cross-cultural communications, sharing ideas, foreign language skills and much more. It’s also a great opportunity to meet the rest of your group!
Project Co-ordinator Recruitment
Who We Recruit:
- Mature young people (not necessarily current students) with the required volunteer attributes, plus:
- A sound understanding and ability to demonstrate cultural awareness
- An ability to motivate and instil enthusiasm and confidence in others
- The confidence to improvise, carry out risk assessments and deal with emergency procedures in a professional manner.
Experience Required:
- Experience coordinating/managing a small group of people within a voluntary/employment/social/educational context
- At least one month voluntary experience abroad
- Proven interest in international development
- Independent travel experience
Project Co-ordinator Training
Project Co-ordinators (PCs) are encouraged to join volunteers at their weekly university group meetings to participate in fundraising and preparation activities. Project Coordinators attend their own training weekend. This covers topics such as managing group dynamics, budget management, emergency procedures, how to build partnerships with local organisations, an initial briefing from Project Managers, and usually involves the obligatory fancy dress during the evening! PCs will then meet with their Project Manager for a detailed handover and briefing. They subsequently attend the volunteer training weekend, where they are encouraged to lead training sessions and establish their role within the group.