THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

TANZANIA

A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS

February 2015
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MAP OF TANZANIA
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A WELCOME LETTER

Congratulations on your invitation to join the Peace Corps! The staff of Peace Corps/Tanzania and I are 

pleased to welcome you.

I have no doubt that your experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania will exceed your 

expectations. I have lived and worked throughout Africa for more than two decades and find Tanzania to 

be a wonderful place—full of some of the most amazing scenery you will ever find, with a geographical 

and cultural diversity to match! I am also continually amazed by the number of Peace Corps/Tanzania 

Volunteers who stay on or come back in other capacities because they fall in love with the country and 

want to continue to make a difference in people’s lives here. I suspect many of you will also be as 

enchanted. Serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer still remains one of the finest ways to contribute to 

Tanzania’s development process, as well as your own, and to be a part of a cross-cultural sharing that is 

so important for our world today. 

As you embark on the journey of a lifetime, the staff and I promise you two years full of challenge, 

potential, and fulfillment. We can hardly wait for your arrival.

Karibu Sana Tanzania!

Dr. M. Elizabeth O’Malley

Country Director, Peace Corps Tanzania

RPCV Sierra Leone
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Table of Contents

A WELCOME LETTER...............................................................................................................................1

CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS..............................................................6

PEACE CORPS/TANZANIA HISTORY AND PROGRAMS....................................................................7

History of the Peace Corps in Tanzania ...................................................................................................7

Peace Corps Programming in Tanzania....................................................................................................7

COUNTRY OVERVIEW: TANZANIA AT A GLANCE...........................................................................9

History ......................................................................................................................................................9

Government ..............................................................................................................................................9

Economy...................................................................................................................................................9

People and Culture..................................................................................................................................10

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.....................................................................................11

General Information About Tanzania.....................................................................................................11

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees.........................................................................12

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Tanzania.............................................................................12

Recommended Books.............................................................................................................................13

Books About the History of the Peace Corps.....................................................................................13

Books on the Volunteer Experience...................................................................................................13

Books About Tanzania.......................................................................................................................13

LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE.....................................................................14

Communications.....................................................................................................................................14

Housing and Site Location .....................................................................................................................14

Living Allowance and Money Management ..........................................................................................15

Food and Diet .........................................................................................................................................15

Transportation.........................................................................................................................................16

Social Activities......................................................................................................................................16

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior....................................................................................................17

Personal Safety .......................................................................................................................................17

Rewards and Frustrations .......................................................................................................................18

PEACE CORPS TRAINING......................................................................................................................19

Overview of Pre-Service Training..........................................................................................................19

Technical Training..................................................................................................................................19

Language Training..................................................................................................................................20

Cross-Cultural Training..........................................................................................................................20

Health Training.......................................................................................................................................20

Safety and Security Training ..................................................................................................................20
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Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service.....................................................................................20

YOUR HEALTH CARE IN TANZANIA..................................................................................................22

Health Issues in Tanzania .......................................................................................................................22

Helping You Stay Healthy......................................................................................................................22

Maintaining Your Health........................................................................................................................23

Women’s Health Information.................................................................................................................23

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit...............................................................................................................24

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist................................................................................................24

SAFETY AND SECURITY IN DEPTH ....................................................................................................26

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk..............................................................................................26

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime ............................................................................................27

Support from Staff..................................................................................................................................27

Office of Victim Advocacy ....................................................................................................................28

Crime Data for Tanzania ........................................................................................................................28

Volunteer Safety Support in Tanzania....................................................................................................28

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OVERVIEW.........................................................................................30

Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site ......................................................................................................30

Cross-Cultural Considerations................................................................................................................31

What Might a Volunteer Face?...............................................................................................................31

Possible Gender Role Issues ..............................................................................................................31

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color.............................................................................................32

Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally (LGBTQA) 

Volunteers..........................................................................................................................................33

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities ................................................................................34

Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples...............................................................................................34

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers...........................................................................................35

Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers ....................................................................................................36

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.....................................................................................................37

WELCOME LETTERS FROM TANZANIA VOLUNTEERS .................................................................40

PACKING LIST .........................................................................................................................................45

PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST .............................................................................................................47

CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS ..............................................................................49
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CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps mission of promoting world peace and friendship, as a 

trainee and Volunteer, you are expected to do the following:

1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad for a full term 

of 27 months

2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work and, in doing 

so, share your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed

3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship if necessary, and with 

the flexibility needed for effective service

4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable development work is based on the local trust and 

confidence you build by living in, and respectfully integrating yourself into, your host community 

and culture

5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your personal conduct and 

professional performance

6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual learning, and respect

7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local and national laws of the 

country where you serve

8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health, safety, and well-being and 

that of others

9. Recognize that you will be perceived in your host country and community as a representative of 

the people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United States of America

10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values, and traditions of your host country and 

community to people in the United States both during and following your service
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PEACE CORPS/TANZANIA HISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History of the Peace Corps in Tanzania

Peace Corps Volunteers first arrived in Tanzania (then called Tanganyika) in 1962. Since then, 

approximately 2,000 Volunteers have served in Tanzania, working in education, health, the environment, 

and agriculture. In the early years of Peace Corps/Tanzania, most Volunteers focused on education.

As a result of political disagreements over the Vietnam War and former President Julius Nyerere’s 

philosophy of self-reliance, the Peace Corps withdrew from Tanzania from 1969–79. The Peace Corps 

had another, shorter period of interrupted service in 1991–92 because of tensions and security concerns 

related to the Persian Gulf War. In 1992, a thorough evaluation of the Peace Corps’ development 

priorities in Tanzania led to a decision to focus efforts on revitalizing the program in secondary education. 

In 1996, Peace Corps/Tanzania launched an agriculture project and, in 2000, it initiated a school health 

education project. Today, Peace Corps/Tanzania has about 130 Volunteers: Half of them serve in the 

education project, 30 percent in the agriculture project, and 20 percent in the health education project.

Peace Corps Programming in Tanzania

As a relatively small player in a country of about 49 million people, Peace Corps/Tanzania recognizes the 

need for a strategic vision that focuses on niche areas, where a small number of dedicated Volunteers can 

make a significant difference. Peace Corps/Tanzania projects are in areas where it’s possible to play a 

catalytic or model-building role while meeting Tanzania’s real, identified needs. Thus, Peace Corps 

Volunteer projects in education, health, and agriculture have the potential to make a real difference in 

Tanzania. The focus on youth, particularly in the areas of environmental education, empowerment of 

girls, and HIV/AIDS prevention and care, serves Peace Corps/Tanzania’s overall “country theme,” as it 

empowers young people to take greater control of their lives and to be responsible, active members of 

their communities.

The education project continues to play a critical role in math and science education by serving students 

and teachers in schools, particularly girls’ and rural schools. The program encourages out-of-classroom 

initiatives by providing resources and training opportunities for youth leadership and activism by 

employing peer education models. In 2011, Peace Corps/Tanzania started receiving Volunteers to teach 

English as well.

The agriculture project addresses community development with activities such as animal raising, tree 

planting, and changing unsustainable agricultural practices. It increasingly focuses on youth—the farmers 

of tomorrow—through educational activities for primary school students and those youth not in school. 

Volunteers in this project work with other Peace Corps sectors to promote girls’ empowerment and to 

address health concerns, including HIV/AIDS, at the grassroots level.

Volunteers in the health education project work with partner agencies and government structures to reach 

students, youth who have quit or are unable to attend school, and teachers. The work focuses on 

HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, as well as addresses other basic health issues. Volunteers engage in 

direct work with students and work with teachers to enable them to confidently teach topics such as 

sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS, and life skills that are part of the national 

curriculum. Volunteers may also participate in health education activities at health centers and in their 

communities. 

Recognizing the seriousness of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, all Peace Corps/Tanzania Volunteers receive 

training in strategies for awareness and prevention and are encouraged to be involved in these activities in 

their communities. In 2006, Peace Corps/Tanzania moved into the area of care by providing nutrition 
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education to those hardest hit by the pandemic—people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and orphans 

and vulnerable children (OVCs). Health and agriculture Volunteers will be trained in establishing home 

gardens and effective permaculture so they can show PLWHAs and OVCs how to getter better nutrition 

from food produced through these activities.

The AIDS pandemic affects all social strata in many Peace Corps countries. The loss of teachers has 

crippled education systems, while illness and disability drains family incomes and forces governments 

and donors to redirect limited resources from other priorities. The fear and uncertainty AIDS causes has 

led to increased domestic violence and stigmatizing of people living with HIV/AIDS, isolating them from 

friends and family and cutting them off from economic opportunities. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you 

will confront these issues on a very personal level. It is important to be aware of the high emotional toll 

that disease, death, and violence can have on Volunteers. As you strive to integrate into your community, 

you will develop relationships with local people who might die during your service. Because of the AIDS 

pandemic, some Volunteers will be regularly meeting with HIV positive people and working with training 

staff, office staff, and host family members living with AIDS. Volunteers need to prepare themselves to 

embrace these relationships in a sensitive and positive manner. Likewise, malaria and malnutrition, motor 

vehicle accidents and other unintentional injuries, domestic violence, and corporal punishment are 

problems a Volunteer may confront. You will need to anticipate these situations and utilize supportive 

resources available throughout your training and service to maintain your own emotional strength, so you 

can continue to be of service to your community.
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COUNTRY OVERVIEW: TANZANIA AT A GLANCE

History

The history of Tanzania begins with the dawn of early humans. Most experts agree that the earliest 

humans originated in fertile regions of East Africa. Cushitic-speaking people from southern Ethiopia 

migrated through the eastern part of the Great Rift Valley into north central Tanzania during the first

millennium B.C. Early cattle herders found an unoccupied niche in the virgin grasslands and coexisted 

with the Khoisan hunters and gatherers who were already there. During the first millennium A.D., Bantuspeaking peoples originating from west central Africa filtered into western Tanzania and the fertile 

volcanic mountains of the northeast. These iron-working cultivators preferred wetter areas and thus 

avoided the dry savannas that were already occupied by hunters, gatherers, and pastoralists.

Early residents of Tanzania’s coastal region experienced heavy Eastern, rather than African, cultural 

influences, developing a different culture from the people living in the interior. Merchants from Egypt, 

Assyria, Phoenicia, Greece, India, Arabia, Persia, and China were already visiting this region during the 

first century A.D. By the ninth century, Arabs and Shirazi Persians were significant traders on the coast, 

and large numbers of them settled on the offshore islands. In time, the Arab and Shirazi communities 

intermingled with the Bantu-speaking mainland groups and a new culture—the Swahili—was born.

During the late 19th century, European explorers and missionaries used Zanzibar as a point of departure 

for the mainland. Their travels helped define future colonial boundaries and paved the way for Protestant 

and Roman Catholic missionaries.

In its desire to establish an economic and political foothold among other European powers, a newly 

unified Germany entered mainland Tanzania in 1884 and signed a series of agreements with local rulers 

that ceded administrative and commercial protection to Germany. With the onset of World War I, 

Germany lost control of mainland Tanzania. Great Britain took over and renamed the mainland 

Tanganyika. In 1922, the League of Nations consigned Tanganyika to the British Empire under its 

mandate system.

It was not until 1961 that Tanganyika gained independence from Britain, with Julius Nyerere serving as 

the country’s first president. In January 1964, revolutionary forces overthrew the sultan of Zanzibar and,

three months later, the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar joined to become the United Republic of 

Tanzania.

Government

The United Republic of Tanzania was formed on April 26, 1964, by the adoption of the Act of Union 

between Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar. The nation is governed under a constitution formulated 

in 1977. The chief executive of Tanzania is a president, currently Jakaya Kikwete, who is elected by 

popular vote to a five-year term. The president appoints a vice president, prime minister, and cabinet. 

Tanzania has a unicameral National Assembly with 244 members, 169 of whom are elected by popular 

vote to terms of five years. The rest of the members are elected by the National Assembly, are appointed 

by the president, or sit by virtue of being commissioners of the country’s regions. The mainland is divided 

into 20 regions, Zanzibar’s Unguja Island is divided into three regions, and Zanzibar’s Pemba Island is 

split into two regions.

Economy

The economy of Tanzania is primarily agricultural. About 80 percent of the economically active 

population is engaged in farming, and agricultural products account for about 85 percent of annual 

exports. The country is the world’s largest producer of cloves. Other products include tea, coffee, cashew 

nuts, sisal, timber, and cotton. In recent years, the mining industry has developed significantly, with gold, 
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tanzanite, and diamonds providing jobs and income. The manufacturing sector is small and growing 

slowly.

With per capita income at an estimated $270 a year in 2002, Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in 

the world. Government programs once called for a form of socialism that kept people poor but relatively 

equal. Those policies were abandoned in the mid-1980s in favor of a free-enterprise system, which has 

generated more wealth, but also more disparity of income.

People and Culture

The population of Tanzania consists of more than 120 native African groups, the majority of whom speak 

a Bantu language. The largest groups are the Sukuma and the Nyamwezi, each representing about a fifth 

of the population. Tanzania is also home to people of Indian, Pakistani, and Goan origin, and small Arab 

and European communities. 

The population of Tanzania is estimated to be just over 49 million, giving the country a population 

density of 134 people per square mile. The population distribution is irregular, with high densities in the 

fertile areas around Mount Kilimanjaro and the shores of Lake Victoria and comparatively low densities 

in much of the interior. 

Muslims, Christians, and those with indigenous beliefs make up relatively equal proportions of 

Tanzania’s population. Muslims live mainly along the coast and on Zanzibar, while Christians reside 

primarily inland and in the larger cities. Animist beliefs are still strong in many areas of the country.
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RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Following is a list of websites for additional information about the Peace Corps and Tanzania and to 

connect you to returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that although the Peace Corps

tries to make sure all these links are active and current, the Peace Corps cannot guarantee it. If you do not 

have access to the Internet, visit your local library. Libraries offer free Internet usage and often let you 

print information to take home.

A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that you may find bulletin boards and chat rooms in 

which people are free to express opinions about the Peace Corps based on their own experiences, 

including comments by those who were unhappy with their choice to serve in the Peace Corps. These 

opinions are not those of the Peace Corps or the U.S. government, and please keep in mind that no two 

people experience their service in the same way.

General Information About Tanzania

State.gov

The Department of State’s website issues background notes periodically about countries around the 

world. Find Tanzania and learn more about its social and political history. You can also go to the site’s 

international travel section to check on conditions that may affect your safety.

Gpo.gov/libraries/public/

The U.S. Government Printing Office publishes country studies intermittently.

lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

The Library of Congress provides historical and sociological data on numerous countries.

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/pocketbook/World_Statistics_Pocketbook_2013_edition.pdf

United Nations resource book with 2013 statistical country data

Data.un.org

United Nations site with links to data from U.N. member countries

Wikipedia.org

Search for Tanzania to find encyclopedia-type information. Note: As Wikipedia content is user-generated, 

information may be biased and/or not verified.

Worldbank.org

The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the 

developing world. It is a development bank that provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance, and 

knowledge-sharing services to developing countries to reduce poverty. This site contains a lot of 

information and resources regarding development.

Data.worldbank.org/country

Provides information on development indicators on countries, including population, gender, financial, and 

education, and climate change statistics.
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Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees

RPCV.org

This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made up of returned Volunteers. On this site you 

can find links to all the Web pages of the “Friends of” groups for most countries of service, comprised of 

former Volunteers who served in those countries. There are also regional groups that frequently get 

together for social events and local volunteer activities. Or go straight to the Friends of Tanzania site: 

[Insert link] 

PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org

This site, hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers, is a monthly online publication of essays and 

Volunteer accounts of their Peace Corps service.

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Tanzania

UN.org/News/

The United Nations news service provides coverage of its member states and information about the 

international peacekeeping organization’s actions and positions.

VOAnews.com

Voice of America, the U.S. government’s multimedia broadcaster, features coverage of news around the 

world.

DailyNews.co.tz

The Daily News provides English language news stories on events in Tanzania and the region.

TheCitizen.co.tz

The Citizen provides English language news stories on events in Tanzania and the region.
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Recommended Books

Books About the History of the Peace Corps

1. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. “All You Need is Love: The Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 

1960s.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.

2. Rice, Gerald T. “The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace Corps.” Notre Dame, IN: University of 

Notre Dame Press, 1985.

3. Stossel, Scott. “Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver.” Washington, DC: Smithsonian 

Institution Press, 2004.

4. Meisler, Stanley. “When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and its First 50 

Years.” Boston: Beacon Press, 2011.

Books on the Volunteer Experience

1. Dirlam, Sharon. “Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a Forgotten Place.” Santa Barbara, CA: McSeas 

Books, 2004.

2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. “Margarita: A Guatemalan Peace Corps Experience.” Gig Harbor, 

WA: Red Apple Publishing, 2000.

3. Erdman, Sarah. “Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village.” New 

York City: Picador, 2003.

4. Hessler, Peter. “River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze.” New York City: Perennial, 2001.

5. Kennedy, Geraldine ed. “From the Center of the Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps.” Santa 

Monica, CA: Clover Park Press, 1991.

6. Thomsen, Moritz. “Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle.” Seattle: University of Washington 

Press, 1997 (reprint).

Books About Tanzania

1. Chinweizu (ed.). Voices From Twentieth-Century Africa: Griots and Towncriers. Boston: Faber 

and Faber, 1989.

2. Fitzpatrick, Mary. “Lonely Planet: Tanzania.” Lonely Planet Publications, 2005. 

3. Maddox, Gregory, James L. Giblin, and Isaria N. Kimambo (eds.). “Custodians of the Land: 

Ecology and Culture in the History of Tanzania.” Athens: Ohio University Press, 1996.

4. Pakenham, Thomas. “The Scramble for Africa: White Man’s Conquest of the Dark Continent 

From 1876 to 1912.” New York: Random House, 1991.

5. Yeager, Rodger. “Tanzania: An African Experiment” (2nd rev. ed.). San Francisco: Westview 

Press, 1991.
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LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE 

Communications

Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service considered normal in the United States. If you 

expect U.S. standards for mail service, you will be in for some frustration. Airmail can take up to a 

minimum of two weeks to arrive in Tanzania and sometimes can take two weeks or more to get to your 

site. Some mail may simply not arrive (fortunately, this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). 

Advise your family and friends that mail delivery can be sporadic and they should not worry if they do 

not receive your letters regularly; also advise them to number their letters for tracking purposes and to 

include “Airmail” on envelopes.

Once you begin your Volunteer service, you can have mail sent directly to your site or to the Peace Corps 

office in Dar es Salaam. Education Volunteers often receive mail through their school’s post office box;

Volunteers in other sectors usually rent a post office box in a nearby town. Most Volunteers find that their 

mail arrives faster when it goes directly to their site. During pre-service training, you will receive mail at 

the Peace Corps training site.

The address follows:

“Your Name,” PCT

Peace Corps Training Site

PO Box 9123

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Packages sent via surface mail normally take three to six months to reach Tanzania from the United 

States. Packages sent by air take from three to eight weeks. Hefty duty fees may be imposed on certain 

items. Although Volunteers can have packages sent to the Peace Corps office in Dar es Salaam, you are 

strongly advised to have them sent directly to your site. For your first six months of service, Peace 

Corps/Tanzania will pay the cost of clearing one package through customs and forwarding it to you at 

your site (a maximum of 15,000 shillings, or about $15). After that, with few exceptions, Peace Corps 

will not clear additional packages for you unless there is a firm work-related reason for the shipment that 

has been pre-approved by your supervisor. It’s best to wait to have packages sent until you get to your site 

and know what you really want or need.

Housing and Site Location

Volunteer sites range from towns in the north near Mount Kilimanjaro to Songea in the south. No 

Volunteers serve along the western borders with Uganda, Burundi, or Rwanda, or lakes Tanganyika and 

Victoria. Health Volunteers are assigned to communities where there are primary and secondary schools 

and a health center. Education Volunteers are posted at or near secondary schools in both rural and urban 

sites, while Agriculture Volunteers work in village communities. The determination of a Volunteer’s site 

is made during training, after staff members have had an opportunity to match an individual’s strengths 

and capabilities with the needs of the host community or school.

Volunteer housing, which is usually similar to that of Tanzanians living in the same community, is 

generally modest but comfortable. Housing varies in size, but all houses are made of either cement block 

or fired brick with tin or tile roofs. Houses have at least two rooms and are sometimes furnished with a 

bed, a table, chairs, and possibly other items. Volunteers receive a settling-in allowance to assist them in 

obtaining basic household items and in purchasing a cellphone. Volunteer sites are located anywhere from 

a few hours to a few days’ bus ride from Dar es Salaam. Proximity to the nearest fellow Peace Corps 
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Volunteer varies from site to site. Your nearest expatriate neighbor might be a British (Voluntary Service 

Overseas, or VSO) or Japanese (Japanese International Cooperation Agency, or JICA) volunteer.

Volunteers generally are placed alone and live alone, although having two Volunteers at one site, in one 

house, or sharing housing with a host country national is a possibility. The phrase “live alone” may be 

misleading, however. Tanzania has a collectivist or group-based culture, which means American concepts 

of privacy and personal space are neither understood, nor always respected. Neighborhood children will 

be in and out of your house on a regular basis, and adult neighbors and colleagues will be part of your 

daily life. 

Some Volunteers have electricity and running water, but the quality and reliability of both are often poor. 

These services become scarcer as sites become more rural; in these areas, water may come from a 

community well or river and evening light is often limited to candles and lanterns. Whatever the 

circumstances, it is important you remain flexible while you adjust to your new lifestyle.

Living Allowance and Money Management

Volunteers receive a monthly allowance in Tanzanian shillings that is sufficient to live at the level of the 

local people. The allowance covers food, housing, household supplies, clothing, transportation to and 

from work, utilities, recreation and entertainment, and incidental expenses. Peace Corps Volunteers are 

expected to live at a level that is comparable with that of their host country counterparts. The Peace Corps 

discourages Volunteers from supplementing their living allowance with funds from home.

Nevertheless, in many cases, your remuneration will be greater than your counterpart’s or supervisor’s 

salary. The amount of this allowance is based on regular surveys of Volunteers and the cost of living in 

Tanzania. The living allowance (currently equivalent to about $180 per month) is paid bi-monthly into 

Volunteers’ local bank accounts, so your ability to manage funds wisely is important. 

You will also receive a settling-in allowance, which includes funds to purchase a cellphone, basic 

household furnishings, kitchen equipment, linens, and other items to make your new house a home. The 

Peace Corps will also provide bicycles to Volunteers who want them. A helmet (provided by the Peace 

Corps) must be worn at all times when riding your bicycle. Finally, you will receive a leave allowance of 

$24 per month (standard in all Peace Corps countries), paid in local currency with your living allowance.

Volunteers suggest you bring cash or credit cards for vacation travel. Credit cards are accepted only at the 

more expensive tourist destinations, but it is possible to get cash advances via credit cards (for a fee) in 

Arusha and Dar es Salaam. However, keep in mind that credit card fraud is a significant problem in 

Tanzania. Most stores and hotels will only accept Visa. Volunteers who rely on MasterCard may struggle 

to find places to use them.

Food and Diet

The staple food in Tanzania is maize (corn), which is prepared as a thick porridge called ugali and eaten 

with vegetables or beans. Meat and chicken are almost always available, and fish is plentiful in the coastal 

and lake areas. Many fruits and vegetables grow in Tanzania (though not all items are available yearround) and, with a little creativity, you should be able to enjoy a varied diet. Most Volunteers prepare 

their own food although, after becoming more familiar with their sites, some Volunteers hire someone to 

help with household work, including cooking. 

Volunteers who are vegetarian will be able to eat well in Tanzania after becoming familiar with local 

foods and their preparation. Vegans may have to be flexible to meet their nutritional needs. Most 

Tanzanians are not familiar with vegetarianism and normally will not be prepared to serve a vegetarian 

meal if you are a guest in their home. (It is a sign of good hospitality to serve meat to guests.) Volunteers 
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who are vegetarians will often be asked why they do not eat meat. Every Volunteer has a different way of 

answering this question. Some simply say they do not like meat; some say their religion has rules about 

meat (whether that is true or not); and some say they choose not to eat meat for health reasons. In any 

case, a sensitive explanation of your dietary preferences is likely to be accepted.

One former Volunteer offers this advice on handling situations involving food: “When a Volunteer is 

offered some food or drink they do not like, they will often refuse it and say they do not want anything, or 

may claim they are not hungry or thirsty. Try to find something you will eat or drink and thank them for 

it. If you do not like beer or soda, maybe have some tea. If you do not like meat, have some beans or 

potatoes. You cannot simply refuse everything: They will not stop asking until you accept something 

from them. Enjoy what you can, and be polite and gracious for what you cannot tolerate.”

Transportation

Volunteers’ primary mode of long-distance transport is public buses. For shorter excursions, Volunteers 

use a daladala or a bicycle. A daladala is a minibus or small pickup truck that carries people and goods. 

(Yes, chickens could end up in your lap!) Buses and daladalas travel between or within towns on irregular 

schedules (i.e., when full), so travel in Tanzania is never a predictable affair. Many Volunteers find that 

in-country travel options are one of the biggest difficulties they encounter. While there are more buses 

available every year, this can make roads even more crowded and dangerous for travel.

Geography and Climate

Tanzania, located in southeastern Africa, borders Kenya and Uganda to the north; the Indian Ocean to the 

east; Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia to the south; and Zaire, Burundi, and Rwanda to the west. The 

country includes the islands of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The total area of Tanzania is 378,035 square 

miles (945,087 square kilometers).

Because the country is south of the equator, the seasons will be opposite of thos in the U.S. In June, July, 

and August (the cold season), temperatures range from 60–75 degrees Fahrenheit in the lowlands and on 

the coast to 40–50 degrees in the highlands. The hottest months of the year are November, December, and 

January when temperatures in the highlands range from 70–80 degrees and those in the lowlands range 

from 90–105 degrees, with considerable humidity. The rainy season starts in late November or early 

December and continues through April. The rest of the year is dry, but many highland areas have showers 

and mist year-round. A jacket or fleece top is recommended for the cool season, and loose-fitting cotton 

clothes are recommended for the hot season.

The landscape of Tanzania is quite diverse. The north is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point on 

the African continent, as well as Mount Meru and Hanang, the third and fifth highest points in East 

Africa, respectively. The north is also home to numerous game parks, including the Serengeti Plain and 

Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage site. The surrounding areas in the Great Rift Valley are also popular 

tourist destinations.

Tanzania contains or borders several important lakes. Lake Manyara and Lake Natron in the northern 

interior feature great migrations of flamingos and stunning scenery. On the northern border is Lake 

Victoria, the mouth of the White Nile River and the location of major commercial fishing operations. To 

the west lies Lake Tanganyika and, farther south, Lake Nyasa (also called Lake Malawi).

Social Activities

Larger towns often have discos and bars, which can become very lively on both weekdays and weekends. 

The most common form of entertainment is socializing with friends and neighbors. Some Volunteers visit 

other Volunteers on weekends and holidays. Although Volunteers are encouraged to remain at their sites 
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as much as possible in order to develop relationships with people in their community, an occasional trip 

to the capital or to visit friends is important as well.

Tanzania has several television stations that broadcast nationwide. These stations have limited 

programming, but they offer a few programs from South Africa, the United States, and Europe. Satellite 

television is available in many cities. Tanzanian radio is quite good if you are in an area that receives FM 

broadcasts. Volunteers placed in rural areas rely on shortwave radio broadcasts from the BBC, Voice of 

America, or Radio Deutsche Wella. There is one modern cinema in Dar es Salaam, and some hotels and 

bars show videos of American or European films.

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

Norms for dress are much more conservative in Tanzania than in the United States. In the United States, 

clothes are often an expression of one’s individuality; in Tanzania, people view one’s dress as a sign of 

respect for others. Tanzanians do not appreciate clothes that are dirty, have holes in them, are too 

revealing, or are too casual. Wearing such clothes will reduce both the amount of respect you gain and 

your effectiveness at work. While some of your counterparts may dress in seemingly worn or shabby 

clothes, this will be due to economics rather than choice. The likelihood is that they are wearing their 

best. A foreigner who wears ragged, unmended clothing, however, is likely to be considered an affront.

Although considered fashionable in the United States, accessories like nose and tongue piercings and 

earrings on men are frowned upon in Tanzania. This is particularly true in rural areas. Volunteers who 

accessorize in this way may encounter negative feelings or feedback from the people with whom they live 

and work. This might be because they think you are unprofessionally dressed or, for men with earrings, 

because they think you are gay (homosexuality is not widely accepted in Tanzania). 

Whether you work as a teacher, health educator, or agricultural extensionist, you will be perceived as a 

high-status professional. You will be “on duty” seven days a week, 24 hours a day and need to make 

every effort to conform to the behavior and dress expected of educated and high-status people in your 

school or community. One of the difficulties of finding your place as a Peace Corps Volunteer is fitting 

into the local culture while maintaining your own cultural identity and acting like a professional at the 

same time. It is not always an easy situation to resolve, but the Peace Corps will provide you with 

guidelines and recommendations. 

Working effectively in another culture requires a certain level of sacrifice and flexibility that can be 

difficult for some people. The Peace Corps expects Volunteers to behave in a manner that will foster 

respect within their community or school and reflect well on the Peace Corps. Behavior that jeopardizes 

the Peace Corps program or your personal safety cannot be tolerated and could lead to administrative 

separation—a decision by the Peace Corps to terminate your service. If you have reservations about your 

ability or willingness to make these accommodations, you should reevaluate your decision to become a 

Volunteer.

Personal Safety

More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach to safety is contained in the Safety and 

Security section, but it is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As stated in the Volunteer 

Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an 

unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a limited understanding of local language and culture, 

and being perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers 

experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not 

uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although most Tanzania Volunteers 

complete their two years of service without incident. The Peace Corps has established procedures and 

policies designed to help reduce the risks and enhance your safety and security. These procedures and 
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policies, in addition to safety training, will be provided once you arrive in Tanzania. Using these tools, 

one can be empowered to take responsibility for his or her safety and well-being.

Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing Volunteers with the support they need to 

successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. Volunteers 

and families are encouraged to look at safety and security information on the Peace Corps website at 

peacecorps.gov/safety.

Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer health and safety. There is a section titled Safety 

and Security in Depth, which addresses topics such as the risks of serving as a Volunteer, posts’ safety 

support systems, and emergency planning and communications.

Rewards and Frustrations

Although the potential for job satisfaction in Tanzania is very high, like all Volunteers, you may 

encounter frustrations. Perceptions of time, status, privacy, protocol, and efficiency are often very 

different from those in America. The lack of basic infrastructure can be challenging, and host agencies do 

not always provide expected support in a timely manner.

Tanzanians’ views of Americans often come from the television shows, movies, or pop stars they see or 

hear. They generally perceive Americans as being very rich, so you are likely to be asked for money on a 

regular basis. The way women behave and are treated in U.S. culture is also an area of considerable 

curiosity and surprise to Tanzanians. Confronting these issues is part of what makes the Peace Corps 

experience so special. Although bridging cross-cultural differences will potentially be the hardest thing 

you ever do, it is also likely to be one of the most fulfilling. 

It is a special time to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. With the devastating AIDS epidemic 

dramatically affecting all sectors of Tanzanian society, your efforts in working with youth and community 

members will be more important than at any other time in Peace Corps/Tanzania’s history. You will be 

given a great deal of responsibility and independence in your work—perhaps more than in any other job 

you have had or will have. You will often need to motivate yourself and others with little guidance from 

supervisors. You might work for months without seeing any visible impact from, or without receiving 

feedback on, your work. Development is a slow process. You must possess the self-confidence, patience, 

and vision to continue working toward long-term goals without seeing immediate results. Nevertheless, 

most Volunteers leave Tanzania feeling they have gained much more than they sacrificed during their 

service. If you are able to make the commitment to integrate into your community and work hard, your 

service is sure to be a life-altering experience. 
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PEACE CORPS TRAINING

Overview of Pre-Service Training

The Peace Corps uses a competency-based training approach throughout the continuum of learning,

supporting you from arrival in Tanzania to your departure. Pre-service training (PST) is the first event 

within this continuum of learning and ensures that you are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and 

attitudes to effectively perform your job. Pre-service training is conducted in Tanzania by Peace Corps 

staff, most of whom are locally hired trainers. Peace Corps staff measure achievement of learning and 

determine if you have successfully achieved competencies, including language standards, for swearing-in 

as a Peace Corps Volunteer. 

Peace Corps training incorporates widely accepted principles of adult learning and is structured around 

the experiential learning cycle. Successful training results in competence in various technical, linguistic, 

cross-cultural, health, and safety and security areas.

Integrating into the community is one of the core competencies you will strive to achieve both in PST and 

during the first several months of service. Successful sustainable development work is based on the 

relationships you build by respectfully integrating into the host country community and culture. 

You will be prepared for this through a homestay experience, which often requires trainees to live with 

host families during PST. Integration into the community fosters language and cross-cultural learning and 

ensures your health, safety, and security.

Education Volunteers will spend three weeks at an internship school near their host family’s home. 

Agriculture Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn directly from farmers in the villages where their 

training takes place. Health Volunteers will be able to gain valuable experience in schools and health 

facilities near their training site. The training period can be both stressful and exhilarating. You will 

confront a new culture, work to gain fluency in a new language, learn new professional skills, and build 

support systems with others who are going through the same roller coaster of adjustments. You will need 

patience, flexibility, energy, and good humor to get the most out of this rich experience. You will find the 

Peace Corps’ training staff ready and willing to accommodate your needs and help you get off to the best 

possible start. The Peace Corps anticipates that you will approach training with an open mind, a desire to 

learn, and a willingness to become involved.

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in Tanzania by building on the skills you already have and 

helping you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. The Peace Corps 

staff, Tanzanian experts, and current Volunteers will conduct the training program. Training places great 

emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have to the community in which you will serve as a 

Volunteer. 

Technical training will include sessions on the general economic and political environment in Tanzania

and strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your project’s goals and objectives 

and will meet with the Tanzanian agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. 

You will be supported and evaluated throughout training to build the confidence and skills you need to 

undertake your project activities, report your progress, and serve as a productive member of your 

community.
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Language Training

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills are key to personal and professional 

satisfaction during your service. These skills are critical to your job performance, help you integrate into 

your community, and can ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore, language 

training is at the heart of the training program. You must successfully meet minimum language 

requirements to complete training and become a Volunteer. Tanzania language instructors usually teach 

formal language classes five days a week in small groups.

Your language training will incorporate a community-based approach. In addition to classroom time, you 

will be given assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with your host family. The goal is to 

get you to a point of basic social communication skills so you can practice and develop language skills 

further once you are at your site. Prior to being sworn in as a Volunteer, you will develop strategies to 

continue studying language during your service.

Cross-Cultural Training

Cross-cultural training will provide opportunities for you to reflect on your own cultural values and how

they influence your behavior in Tanzania. You will also discuss the questions you have about the 

behaviors and practices you observe in Tanzania, exploring the underlying reasons for these behaviors 

and practices. 

Cross-cultural and community development training will help you improve your communication skills 

and understand your role as a facilitator of development. Training will cover topics such as the concept of 

time, power and hierarchy, gender roles, communication styles, and the concept of self and relationships. 

Because adjusting to a new culture can be very challenging, you will participate in resiliency training 

which provides a framework and tools to help with adjustment issues. 

The host family experience provides a unique context for cross-cultural learning, and is designed to ease 

your transition to life at your site. Families go through an orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to 

explain the purpose of PST and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Tanzania. Many 

Volunteers form strong and lasting friendships with their host families.

Health Training

During pre-service training, you will be trained in health prevention, basic first aid, and treatment of 

medical illnesses found in Tanzania. You will be expected to practice preventive health and to take 

responsibility for your own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to attend all 

medical sessions. Health education topics will cover nutrition, food and water preparation, emotional

health, dealing with alcohol, prevention of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and 

common illnesses in Tanzania.

Safety and Security Training

During the safety and security training sessions, you will learn how to adopt a lifestyle that reduces your 

risks at home, at work, and during your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective strategies for 

coping with unwanted attention, how to identify safety risks in-country and about Peace Corps’ 

emergency response and support systems.

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service

The Peace Corps’ training system provides Volunteers with continual opportunities to examine their 

commitment to Peace Corps service while increasing their technical and cross-cultural skills. During 

service, there are usually three training events. The titles and objectives for those trainings are as follows:
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• Early-Service Training/EST: Provides an opportunity for Volunteers to upgrade their technical, 

language, and project development skills while sharing their experiences and reaffirming their 

commitment after having served for three to six months.

• Mid-Service Training/MST (done in conjunction with technical sector in-service): Assists 

Volunteers in reviewing their first year, reassessing their personal and project objectives, and 

planning for their second year of service.

• Close-of-Service conference/COS: Prepares Volunteers for their future after Peace Corps 

service and reviews their respective projects and personal experiences. 

The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted to country-specific needs and conditions. 

The key to the training system is that training events are integrated and interrelated, from the predeparture orientation through the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and evaluated 

cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps staff, and Volunteers.
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YOUR HEALTH CARE IN TANZANIA

The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace 

Corps medical programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative, approach to disease. The 

Peace Corps in Tanzania maintains a clinic with a full-time medical officer who takes care of Volunteers’ 

primary health-care needs, including evaluation and treatment of most medical conditions. Additional 

medical services are also available in Tanzania at local hospitals. If you become seriously ill and cannot 

receive the care you need in Tanzania, you will be transported to a Peace Corps-approved regional 

medical facility. If the Office of Health Services (OHS) determines that the care is not optimal for your 

condition at the regional facility, you will be transported to the United States. 

Health Issues in Tanzania

The most common health problems in Tanzania are ones that also exist in the United States, such as colds, 

diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and adjustment 

disorders. These problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in Tanzania because 

environmental factors in-country raise the risk of, or exacerbate the severity of, certain illnesses and 

injuries. 

Illnesses specific to Tanzania are those typical of other tropical countries, such as malaria, 

schistosomiasis, gastrointestinal disorders, typhoid fever, and hepatitis. All of these are preventable with 

appropriate knowledge and interventions. You will be vaccinated in-country against hepatitis A and B, 

meningitis, tetanus, typhoid, and rabies. Because malaria is endemic in Tanzania, taking antimalarial 

medication is required of all Volunteers. 

Tanzania is one of the countries most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which can impact anyone—

males and females, adults and children—regardless of sexual orientation. You will receive more 

information from the medical officer about this important issue. 

Alcohol is an integral part of many social interactions in Tanzania, and you may feel pressure to drink in 

these situations. If you have any problem with the use of alcohol, be sure that you can manage this type of 

pressure before accepting an assignment in Tanzania. Currently, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings exist 

only in the Dodoma and Arusha.

Helping You Stay Healthy

The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary inoculations, medications, and information to 

stay healthy. Upon your arrival in Tanzania, you will receive a country-specific medical handbook. By the 

end of training, you will receive a medical kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first aid 

needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this section. 

During pre-service training, you will have access to basic medical supplies through the medical officer.

However, during this time, you will be responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs and any 

other specific medical supplies you require, as the Peace Corps will not order these items during training. 

Please bring a three-month supply of any prescription drugs you use, since they may not be available here 

and it may take several months for shipments to arrive.

You will have physicals at midservice and at the end of your service. If you develop a serious medical 

problem during your service, the medical officer in Tanzania will consult with the Office of Health 

Services in Washington, D.C., or a regional medical officer. If it is determined that your condition cannot 

be treated in Tanzania, you may be sent out of the country for further evaluation and care.
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Maintaining Your Health

As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility for your own health. Proper precautions will 

significantly reduce your risk of serious illness or injury. The adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a 

pound of cure” becomes extremely important in areas where diagnostic and treatment facilities are not up 

to the standards of the United States. The most important of your responsibilities in Tanzania is to take 

the following preventive measures:

Malaria is endemic in most of Tanzania and is present throughout the year. The disease can kill you if left 

untreated, so prevention and early recognition of infection are extremely important. It is mandatory that 

you take malaria prophylaxis, and other preventive measures (such as sleeping under a mosquito net) are 

strongly encouraged. You will learn how to make a blood slide diagnosis and how to treat malaria if you 

become infected.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that can be contracted by swimming or wading in infected water. 

Lake Victoria and most other freshwater bodies in the country harbor the parasite. Symptoms can take 

time to develop, so the Peace Corps routinely screens for the infection at the end of Volunteer service.

Many illnesses that afflict Volunteers worldwide are preventable if proper food and water precautions are 

taken. These illnesses include food poisoning, parasitic infections, hepatitis A, dysentery, Guinea worms, 

tapeworms, and typhoid fever. Your medical officer will discuss specific standards for water and food 

preparation in Tanzania during pre-service training.

Abstinence is the most effective way to prevent infection with HIV and other STIs. You are taking risks if 

you choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a condom every time you have sex. Whether your 

partner is a host country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not assume this person is free of 

HIV/AIDS or other STIs. You will receive more information from the medical officer about this 

important issue.

Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means of birth control to prevent an unplanned 

pregnancy. Your medical officer can help you decide on the most appropriate method to suit your 

individual needs. Contraceptive methods are available without charge from the medical officer. 

It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the medical office or other designated facility for 

scheduled immunizations, and that you let the medical officer know immediately of significant illnesses 

and injuries.

Women’s Health Information

If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to purchase on the local market, the Peace Corps 

medical officer in Tanzania will provide them. If you require a specific product, please bring a threemonth supply with you. Many female Volunteers take menstrual cups (The Diva Cup, The Keeper, The 

Moon Cup, etc.) to avoid potential problems with availability or disposal of feminine hygiene products.

Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer health conditions that require medical 

attention. The Peace Corps is responsible for determining the medical risk and the availability of 

appropriate medical care if the Volunteer chooses to remain in-country. Given the circumstances under 

which Volunteers live and work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’ medical 

standards for continued service during pregnancy can be met. 

The Peace Corps follows the 2012 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for screening PAP 

smears, which recommend women aged 21–29 receive screening PAPs every three years and women 
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aged 30–65 receive screening PAPs every five years. As such, most Volunteers will not receive a PAP 

during their service, but can use Peace Corps supplied health insurance after service to have an exam. 

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit containing basic items to prevent and treat 

illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be periodically restocked at the medical office.

Medical Kit Contents

First Aid Handbook

Ace bandages

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Adhesive tape

Antacid tablets 

Anti-diarrheal (Imodium)

Antibiotic ointment 

Antifungal cream

Antihistamine

Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner 

Band-Aids

Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)

Butterfly closures

Calagel anti-itch gel 

Condoms 

Cough lozenges 

Decongestant

Dental floss

Gloves

Hydrocortisone cream

Ibuprofen 

Insect repellent 

Iodine tablets (for water purification)

Lip balm 

Oral rehydration salts

Scissors 

Sore throat lozenges

Sterile eye drops

Sterile gauze pads 

Sunscreen 

Thermometer (Temp-a-dots)

Tweezers

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist

If there has been any change in your health—physical, mental, or dental—since you submitted your 

examination reports to the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the Office of Health Services 

(OHS). Failure to disclose new illnesses, injuries, allergies, or pregnancy can endanger your health and 

may jeopardize your eligibility to serve. 

If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your physical exam is more than two years old, 

contact OHS to find out whether you need to update your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental 

consultant has recommended that you undergo dental treatment or repair, you must complete that work 

and make sure your dentist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the Office of Health 

Services.

If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, contact your physician’s office to obtain a copy of 

your immunization record and bring it to your pre-departure orientation. If you have any immunizations 

(other than yellow fever vaccination as directed by OHS) prior to Peace Corps service, the Peace Corps 

cannot reimburse you for the cost. The Peace Corps will provide all the immunizations necessary for your 

overseas assignment, either at your pre-departure orientation or during your first six months in Tanzania. 

Volunteers must be willing to get all required vaccinations unless there is a documented medical 

contraindication. Failure to accept required vaccination is grounds for administrative separation from the 

Peace Corps. You do not need to begin taking malaria medication prior to departure.

Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-the-counter medication you use on a regular basis, 

including birth control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for this three-month supply, 

it will order refills during your service. While awaiting shipment—which can take several months—you 

will be dependent on your own medication supply. The Peace Corps will not pay for herbal or 
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nonprescribed medications, such as St. John’s wort, glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant supplements. 

Medications supplied may be generic or equivalent to your current medications (including birth control 

pills). 

You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions signed by your physician. This is not a 

requirement, but they might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about carrying a three-month 

supply of prescription drugs.

If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs (of the current prescription) with you. If a pair breaks, the Peace 

Corps will replace them, using the information your doctor in the United States provided on the 

eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace Corps Office of Health Services strongly 

discourages Volunteers from wearing contact lenses while overseas unless there is a true medical 

indication documented by your ophthalmologist. Contact lenses, particularly extended use soft contacts, 

are associated with a variety of eye infections and other inflammatory problems. One of the most serious 

of these problems is infectious keratitis which can lead to severe cornea damage which could result in 

permanent blindness requiring corneal transplantation. These risks of permanent eye damage are 

exacerbated in the Peace Corps environment where the Volunteer’s ability to properly clean the lenses is 

compromised due to limited access to sterile water as well as decreased effectiveness of cleaning 

solutions due to prolonged storage in unsatisfactory conditions. In addition, when bacterial eye infections 

occur, assessment and treatment within hours by a competent ophthalmologist is indicated. This is 

virtually impossible in the Peace Corps setting. If you feel that you simply must be able to use your 

contacts occasionally, please consider using single use, daily disposable lenses which do not require 

cleaning.

If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age, or have a health condition that may restrict your

future participation in health-care plans, you may wish to consult an insurance specialist about unique 

coverage needs before your departure. The Peace Corps will provide all necessary health care from the 

time you leave for your pre-departure orientation until you complete your service. When you finish, you 

will be entitled to the post-service health-care benefits described in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. 

You may wish to consider keeping an existing health plan in effect during your service if you think age or 

pre-existing conditions might prevent you from re-enrolling in your current plan when you return home.
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SAFETY AND SECURITY IN DEPTH

Ensuring the safety and security of Volunteers is the Peace Corps’ highest priority. Serving as a Volunteer 

overseas entails certain safety and security risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment, a 

limited understanding of the local language and culture, and the perception of being a wealthy American 

are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Property theft and burglaries are not uncommon. 

Incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although most Volunteers complete their two years of 

service without a serious safety and security incident. Together, the Peace Corps and Volunteers can 

reduce risk, but cannot truly eliminate all risk.

Beyond knowing that the Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a partnership with you, it might 

be helpful to see how this partnership works. The Peace Corps has policies, procedures, and training in 

place to promote your safety. The Peace Corps depends on you to follow those policies and to put into 

practice what you have learned. An example of how this works in practice—in this case to help manage 

the risk and impact of burglary—follows:

• The Peace Corps assesses the security environment where you will live and work.

• The Peace Corps inspects the house where you will live according to established security criteria.

• The Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country counterparts or other community 

leaders in your new community.

• The Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you raise.

• You lock your doors and windows.

• You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community where you live.

• You get to know your neighbors.

• You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is appropriate for you.

• You don’t change residences before being authorized by the Peace Corps.

• You communicate your concerns to Peace Corps staff.

This welcome book contains sections on Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle, Peace Corps 

Training, Your Health Care, and Safety and Security, all of which include important safety and security 

information to help you understand this partnership. The Peace Corps makes every effort to give 

Volunteers the training and tools they need to function in the safest way possible and prepare for the 

unexpected, teaching you to identify, reduce, and manage the risks you may encounter.

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 

There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteer’s risk, many of which are within the Volunteer’s 

control. By far the most common crime that Volunteers experience is theft. Thefts often occur when

Volunteers are away from their sites, in crowded locations (such as markets or on public transportation), 

and when leaving items unattended.

Before you depart for Tanzania there are several measures you can take to reduce your risk: 

• Leave valuable objects in the United States, particularly those that are irreplaceable or have 

sentimental value

• Leave copies of important documents and account numbers with someone you trust in the States

• Purchase a hidden money pouch or “dummy” wallet as a decoy

• Purchase personal articles insurance
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After you arrive in Tanzania, you will receive more detailed information about common crimes, factors 

that contribute to Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. For example, Volunteers in 

Tanzania learn to do the following:

• Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with someone trusted by the community 

whenever possible

• Make sure one’s personal appearance is respectful of local customs

• Avoid high-crime areas

• Know the local language to get help in an emergency

• Make friends with local people who are respected in the community 

• Be careful and conscientious about using electronics (phones, cameras, laptops, iPods, etc.) in 

public or leaving them unattended

• Limit alcohol consumption

As you can see from this list, you must be willing to work hard and adapt your lifestyle to minimize the 

potential for being a target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime occurs in Tanzania. You can 

reduce the risks by avoiding situations that place you at risk and by taking precautions. Crime at the 

village or town level is less frequent than in the large cities; people know each other and generally are less 

likely to steal from their neighbors. Tourist attractions in large towns are favorite worksites for 

pickpockets.

The following are other security concerns in Tanzania of which you should be aware:

• In Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Tanzania’s two largest cities, there are certain areas where 

robberies and muggings are more frequent. These will be pointed out to you, and you will be 

advised either to avoid walking in these areas or to walk there only in a group.

• Modes of public transport, including buses and boats, are often in poor condition and 

overcrowded, and they generally travel at unsafe speeds. In addition, many roads are in disrepair. 

When taking public transport, it is important to use common sense, avoid traveling at night, and 

be careful with your valuables. 

• While whistles and verbal harassment based on race or gender may be fairly common on the 

street, this behavior may be reduced if you abide by local cultural norms, dress conservatively, 

and respond according to the training you will receive.

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

Because many Volunteer sites are in rural, isolated settings, you must be prepared to take on a large 

degree of responsibility for your own safety. To reduce the likelihood that you will become a victim of 

crime, you can take steps to make yourself less of a target such as ensuring your home is secure and 

developing relationships in your community. While the factors that contribute to your risk in Tanzania

may be different, in many ways you can do what you would do if you moved to a new city anywhere: Be 

cautious, check things out, ask questions, learn about your neighborhood, know where the more risky 

locations are, use common sense, and be aware. You can reduce your vulnerability to crime by integrating 

into your community, learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding by Peace Corps 

policies and procedures. Serving safely and effectively in Tanzania will require that you accept some 

restrictions on your current lifestyle.

Support from Staff

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety and security incident, Peace Corps staff is prepared to 

provide support. All Peace Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents of crime 
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committed against Volunteers. The first priority for all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure 

the Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as needed. After assuring the safety of the 

Volunteer, Peace Corps staff response may include reassessing the Volunteer’s worksite and housing 

arrangements and making any adjustments, as needed. In some cases, the nature of the incident may 

necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps staff will also support and assist Volunteers who 

choose to make a formal complaint with local law enforcement. It is very important that a Volunteer 

reports an incident when it occurs. The reasons for this include obtaining medical care and emotional 

support, enabling Peace Corps staff to assess the situation to determine if there is an ongoing safety and 

security concern, protecting peer Volunteers and preserving the right to file a complaint. Should a 

Volunteer decide later in the process to file a complaint with law enforcement, this option may be 

compromised if evidence was not preserved at the time of the incident. 

Office of Victim Advocacy

The Office of Victim Advocacy (OVA) is a resource to Volunteers who are victims of crime, including 

sexual assault and stalking. Victim advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help 

Volunteers understand their emotional, medical, and legal options so they may make informed decisions 

to meet their specific needs. The OVA provides a compassionate, coordinated, and supportive response to 

Volunteers who wish to access Peace Corps support services.

Contact information for the Office of Victim Advocacy

Direct phone number: 202.692.1753

Toll-free: 855.855.1961 ext. 1753

Duty phone: 202.409.2704 (available 24/7, call or text)

Email: victimadvocate@peacecorps.gov

Crime Data for Tanzania

Crime data and statistics for Tanzania, which are updated yearly, are available at the following link: 

http://files.peacecorps.gov/manuals/countrydata/tanzania.pdf. Please take the time to review this 

important information.

Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes. Crimes that do occur abroad are investigated 

and prosecuted by local jurisdictional authorities. If you are the victim of a crime, you will decide if you 

wish to file a complaint with law enforcement, who will then determine whether to prosecute. If you 

decide to file a complaint, the Peace Corps will help you through the process. The Peace Corps staff will 

ensure you are fully informed of your options and understand how the local legal process works. Further, 

the Peace Corps will help you exercise your rights to the fullest extent possible under the laws of your 

host country.

The Peace Corps will train you on how to respond if you are the victim of a serious crime, including how 

to get to a safe location quickly and contact your Peace Corps office. It’s important that you notify the 

Peace Corps as soon as you can so Peace Corps staff can provide assistance.

Volunteer Safety Support in Tanzania

The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to help you stay safe during your service. The 

plan includes information sharing, Volunteer training, site selection criteria, a detailed emergency action 

plan, and protocols for addressing safety and security incidents. Tanzania’s in-country safety program is 

outlined below.

The Peace Corps/Tanzania office will keep you informed of any issues that may impact Volunteer safety 

through information sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer newsletters and in 
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memorandums from the country director. In the event of a critical situation or emergency, you will be 

contacted through the emergency communication network. An important component of the capacity of 

Peace Corps to keep you informed is your buy-in to the partnership concept with the Peace Corps staff. It 

is expected that you will do your part to ensure that Peace Corps staff members are kept apprised of your 

movements in-country so they are able to inform you.

Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and security issues in Tanzania. This training 

will prepare you to adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment that promotes safety and 

reduces risk in your home, at work, and while traveling. Safety training is offered throughout service and 

is integrated into the language, cross-cultural aspects, health, and other components of training. You will 

be expected to successfully complete all training competencies in a variety of areas, including safety and 

security, as a condition of service.

Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe housing for Volunteers before their arrival. The 

Peace Corps staff works closely with host communities and counterpart agencies to help prepare them for 

a Volunteer’s arrival and to establish expectations of their respective roles in supporting the Volunteer. 

Each site is inspected before the Volunteer’s arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe, and secure 

housing and worksites. Site selection is based, in part, on any relevant site history; access to medical, 

banking, postal, and other essential services; availability of communications, transportation, and markets; 

different housing options and living arrangements; and other Volunteer support needs.

You will also learn about Peace Corps/Tanzania’s detailed emergency action plan, which is 

implemented in the event of civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you arrive at your site, 

you will complete and submit a site locator form with your address, contact information, and a map to 

your house. If there is a security threat, you will gather with other Volunteers in Tanzania at 

predetermined locations until the situation is resolved or the Peace Corps decides to evacuate.

Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive to the needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that 

Volunteers immediately report any safety and security incidents to the Peace Corps office. The Peace 

Corps has established protocols for addressing safety and security incidents in a timely and 

appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety and security data to track trends and develop 

strategies to minimize risks to current and future Volunteers.
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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OVERVIEW

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship and to improve people’s lives in the 

communities where Volunteers serve. Instituting policies and practices to support a diverse and inclusive 

work and Volunteer environment is essential to achieving this mission.

Through inclusive recruitment and retention of staff and Volunteers, the Peace Corps seeks to reflect the 

rich diversity of the United States and bring diverse perspectives and solutions to development issues. 

Additionally, ensuring diversity among staff and Volunteers enriches interpersonal relations and 

communications for the staff work environment, the Volunteer experience, and the communities in which 

Volunteers serve. 

The Peace Corps defines diversity as a “collection of individual attributes that together help agencies 

pursue organizational objectives efficiently and effectively. These include, but are not limited to, 

characteristics such as national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, 

sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Diversity 

also encompasses differences among people concerning where they are from and where they have lived 

and their differences of thought and life experiences.”

We define inclusion as a “culture that connects each [staff member and Volunteer] to the organization; 

encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so 

that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.” The Peace Corps promotes 

inclusion throughout the lifecycle of Volunteers and staff. When staff and Volunteers are able to share 

their rich diversity in an inclusive work environment, the Peace Corps mission is better fulfilled.More 

information about diversity and inclusion can be found in the Volunteer Handbook.

An inclusive agency is one that seeks input from everyone in an effort to find the best ideas and strategies 

possible to execute its objectives. When input is solicited, heard, and considered from a rich multitude of 

individuals the best course of action usually emerges. The Peace Corps seeks to improve its operations 

and effectiveness by ensuring that all voices and ideas are heard and that all Volunteers and staff feel 

welcome and appreciated. When each person’s voice is heard, the agency is stronger and the impact of 

Volunteers is strengthened.

Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site

Once Volunteers arrive at their sites, diversity and inclusion principles remain the same but take on a 

different shape, in which your host community may share a common culture and you—the Volunteer—

are the outsider. You may be in the minority, if not the sole American like you, at your site. You will 

begin to notice diversity in perspectives, ethnicity, age, depth of conversation, and degree of support you 

may receive. For example, elders, youth, and middle-aged individuals all have unique points of views on 

topics you may discuss, from perspectives on work, new projects, and social engagements to the way 

community issues are addressed.

Peace Corps staff in your host country recognize the additional adjustment issues that come with living 

and working in new environments and will provide support and guidance to Volunteers. During preservice training, a session will be held to discuss diversity and inclusion and how you can serve as an ally 

for your peers, honoring diversity, seeking inclusion, challenging prejudice and exclusion, exploring your 

own biases, and learning mechanisms to cope with these adjustment issues. The Peace Corps looks 

forward to having Volunteers from varied backgrounds that include a variety of races, ethnic groups, 

ages, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities. The agency expects you to work collaboratively 

to create an inclusive environment that transcends differences and finds common ground.
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Cross-Cultural Considerations

Outside of Tanzania’s capital, residents of rural communities might have had little direct exposure to 

other cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical U.S. behavior or norms may be 

a misconception, such as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. The 

people of Tanzania are known for their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the 

community where you will live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences that you present. 

As a Volunteer and representative of the United States, you are responsible not only for sharing the 

diversity of U.S. culture (to include your individual culture and the culture of other Americans) with your 

host country national counterparts, but also for learning from the diversity of your host country. An 

important aspect of this cultural exchange will be to demonstrate inclusiveness within your community in 

a sensitive manner. Additionally, you will share the responsibility of learning about the diversity of your 

fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and exploring how best to respect differences while serving as supportive 

allies as you go through this challenging new experience. 

To ease the transition and adapt to life in your host country, you may need to make some temporary, yet 

fundamental, compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an individual. For 

example, female trainees and Volunteers may not be able to exercise the independence they have in the 

United States; male Volunteers may be expected to not perform chores or other tasks ascribed to women; 

political discussions need to be handled with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best 

remain undisclosed. You will need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these 

and other limitations. The Peace Corps staff will lead a diversity, inclusion, and sensitivity discussion 

during pre-service training and will be on call to provide support. This training covers how to adapt 

personal choices and behavior to be respectful of the host country culture, which can have a direct impact 

on how Volunteers are viewed and treated by their new communities. The Peace Corps emphasizes 

professional behavior and cross-cultural sensitivity among Volunteers and within their communities to 

help integrate and be successful during service. 

An ideal way to view the pursuit of cross-cultural adaptation and/or cultural integration is to recognize 

that everything done in your host country has both a specific reason for why it is done and an expected 

outcome. Trust that your host country counterparts are acting with positive intentions and work to 

mutually seek understanding and commonality. Language differences may add a communication barrier 

and lead to misunderstandings. Listen more than you speak and seek clarity. Remember that having the 

ability to laugh at yourself and at life’s little surprises goes a long way—laughter is universal.

What Might a Volunteer Face?

Possible Gender Role Issues

Gender is a set of socially constructed roles, responsibilities, behaviors, and opportunities. Gender differs 

from sex, which refers specifically to biological and physiological characteristics of males and females. 

Gender roles and expectations are learned, change over time, and vary within and among cultures. 

Volunteers are trained in gender awareness as they approach their work in the host country. Gender roles 

in the United States may differ greatly from those in your country of service. It is important to absorb and 

to attempt to understand the cultural nuances of gender where you are. For example, in many cultures 

males are held in higher regard than females and females may manage the households. In some places, 

females are encouraged to attend school, while in other countries females are discouraged from engaging 

in such activities and instead work inside or outside of the home.

During the pre-service training, trainees receive an introduction to gender awareness in their country of 

service, and examine their own thinking about gender roles and how this thinking has impacted them. 
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They then learn how to analyze development projects using a gender lens to better understand gender 

roles in their host country and to understand how these gender roles can benefit or limit what females and 

males may or may not do. During their 27 months of service, Volunteers will further engage in gender 

trainings to understand better how their gender identity impacts who they are as females or males in the 

host country and how this perception influences their work and relationships.

The notion of gender equality, as Americans understand it, has been slow to take hold in Tanzania. As an 

American woman, however, you may be viewed as having a higher status than a Tanzanian woman. You 

could view this as frustrating, or you could see it as an opportunity to help change people’s views. It is 

possible to become a role model: If Tanzanian women see another woman being given respect and 

functioning in a position of authority, they may be inspired to seek the same.

Of course, American women may also be treated the same way Tanzanian women are. In Tanzanian 

culture, a man is considered the head of the household: He speaks for the other members. A woman who 

seems to have knowledge, skills, ideas, and opinions may be viewed as pushy or out of place, or may 

simply not be taken seriously. Volunteers have to develop their own strategies for addressing this 

challenge with sensitivity.

Volunteer Comments: 

“Being a female Volunteer in Tanzania brings additional challenges and unexpected benefits. The 

challenges come from dealing with assumptions made about you that have nothing to do with 

your abilities. One benefit is being accepted, no questions asked, into a very warm and supportive 

female subculture at site. You’re dealing with a different set of rules here, but that’s not without 

positive aspects.”

“Sometimes it is very difficult being a female Volunteer in Tanzania. There are many cultural 

expectations that people have of women. But in my time in Tanzania, my female friends have 

taught me something, and I have taught them, too. I have begun to understand exactly what being 

a woman is in this culture, and in my own. The greatest way a woman can serve in the Peace 

Corps is to be an example for the children, youth, and adults who are your companions and coworkers. Tanzanians have never forgotten and will never forget a person who changes their 

lives.”

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color

Volunteers of color sometimes, but not always, have a different Peace Corps experience than white 

Volunteers. Because of limited exposure, some foreign nationals will expect to see U.S. citizens who are 

white. Cultures of the world do not typically envision the States as a place of rich diversity with various 

culturally acceptable perspectives, personalities, and characteristics. Thus, a Volunteer of color may be 

questioned as about their U.S. citizenship.

In places where American stereotypes and/or caste system dynamics influence perception, Volunteers of 

color should be mindful of the reasons for these views without creating contentious environments. All too 

often, host country nationals are simply unaware of the diversity of the United States and require 

additional information and dialogue. Direct interactions with someone new or something different can 

take time to get used to, but those who take the time tend to be better off. Although host country nationals 

may assert that the United States is made up of predominately one race, we know that is not true. If a 

member of your community knows of compatriots living in the United States or of notable U.S. citizens 

of color, you can build on this knowledge as a point of reference for discussing diversity within the 

States.
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For Volunteers of color, the range of responses to their skin color may vary from the extremely kind to 

the very insensitive. In African and Latin American countries, host country nationals may say “welcome 

home” to African Americans or Hispanic Americans. Sometimes Volunteers expect to be “welcomed 

home” but are disappointed when they are not. More commonly, if a Volunteer is mistaken for a host

country national citizen, he or she is expected to behave as a male or female in that culture behaves, and 

to speak the local language fluently. Host country nationals are sometimes frustrated when the Volunteer 

does not speak the local language with ease. Conversely, some in the same country may call you a “sell 

out” because they feel the United States has not done enough to help with social issues. These instances 

can be turned into teachable moments for the Volunteer and the host country national, in which the 

Volunteer can ask questions surrounding perception and collaborate with respect to issues and projects at 

hand, while engaging in cross-cultural exchanges. All Volunteers, to include white Volunteers and those 

of color, should be mindful of the issues of race that are embedded in U.S. culture and within the culture 

in your country of service. These issues may significantly affect how Volunteers interact with fellow 

Volunteers and host country nationals. Being open and inclusive to everyone will improve your 

experience in interacting with fellow Volunteers and members of your host community.

The average Tanzanian is not exposed to the diversity of people and cultures that exists in America. If 

you are black, you are likely to be called Mwafrika (African); if you are Asian, Mchina (Chinese); if you 

are South Asian, Muhindi (Indian); and if you are European or Hispanic, mzungu (foreigner). Be prepared 

to tolerate terms that are considered derogatory in America (e.g., “half-caste” or “colored”), an 

unfortunate part of Western culture that some may have unwittingly adopted.

African Americans are in a unique situation. While Tanzanians may voice their doubt as to whether you 

are “really American” (i.e., because you are not white, blond, and blue-eyed), you are likely to have an 

easier time integrating into the local culture than Caucasian Volunteers.

Volunteer Comments

“There are some challenges as an African-American Volunteer. The word ‘American’ to a 

Tanzanian often means a white person. Hence, my being African-American is often translated as 

being biracial: African (black parent) and American (white parent). I cannot count the number of 

times I’ve been asked about being ‘mixed’ or ‘half-caste.’ ‘Does your mother look like you?’ 

Yes. ‘Does your father look like you?’ Yes. ‘What tribe are they?’

“For me, as an African-American Volunteer, going to Africa meant returning home. Instead of 

noticing all of the differences between Tanzanians and Americans, I was often amazed by all the 

similarities. The bibi (grandmother) in my community tries to feed me as much as my own 

grandmother would! The strength in the hands and eyes of my neighbors is the same strength I 

saw every day growing up. The jokes, laughter, and dancing of the vijana (young people) are 

mirror reflections of my sisters and brothers back home. Tanzanians may be speaking a different 

language, but the spirit, beauty, and meaning are the same.”

Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally (LGBTQA) 

Volunteers

For LGBTQ Volunteers: Given Tanzania’s traditional values, sexual orientation and non-conforming 

gender identities might not be discussed openly. Some Tanzanians deny that homosexuality exists in their 

culture, while others note that it is against the law. Tanzanian law crminalizes same-sex sexual conduct, 

with prison sentences ranging from five years to life. Thus, any display of homosexuality will be severely 

frowned upon and may affect acceptance at work and possibly even legal status. While physical contact 

between two men or two women is not uncommon, it is not likely to be sexual in nature and Volunteers

should take care not to misinterpret its meaning. 
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Previous gay, lesbian, and bisexual Volunteers have had to be very discreet about their orientation to 

prevent adverse effects on their relationships with their community and co-workers. Dealing with 

questions about boyfriends, girlfriends, marriage, and children may, at times, be stressful for LGBTQ 

Volunteers. You may find that Tanzania is a less open and inclusive environment than you have 

previously experienced. Please know, however, that Peace Corps is supportive of you and Peace Corps 

staff welcomes dialogue about how to ensure your success as an LGBTQA Volunteer. More information 

about serving as an LGBTQ Volunteer is available at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Peace 

Corps Alumni website at lgbrpcv.org. Additionally, the Peace Corps’ LGBTQ employee resource group, 

Spectrum, can be reached at spectrum@peacecorps.gov.

For Ally Volunteers: Peace Corps staff intends to create open, inclusive, and accepting environments. As 

an agency, the Peace Corps encourages Volunteers to serve as allies to their LGBTQ colleagues in order 

to create a safe environment.

Many LGBTQ Volunteers have served successfully in Tanzania and have very fond memories of their 

community and service. LGBTQA support groups may be available in your country of service, providing 

a network to support the needs of the Peace Corps LGBTQA community. Peace Corps staff will work 

with Volunteers to provide them with locally informed perspectives.

Volunteer Comment

“Although I feel like I have close friends in my village, my sexual orientation is something I have 

to hide from them. Homo- or bisexuality is not understood by a majority of Tanzanians, 

especially those who live outside the big cities. This does not mean that I have ignored this part of 

my life for two years. Fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and the American staff are extremely 

supportive.”

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities

Tanzanians with physical disabilities generally are treated no differently from other Tanzanians, but 

unlike the U.S., there is little of the infrastructure to accommodate individuals with disabilities. That 

being said, as part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Health Services 

determined you were physically and emotionally capable, with or without additional medical support, to 

perform a full tour of Volunteer service in Tanzania without a significant risk of harm to yourself or 

interruption of service. The Peace Corps/Tanzania staff will work with disabled Volunteers to support 

them in training, housing, jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively. 

Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples

Before committing to Peace Corps service, couples should consider how different degrees of enthusiasm 

about Peace Corps service, adaptation to the physical and cultural environment, and homesickness will 

affect their lives. It can be helpful to recognize that your reactions to these issues will change throughout 

your service, and you may not always feel the same as your partner. You and your partner will have 

different jobs, different schedules, and difference societal pressures. One partner may learn the language 

faster than the other or have a more satisfying assignment. This can create competition and put different 

kinds of stress on each person. Anticipating how these pressures will affect you and your partner 

differently throughout your service can help you remain a source of support for each other. Making

friends with other Volunteers is a critical part of fitting into the larger volunteer culture and can also be a 

good way to expand your support network. 

While couples will live together during their service, they may live in separate towns during their preservice training. This is a stressful time for most Volunteers, and it can be helpful to discuss in advance 

how you will deal with this potential separation. Your partner can be an important source of stability but 
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can also add stress to your training experience. You may feel torn between traveling to visit your partner 

and focusing on your training, your host family, and friends you have made at your training site.

Couples often face pressure from host country nationals to change their roles to conform better with 

traditional Tanzania relationships. Tanzanian men and women alike will often not understand American 

relationship dynamics and may be outwardly critical of relationships that do not adhere to Tanzanian

gender roles. It is also helpful to think about how pressures to conform to Tanzanian culture can be 

challenging to men and women in very different ways. Considering how your partner is being affected 

and discussing what, if any, aspects of your relationship should be changed can help reduce stress for you 

both.

Volunteer Comments

“My husband and I got married just a few months before we joined the Peace Corps. We were 

told before we joined that being in the Peace Corps could put a big strain on a relationship, 

especially in the beginning of a marriage. But we were also told that the Peace Corps could be 

extremely rewarding for a married couple. We knew we would be glad to have each other there as 

support. Since we had already been together for many years, we knew we had a good foundation 

for our relationship, so we felt confident that we would grow closer through this experience. 

During our first few months at our site, we found this to be more true than we had imagined. The 

first month, especially, was filled with learning how to adjust to everything: our new house, a 

new culture, new foods, new ways to cook, new ways to clean, and a new system of 

transportation (or the lack thereof). During this time, we really depended on each other to keep up 

our spirits, to make jokes of the frustrations, to keep busy and entertained during the slow times, 

and to enjoy the full experience with all its ups and downs. We became even closer than we were 

before. Neither of us could imagine being in Peace Corps without the other.”

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

You are likely to be asked to share in religious observances, whether it is going to church, breaking the 

fast during Ramadan, burying an elder in a traditional ceremony, or simply giving thanks to God by 

saying “Namshukuru Mungu” or “Al-ham D’ililah” as part of your morning greetings. You do not have to 

participate in regular religious services to be a successful Volunteer in Tanzania, but participation in the 

religious life of your town or village will provide increased credibility and a sense of community for any 

Volunteer who is so inclined. Religion is deeply ingrained in the culture, which you will notice just by 

walking down a city street, where signs for churches, mosques, and madarasat (religious schools) and 

stickers with sayings like, “This car is protected by the blood of Jesus!” abound. When meeting someone 

for the first time, Tanzanians often ask what his or her religion is.

The religious makeup of the country is roughly split into thirds: Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists. 

Muslims are the predominant group on Zanzibar (i.e., Pemba and Unguja islands) and along the coast 

because of the influence of Arab traders and the Omani dynasties, which lasted until the 1800s. Christians 

(largely Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, and Anglicans) predominate in the interior, although 

Christian missionaries travel and live throughout Tanzania. Traditional religions are practiced mostly in 

the northern half of the country by seminomadic tribes such as the Masai, Hadza, and Barabaig.

Volunteer Comments

“I have never been prayed for (at least within my earshot) as much as I have been in Tanzania. 

My record, though, was when I had an accident and spent a week in the hospital. I was prayed for 

by my roommate’s friends (people I didn’t even know) no fewer than three times daily. This 

usually involved waving their hands in the air and speaking very loudly. There was also a woman 

who just went room to room laying her hands on patients (including me) and speaking in tongues. 

I got better, so I guess it worked.”
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“Entering the Peace Corps was part of a very spiritual experience for me. I was placed in a 

community that was very focused on the church. There were three Christian churches and a 

strong implied standard for the lives of the villagers. In time, my relationships and involvement 

with the church became my most valued aspect of life in the village. The personal examples of 

friends and neighbors and how they continually trusted in God helped me to grow in my beliefs. 

My involvement with the church also provided me with a foundation for many working 

relationships that continue to be fruitful today.”

Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers

Senior Volunteers may find their age an asset in Tanzania. They will often have access to individuals and 

insights that are not available to younger Volunteers. On the other hand, they will be in a distinct minority 

within the Volunteer population and could find themselves feeling isolated, looked up to, or ignored. 

Seniors are often accustomed to a greater degree of independence and freedom of movement than the 

Peace Corps’ program focus and safety and security practices allow. Pre-service training can be 

particularly stressful for seniors, whose lifelong learning styles and habits may or may not lend 

themselves to the techniques used. A senior may be the only older person in a group of Volunteers and 

initially may not feel part of the group. Younger Volunteers may look to an older Volunteer for advice 

and support; some seniors find this to be an enjoyable experience, while others choose not to fill this role. 

Some seniors may find it difficult to adapt to a lack of structure and clarity in their role after having 

worked for many years in a very structured and demanding job.

More than younger Volunteers, older Volunteers may have challenges in maintaining lifelong friendships 

and dealing with financial matters from afar. They may want to consider assigning power of attorney to 

someone in the States.

While Tanzanians generally have great reverence for age, Tanzania’s legal retirement age is 60, and there 

is the perception that those past middle age are getting ready to “rest.” Senior Volunteers will 

automatically be respected for their wisdom, which is a great advantage, but may be seen as oddities, 

especially since most Peace Corps Volunteers in Tanzania are young. Tanzanians are especially curious 

about older female Volunteers. They are puzzled as to why they apparently have no spouse or children 

(even if they have the pictures to prove otherwise) and why they would leave their extended family to 

volunteer in Africa.

Volunteer Comments

“I was often asked why I had no children. I understood that it was very uncommon for a woman 

my age to not have children. Tanzanians would joke that they could help me with a husband or 

give me some dawa, or medicine, that would help me to have kids. The people in my community 

were curious about these issues, but soon accepted me as I was.”
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Tanzania?

Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess charges for transport of baggage that 

exceeds those limits. The Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and will not pay the cost of 

transport for baggage that exceeds these limits. The Peace Corps’ allowance is two checked pieces of 

luggage with combined dimensions of both pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and 

a carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 100 

pounds total with a maximum weight of 50 pounds per bag.

Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets, weapons, explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave 

radios are permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas assignments. Do not pack flammable 

materials or liquids such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol containers. This is an 

important safety precaution.

What is the electric current in Tanzania?

It is 220 volts, 50 cycles. Approximately half the Volunteers in Tanzania have electricity at work or at 

home. But the supply is not always steady, especially in the dry season. Batteries are available, but D cells 

are more easily found than C cells. Some Volunteers use solar battery chargers for radios and small 

appliances.

How much money should I bring?

Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people in their community. You will be given a 

settling-in allowance and a monthly living allowance, which should cover your expenses. Volunteers 

often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. Credit cards and traveler’s 

checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra money, bring the amount that will suit your 

own travel plans and needs. 

When can I take vacation and have people visit me?

Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service (excluding training). Leave may not be 

taken during training, the first three months of service, or the last three months of service, except in 

conjunction with an authorized emergency leave. Family and friends are welcome to visit you after preservice training and the first three months of service as long as their stay does not interfere with your 

work. Extended stays at your site are not encouraged and may require permission from your country 

director. The Peace Corps is not able to provide your visitors with visa, medical, or travel assistance. 

Will my belongings be covered by insurance?

The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for personal effects; Volunteers are ultimately 

responsible for the safekeeping of their personal belongings. However, you can purchase personal 

property insurance before you leave (contact your insurance company) and you are encouraged to 

consider this carefully. Volunteers should not ship or take valuable items abroad. Jewelry, watches, 

radios, cameras, electronics, and expensive appliances are subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and, in 

many places, satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not available. 

Do I need an international driver’s license?

Volunteers in Tanzania do not need an international driver’s license because they are prohibited from 

operating privately owned motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus or taxi. Rural travel ranges 

from buses and minibuses to trucks, bicycles, and lots of walking. On very rare occasions, a Volunteer 

may be asked to drive a sponsor’s vehicle, but this can occur only with prior written permission from the 
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38

country director. Should this occur, the Volunteer may obtain a local driver’s license. A U.S. driver’s 

license will facilitate the process, so bring it with you just in case.

What should I bring as gifts for Tanzanian friends and my host family?

This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient. Some gift suggestions include knickknacks 

for the house; pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from your area; hard candies 

that will not melt or spoil; or photos to give away.

Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how isolated will I be?

Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites until after they have completed pre-service 

training. This gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each trainee’s technical and language 

skills prior to assigning sites, in addition to finalizing site selections with their ministry counterparts. If 

feasible, you may have the opportunity to provide input on your site preferences, including geographical 

location, distance from other Volunteers, and living conditions. However, keep in mind that many factors 

influence the site selection process and that the Peace Corps cannot guarantee placement where you 

would ideally like to be. Volunteers live in small towns or in rural villages and are usually within one 

hour from another Volunteer. Some sites require a 10- to 12-hour drive from the capital. There is at least 

one Volunteer based in each of the regional capitals and about five to eight Volunteers in the capital Dar 

es Salaam.

How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps Counseling and Outreach Unit provides assistance in handling emergencies affecting 

trainees and Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States, instruct your family to notify 

the Counseling and Outreach Unit immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious illness or death 

of a family member.The Counseling and Outreach Unit can be reached at 855.855.1961, select option 1, 

ext. 1470. After business hours, on weekends, and on holidays, the COU duty officer can be reached at 

the same number. For non-emergency questions, your family can contact your country desk staff through 

the main Peace Corps number: 855.855.1961. 

How easy is it to call home from Tanzania? 

International phone service from Tanzania to the United States is poor to good depending on the location. 

It is easier (and far cheaper) for your family and friends to call you from the United States. However, you 

are likely to find a phone from which you can call family and friends within a few hours of your site. 

Should I bring a cellphone with me?

Cellphone service is growing in many, but not all, parts of the country. About 90 percent of Volunteers in 

Tanzania now have cellphones, and the number is growing. Not all Volunteers have network coverage at 

their sites, but use the phones when they get to a location with coverage. Differences in technology make 

most U.S. cellphones incompatible with local service, so only phones purchased in Tanzania are likely to 

work. Cellphones are readily available in Tanzania.

Will there be email and Internet access? Should I bring my computer?

Email and Internet services are available for reasonable fees at cybercafés in all large towns and a 

growing number of smaller towns. Volunteers also have access to email at the Peace Corps office in Dar 

es Salaam. Many Volunteers set up a free email account (e.g., Hotmail or Yahoo) that allows them to 

retrieve and send email from any computer with Internet access. However, many sites are not near large 

towns, so you may not be able to communicate regularly by email after training.

Deciding whether to bring a computer is difficult, with some Volunteers arguing for and others against 

bringing a laptop. There may not be a functioning computer or printer at your school. Many sites, and 

certainly all Agriculture Volunteer sites, are in rural areas with no, limited, or sporadic electricity. If you 
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39

decide to bring a computer, you should insure it and expect humidity, fluctuating current, and limited 

resources for repairs and replacement parts.
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40

WELCOME LETTERS FROM TANZANIA VOLUNTEERS

Getting Started: Training

Most trainees arrive at training vaguely aware of how much they have to learn: a new language, how to fit 

into a new culture, how to stay healthy on a continent of new and different microbes, and how to 

accomplish their primary assignments effectively. Ten weeks is shorter than a college semester, and even 

with nine-hour days, there is a lot to cover. Prepare to be pulled in about six directions at a time until you 

are sworn in as a Volunteer. Training is a chance to become competent in a lot of different areas, to get 

your feet wet in a safe and supportive learning environment, and to meet people who are frighteningly 

similar to you and all the more likable for it. Few Volunteers would say training was their favorite part of 

the Peace Corps, but I think everyone realizes how impossible the rest of their job would have been 

without it.

— Peace Corps Volunteer

I’d like to offer you the opportunity to juxtapose your mental states for a while. On the one hand, be 

prepared to experience new things and new ideas that are beyond what you ever would have expected in 

“Africa.” On the other hand, know that it is all about people and those people, no matter where you are, 

are still full of the same creative energy, dreams, and longings. It will all be new to you, and nothing at all 

will be new. What matters is that you are ready for this paradox, which isn’t really a paradox, by coming 

to Tanzania with open minds and open hearts. It may hurt a bit at first, but it will change you and shape 

you forever.

— Peace Corps Volunteer

Working in Tanzania

Your work here in Tanzania will prove to be some of the most challenging and frustrating—but at the 

same time some of the most beneficial and rewarding—work you may ever do in your life. The village 

working environment is very different from working environments in the Western world. Here, people are 

working to live: That is to say, they are working to produce the food they and their families need to 

survive. And this commitment to survival plays an important role in making decisions and getting 

involved in various projects.

Karibu Tanzania! Let us introduce ourselves: We are the Volunteer Advisory Committee for Peace 

Corps/Tanzania, made up of Volunteers from different regions in Tanzania. We work with the office in 

Dar es Salaam and also with Volunteers to make Volunteer life as smooth and as rewarding as possible. 

It’s in that regard that we would like to offer a friendly reminder: Clothing counts! 

How does it count? It is the first and last thing Tanzanians will consider when formulating their opinions 

about you. And since you’ll be working with them for two (or more) years, you will want that opinion to 

be positive from the beginning. It may seem a trivial thing, but it will earn you credibility points galore in 

your village or town. You may have already read the clothing packing list, but we want to reiterate to you 

that proper attire is necessary for success in the field. 
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Good luck and we look forward to meeting you!

— Volunteer Advisory Committee

Daily Life

So after months and possibly years of medical examinations and background checks, you’ve finally 

received your invitation to join us in Tanzania. Congratulations! You don’t know this now, but by sheer 

luck you’ve pulled the best location in Africa and arguably the world. Tanzania offers so many things to 

Peace Corps Volunteers. From the outset you will find the people of East Africa to be engaging and the 

lifestyle to be laidback and peaceful. Tanzania exemplifies the melting pot of East African culture. With 

so many tribes, customs, cultures, traditions, and local languages, you’re apt to feel overwhelmed by the 

amount of rich history located here. Don’t be! 

Time here operates six hours behind schedule, literally. Your adjustment process will be entirely up to 

you and your willingness to embrace the culture. The Peace Corps is a funny thing. The challenges and 

obstacles you’re preparing for right now will not be the ones with which you struggle. Right now you’re 

probably worried about packing, fitting in, learning the language, and so on. You will find that these 

problems dwarf rather quickly in comparison. The real challenges will be whether you eat beans and rice 

or rice and beans. Whether the customs agent will charge you your entire living allowance to get that 

package your mom sent you, even though you live in the desert. Whether you’ll be able to fight your way 

out of the mosquito net in time to get to the bathroom, conveniently located one-half kilometer from your 

house. These are the real issues, and no amount of contemplation and research will prepare you for the 

type of decisions you will need to make. That’s exciting. 

Do yourself a favor. Relax. Sit back these next few months and spend time with your family, friends, and 

loved ones. Your new family is here. We are waiting for you and preparing every day for your arrival. 

You will be taken care of. This can be a very exciting time in your life. Take the initiative to make it that 

way.

— Joe Dupelle

Greetings Peace Corps Trainees! 

Karibu! Welcome to Tanzania, the jewel of Africa, home of Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro, 14 national 

parks, extremely friendly people, and your new home! I hope all your paperwork and red tape experiences 

are behind you. Now your real adventure is about to begin. You’ve made it this far and only have a little 

further to go. 

I am an Agricultural Volunteer doing community-based natural resource management. I live in the 

southern highlands of Tanzania, a short 10- to 11-hour bus ride from the amazing city of Dar es Salaam. 

My village is in the Njombe district, Iringa region. I live on a two-acre plot of land, my farm, about 75 

meters from the local primary school. Life in the village is great and humbling to say the least. 

As an Agriculture Volunteer, I have a broad range of areas in which to help the local villagers. Currently, 

I am extending a water pipe 2.5 km to a sub-village that will provide more than 360 people with fresh 

running water. I work with another Volunteer on health issues in the village, mainly pertaining to 

maternal and paternal health care. I’ve taught about making food for weaning babies, sanitation issues, pit 
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latrine construction, and nutritional needs for pregnant women. I have worked with primary school 

students planting banana trees, helped women’s groups start income-generating activities, brought 

villagers to an agriculture festival to learn new agriculture and livestock skills, introduced improved 

sunflower and maize seeds, and taught contouring techniques to reduce soil erosion. As I’m doing all this, 

I’m hopefully creating a positive, long-lasting image of Americans. 

I feel very fortunate to live and work here. It has far exceeded my expectations on all levels. The highs are 

higher than I’ve ever been and the same goes with the lows. Life here doesn’t occur without difficulties, 

as you are away from everything you know and living in a developing country. Fortunately you are not 

alone. Fellow Volunteers will be there to support you, along with the amazing Peace Corps/Tanzania 

staff. 

As you are saying goodbye to all your loved ones, know that you are about to begin two of the most 

unforgettable years of your life. I awake every day in awe of the life I am leading. I’ve made friends I’ll 

never lose touch with; had experiences no book, television show, or lecture could teach; and touched 

more lives than I ever expected. I hope your plane trip over will be memorable. Don’t forget to buy your 

favorite magazine(s) while at the Amsterdam airport; it’s the last one you’ll be seeing for a while. I look

forward to meeting you and good luck in training. 

Cheers and peace, 

— Scott J. Pietka

Welcome to Tanzania! I am a second-year information technology Volunteer on the western shore of 

Lake Victoria. You should feel quite lucky to have been placed in Tanzania. The Peace Corps community 

is large, supportive, and energetic, and your host families and host communities will likely make you 

uncomfortable with their energy and enthusiasm to receive you. This country is a beautiful place to live, 

but you’ll have to discover that for yourselves.

For most of my service, I have been at a secondary school, where I teach computer studies to 10 classes in 

both A and O levels and about anyone else who is interested as well. I also maintain our computer 

laboratory of about 20 machines and help a few other area schools and organizations maintain their 

laboratories. The best part about life here, however, is interacting with students on a day-to-day basis. 

They continue to challenge me, entertain me, encourage me, and surprise me with something new every 

day. Some of the best moments have been laying around the grass outside when electricity is cut, talking 

about how to date someone in Tanzania versus America, exploring the world via pictures and videos on 

our encyclopedia CD-ROM, or just giving them a Nalgene bottle and an ultimatum to break it. (Everyone 

should try that last one!)

You should know that Tanzanians laugh a lot: at you, at themselves, at everything. You might get 

embarrassed having people laugh at you constantly as you learn a new language and culture, but after two 

years I can honestly say they are laughing with you and more out of happiness and surprise that you’re 

speaking their language than out of any mistake you have made. In fact, if you really want to hear people 

burst out with laughter, greet them in their tribal language! Grow accustomed to the culture of laughing 

and you’ll have a wonderful two years (or more!).

I remember one thing my host family always said to me was, “Kuwa huru (be free).” This could not be 

better advice: the happiest Volunteers are those who have learned the new culture and language and yet 

remained true to themselves. Furthermore, I would add, “Kuwa wazi (be open).” If you can manage to be 
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43

open and free with the Tanzanians you meet, you’ll adjust quickly, make many friends, learn more than 

you can imagine about Africa and yourself, and have a wonderful experience here. 

I have been surprised again and again how accepting and friendly my communities have been. I’m a little 

jealous that you’re just starting your service as I am finishing mine, but nonetheless, Karibuni sana!

Laugh, be open, and be free. 

— Joseph Holler

Dear Invitees,

It wasn’t so long ago I was in your shoes—filled with a thousand emotions and questions about my 

upcoming Tanzanian Peace Corps experience. It seems as though I just blinked and now here I am, one 

year into service, another year to go. So you may be asking yourself, “What am I in for?” The truth is, no 

one really knows, because every Volunteer’s experience is unique, but I will try to paint my picture to at 

least give you an idea ...

I feel so fortunate to have been assigned to TZ. As you will soon see, it is an amazing country. In many 

ways, it is the epitome of Africa. When people think of Africa, what comes to mind? Perhaps herds of 

wild, exotic animals migrating across the Serengeti? Or Mount Kilimanjaro towering over quiet little 

villages filled with mud huts? Or maybe white, sandy beaches smoothed by a bright turquoise sea? TZ has 

got it all! Three things TZ has in abundance are a variety of landscapes, hospitality, and peace. The latter 

is of particular importance since that may not be one of the things that come to mind when thinking of 

Africa. But TZ, thankfully, is a peaceful country. 

As a community health educator, my main goal is to provide HIV/AIDS education to community 

members. This means I have the freedom to work with students and teachers, health workers, government 

employees, out-of-school youth groups, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) support groups, 

community theater/arts groups, or any other groups of people who are interested and in need of education. 

I am stationed in the community development office at the district government level where I receive 

guidance on which community groups should be reached and in which way (seminars, literature, theater 

performances, etc.) in a town in south central Tanzania. 

The house I live in has three small bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and pantry, a shower room, and a 

toilet room (Western toilet, not a pit latrine, but be prepared to become well-acquainted with the pit 

latrine, as they are common. No worries, though. They’re not as scary as you think). My house has 

electricity and indoor plumbing, although the water pressure is only strong enough to pump water for just 

a few hours every morning. So I take that time to fill several large buckets that I use as my water source 

throughout the day. Cooking is done over a charcoal or kerosene stove. I was lucky enough to inherit a 

small refrigerator from a former Volunteer. Overall, life is more comfortable than I expected it to be. You 

quickly form routines and get used to your new surroundings. Believe it or not, you may actually grow to 

prefer your slightly warmed bucket-bath over the cold shower some day! 

I truly enjoy being a Peace Corps Volunteer. Most days I welcome the unpredictable challenges and 

everyday absurdities (like the 30 people crammed into a 10-seat daladala [mini bus] or the live chickens 

strutting around in the office). But there are, of course, days when I long to go home and feel “normal” 

again. But then again, what fun is that? So I get through those moments by visiting or text messaging 
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other Volunteers or talking to family at home on my cellphone. (That’s right; cellphones are an affordable 

and reliable means of communication here in TZ!)

The only advice I can offer is this: Hold on to your sense of humor with both hands. Laugh and smile 

often; it will take you far. Don’t let annoyances or failures get you down or make you forget why you 

decided to do this in the first place. Keep in mind you are growing in more ways than you can imagine, 

and growing sometimes hurts while you’re in the middle of it. But in the end, it’ll be so worth it. 

So take a quick look at those shoes you’re wearing; the ones that I once stood in, because they’re about to 

change. Not just from the layer of red dust they’re sure to accumulate within a week of your arrival, but 

soon they’re going to travel to places few people in this world have ever heard of and they are going to 

experience adventures few people are brave enough to try. Congratulations on your TZ assignment and 

welcome to the Peace Corps family! 

Karibuni sana,

— Katie Reilly

Some people see the glass as half full or half empty. A Peace Corps/Tanzania Volunteer looks at the glass 

and says, “Gee, I can take a bath in that.”

— Peace Corps Volunteer

There comes a time when you realize that resources are not essential and that culture must be embraced 

and not judged. Then you begin to work on the important issues that you can really do something about 

and that mean the most to you. It is so easy to fall back on the headaches, but I’m here to share ideas, not 

to change culture or people. I am here to give tools so others can change their own outlook. And with that 

always in the back of my mind, I have found I can continually stay positive, hopeful, and energetic.

— Bill Lamonte
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PACKING LIST

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Tanzania and is based on their experience. Use it as 

an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each experience is individual. There is no 

perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on the list, so consider those items that make the most 

sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide 

what to bring, keep in mind that you have a 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can 

get almost everything you need in Tanzania.

General Clothing

For Women 

• Three to five cotton or polyester dresses or skirts (below the knee or longer)

• Two or three blouses or dressy shirts (no bare shoulders) 

• One extra-nice dress for official functions (no bare shoulders, below the knees) 

• Socks* (White gets dirty quickly and cotton does not dry well. Tanzanian women generally do 

not wear pantyhose.) 

• Two-year supply of underwear, bras, and slips 

• One pair of lightweight, quick-drying ankle pants for travel, bike riding, and exercising 

• Five or six short-sleeved T-shirts 

For Men 

• Three to five cotton or synthetic, dark-colored dress or casual pants 

• Six or seven button-down shirts (mix of short and long sleeved) 

• Two-year supply of underwear and socks* 

• Three short-sleeved T-shirts 

• Two pairs of lightweight, quick-drying pants for travel, bike riding, and exercising

• One jacket and tie for official functions (you will use these)

• One or two pairs of shorts 

Note: Many common clothes items can be bought cheaply in-country. Pants, T-shirts, and some shoes can 

be found in all large banking towns. You will need a few articles of clothing for the first few months of 

training before you go to your banking town.

Shoes

• One pair of nice but comfortable shoes (to wear with professional clothes) 

• Durable walking shoes or hiking boots*

• Sandals, e.g., Teva or Chacos brand. Strongly recommended (a must for Agriculture Volunteers;

inquire on websites about Peace Corps Volunteer discounts)

• One pair of sneakers or running shoes 

• Closed-toe shoes or dressy sandals 

*Hiking boots are only necessary if you’re going to do a lot of mountain climbing. Even then, fairly highquality used boots are available in-country. Your best bet may be to buy a decent pair of tennis shoes,

which will be more than adequate 99 percent of the time. Also, flip-flops are available in abundance!

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items 

Most toiletries are readily available in Tanzania, but you may not find your favorite brand. Deodorant is 

in limited supply in Tanzania. Hairbrushes or toothbrushes are available in shops at different quality and 

certain items will be comparatively expensive. Women should bring tampons or a Diva Cup.
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Entertainment

Volunteers often have downtime, so bringing some of the items suggested below can make a difference. 

But remember that most rural areas do not have electricity. Consider bringing a good supply of batteries, 

especially solar-powered batteries or rechargeable batteries and a charger. Please note that in Tanzania the 

electrical current is 220V. 

• IPod

• Kindle or e-reader

• Shortwave radio 

• Digital camera 

• Binoculars 

• Musical instruments (plus extra strings, reeds, etc.) 

• Sport, hobby, and art equipment and supplies 

• Games (e.g., cards, dice, Hacky Sack, yo-yos, Frisbee, juggling balls, dominoes) 

• Camping gear (tent, backpack, sleeping pad, etc.), if you are interested in camping 

• Books 

• How-to books (for working with kids)

Kitchen

Most household items are readily available. If you like to cook, consider bringing some of the following 

items, or mail them to yourself. 

• Plastic zip-top storage bags of various sizes (a must to keep out unwanted crawling critters)

• Good kitchen knife

• Mexican or your favorite, unique spices (most other spices are available, especially Italian and 

Indian spices) 

• Various powdered mixes (e.g., soft-drink mixes, salad dressings, soups, and sauce packets) 

• Vegetable peeler

Miscellaneous

• A small current converter (if you bring small appliances such as a shaver, etc.) 

• English dictionary and/or thesaurus 

• Multi-purpose knife (e.g., Swiss Army, Leatherman, or Gerber; a must for Agriculture 

Volunteers) 

• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries (AAA batteries are hard to come by)

• Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries 

• Small amount of seeds to plant, especially herbs for the garden 

• Combination padlocks of various sizes (good key locks can be found in-country) 

• Sewing kit 

• Photos of your home and family (your neighbors will love them) 

• Sturdy water bottle (e.g., Nalgene) 

• Money belt (critical for traveling on public transport) 

• Travel alarm clock 

• Duct or packing tape 

• Day pack

• Handheld UV water sterilizer (good for traveling, make sure you have quality batteries) 

• Journal or diary 

• Fly swatter (they can be irritating)

• Portable hard drive (USB stick or larger)
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PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider as you prepare to live outside the United 

States for two years. Not all items are relevant to everyone, and the list is not comprehensive.

Family

• Notify family that they can call the Counseling and Outreach Unit at any time if there is a critical 

illness or death of a family member (24-hour phone number: 855.855.1961 ext. 1470).

• Give family and friends the Peace Corps On the Home Front handbook.

Passport/Travel

• Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork for the Peace Corps passport and visas.

• Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight limits for international travel.

• Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after your service ends. (Your Peace Corps 

passport will expire three months after you finish service; if you plan to travel longer, you will 

need a regular passport.)

Medical/Health

• Complete any needed dental and medical work.

• If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.

• Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all medications (including birth control pills) you are 

currently taking.

Insurance

• Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage.

• Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage while you are away. (Even though the Peace 

Corps is responsible for your health care during Peace Corps service abroad, it is advisable for 

people who have pre-existing conditions to arrange for the continuation of their supplemental 

health coverage. If there is a lapse in coverage, it is often difficult and expensive to be reinstated.)

• Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable.

Personal Papers

• Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.

Voting

• Register to vote in the state of your home of record. (Many state universities consider voting and 

payment of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)

• Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you overseas.

• Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you overseas. 

Personal Effects

• Purchase personal property insurance to extend from the time you leave your home for service 

overseas until the time you complete your service and return to the United States.

Financial Management

• Keep a bank account in your name in the United States. 

• Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or loan service. (Information about loan 

deferment is online here: peacecorps.gov/volunteer/learn/whyvol/loans/. Answers to frequently 

asked loan deferment questions are here: peacecorps.gov/volunteer/learn/whyvol/loans/faq/.
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• Execute a power of attorney for the management of your property and business.

Arrange for deductions from your readjustment allowance to pay alimony, child support, and 

other debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial Operations at 855.855.1961 ext. 1770.

Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks, and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with 

an attorney or other caretaker.
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CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate office at Peace Corps headquarters to 

answer various questions. You can use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly using the local 

numbers provided. Be sure to leave the toll-free number and extensions with your family so they can 

contact you in the event of an emergency.

Peace Corps headquarters toll-free number: 855.855.1961, press 1, then extension number (see below)

Peace Corps mailing address: Peace Corps

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters

1111 20th Street NW

Washington, DC 20526

For Questions About Staff Toll-free extension Direct/Local

Responding to an invitation Office of Placement ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Country information Cara Eandi ext. 1822 202.692.1822

Desk Officer ceandi@peacecorps.gov

Plane tickets, passports, visas, or other travel matters

CWTSatoTravel ext. 1170 202.692.1170

Legal clearance: Office of Placement ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Medical clearance and forms processing (includes dental)

Screening Nurse ext. 1500 202.692.1500

Medical reimbursements (handled by a subcontractor) 800.818.8772

Loan deferments, taxes, financial operations ext. 1770 202.692.1770

Readjustment allowance withdrawals, power of attorney, staging (pre-departure orientation), and 

reporting instructions

Office of Staging ext. 1865 202.692.1865

Note: You will receive comprehensive information (hotel and flight arrangements) three to five weeks 

prior to departure. This information is not available sooner. 

Family emergencies (to get information to a Volunteer overseas) 24 hours

Counseling and Outreach Unit ext. 1470 202.692.1470

Office of Victim Advocacy ext. 1753 202.692.1753

24 hours (call or text) 202.409.2704