Kisiwa Art
Farm eV
our story —
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AT THE KISIWA ART FARM
Volunteering during your gap year, an internship abroad, or a social year?
– Become a volunteer at the Kisiwa Art Farm and part of the BWECODEO team!
WHAT WILL YOUR STAY AT THE KISIWA ART FARM LOOK LIKE?
Your areas of responsibility & tasks:
Active participation in the projects is especially important to us. This means there are no limits to your own creative ideas, which you will gather and implement together with the project manager, Lara.
Your area of responsibility can, of course, vary depending on your strengths and interests, as well as our needs.
In our Art & Adventure Childcare and Happy Hearts Nursery School, you’ll complement our team of educators by supporting them in their daily routines and serving as an important figure for the children. Your responsibilities will include helping with changing clothes, tidying up, and washing, as well as comforting, dancing, singing, and playing. You can implement your own ideas through recycling, crafting, and sports projects, which are part of our daily program.
One of your tasks at the Sewing School will involve teaching English, where you’ll impart basic skills and essential knowledge to the participants, preparing them for their future careers. You’ll also help design and conduct empowerment training to help these young people lead self-determined lives and build greater self-confidence. Sewing skills are not a requirement for this project; you’re welcome to learn from the students.
During your stay, you’ll also gain insights into our menstruation project, My Days My Choice. Here, you’ll support Lara and midwife Johanna in running the workshop and gain valuable insights yourself. Afterward, reflect on the project and develop it further with us.
For cultural reasons, participation is only open to women.
In the Bibi Sabuni project, you’ll learn about the soap-making process: from harvesting seaweed on the seaweed farm to mixing and cutting the soap. Ultimately, you’ll support the grandmothers in selling the soap at local markets, thus securing their livelihoods.
Your accommodation
During your stay, Kisiwa Art Farm is not only your workplace but also your home, which you share with locals, as well as many animals and plants. You’ll live in the volunteer house with other volunteers who may be on-site. There are two single rooms, each with its own bathroom, one triple room, a shared bathroom, and a common room. You are welcome to use the fully equipped kitchen at any time.
During the week, you can enjoy delicious Zanzibari breakfast and lunch prepared by Dada, our wonderful all-around support person. Once a week, you can also arrange for your room to be cleaned for a small additional fee.
The cost for room and board ranges from €350 to €400 per month.
For stays of up to three months, there are also visa fees of €50 and €45 for Zanzibar insurance.
What can you look forward to?
- Diverse volunteer opportunities in a wide range of projects
- Creative freedom and initiative
- Direct contact with locals and their culture
- Caring and valuable support from project manager Lara on site
Ample free time to explore the island, enjoy the sun and the sea
Was du mitbringen solltest:
- Respect and openness towards Zanzibari culture and religion
- Motivation and commitment to all projects
- English skills
- A reliable, friendly, and open-minded attitude
- Enjoyment of working with children and young people
- Flexibility and spontaneity – things often turn out differently than planned in Zanzibar 😉
- Creativity and initiative
- No fear of animals – in addition to dogs, cats, and chickens, there are also many friendly creepy-crawlies living on the farm 😉
If you are interested, please get in touch and send us your CV and a cover letter. Afterwards, we will invite you to an online interview to get to know you better and answer any questions you may have. Finally, before your volunteer placement, we will need a current police clearance certificate.
We look forward to seeing you!
Take plenty of cash from home and exchange it there, as withdrawing money from ATMs costs extra and often doesn’t work.
Be open-minded and receptive to everything and enjoy every day – time flies by! A fanny pack, headlamp, and power bank are essential! Pack loose, airy clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty! You can get very dirty, especially at the kindergarten. Out of respect for Zanzibari culture, be sure to pack some more modest clothing as well! Don’t get ripped off and don’t be afraid to haggle.
Often, items are offered at three times the price!
apply sunscreen; the midday sun can be underestimated, and you can easily get a sunburn.
FEEDBACK FROM FORMER VOLUNTEERS
Jana, 19 years old, volunteer from January to March 2024
“The two months I spent in Zanzibar were incredibly beautiful and exciting, and I will always remember them. I felt very comfortable on the farm from the very beginning, although it took a little while to get used to the new culture and the different standard of living. I am very grateful to Lara, who always helped us and had the best tips. I especially liked that we were allowed to contribute our own ideas so effectively, because that made me feel like I could really make a difference. I will never forget the children’s laughter while being silly and the women’s gratitude during the self-confidence training! And I myself learned so much. Through close contact with the locals, we were able to truly get to know and love their culture and way of life. And of course, I mustn’t forget the beautiful beaches, palm trees, sunrises, and the turquoise sea, for which there is plenty of time in the afternoons and on weekends 🙂 Over time, I “I really grew to love the farm with all the animals, Lara, and the children, and I’m sure I’ll come back one day.”
Line, 19 years old, volunteer from January to March 2024
“My time at Kisiwa Art Farm was indescribably wonderful, and it will stay with me forever. I never would have thought that the people there, especially the children, would become so dear to me. And I miss the farm with all the animals and, of course, Lara very much. I think it’s incredibly amazing how many insights we gained and, above all, how close we were to the locals. At the beginning of my trip, a lot of things were very unfamiliar and new, as it was also my first time outside of Europe. But over time, we settled in really well and enjoyed life there immensely. The time went by much too quickly, and I definitely want to come back. I’m very grateful to have been a part of this incredible project and am excited to see how everything develops in the future.”
