The jobs

When you come out to Tanzania there are a variety of jobs that you may get involved in. The most important thing to remember is that we are not using volunteers to replace local labour, you will be working along side the local builders. We would not be much of a poverty alleviation charity if we didn’t offer local people employment!!

Building a building

Foundations.

Preparing the foundations will involve digging a trench the length of the building thatwill be approximately 2-3 foot deep using a hoe. This will require good upper bodystrength and strong shoes and gloves. Once the trench is made it needs to be filled with large boulders and a mixture of cement and small stone. This will require manual handling training and good fitness. Mixing cement will involved spade work and requires good back strength and  face mask. Water will need to be carried to the site. Iron rods are also placed in the foundations to provide additional strength. Subject to the ground level the foundations will stand at least 18 inches above the ground. Once complete the foundations need time to dry before the walls can be built on it.

Building a wall.

The bricks need to be moved from where they are to the wall. To move the bricks we will form a line and pass them along or throw them along gently. The bricks will them be stacked close to where the walls will be built. This needs a good hand eye coordination and a strong lower back. Making the mortar (Topaye) requires spade work, a strong back and some lifting. Topaye is made from earth and water which is mixed to the right consistency and then used as mortar between the bricks. The bricks are to be laid out in a set pattern to ensure strength and must be level. We are not permitted to work above head height.

The roof.

All the roofs are A-frame in design, the frame made from wood with the roofing made from corrugated iron sheets. This will require hammer work, sawing and some carrying. The wood will then be treated with termite proof paint. Gloves are advisable. We will not be involved in the erection, securing and completion of the roof.

Sand blasting

The external walls that are not front facing are sand blasted. Sand, cement and red paint are mixed together and using a special tool, flicked onto the walls. This requires strong arms and a strong back. This is also potentially dirty work.

Plastering and liming the walls.

Once the walls are dried we will start to plaster it. The plaster mix requires spade use and it is applied by flicking it against the wall with a trowel and then smoothing it off. This requires strong wrists. Once the plaster is dry it can be covered in lime to provide a smooth surface. This is applied by liberally “sploshing” the lime against the wall in a scientific fashion. This can be dirty work.

Painting.

Before the window and door frames are painted they must be cleaned and then sanded smooth. The frames and doors require 2 coats from both sides. This requires a 1 and 5 inch brush.The walls are painted using rollers and 5 inch paint brushes. From floor to under the windows will be painted in a dark colour and above will be painted white. The blackboards are painted last with black board paint.

Notice boards.

A wooden column will be attached to the ceiling beams where they join the sidewalls. The wood will descend to above the windows. A beam will them be attached to the column running the length of the room. This will be painted white. On to this beam between the windows will be attached some plywood which will be painted with blackboard paint. These will be used as notice boards and back up blackboards.

Working on the farm

Fish pond.

A 20 ft square and 3 ft deep pit needs to be dug. This will involve hoe and spade work together with lifting. Once the pit is prepared it needs to be lined with bricks. The bricks will be transferred by line and then placed in the right position. This will require good eye to hand coordination and a strong lower back. Once the bricks are laid and the gaps filled in, the bricks need to be soaked.While this happens cement needs to be made. Transferring the bags of cement requires good fitness and manual handling training. Mixing the cement uses a spade and requires good lower back strength. The cement is then applied to the bricks until the base and walls are completed. Two drainage pipes will have been inserted and the lower one blocked off. Once the cement has been set, then a layer of manure is placed on the floor and the water can be piped into the pond. After a few days the fish can be added.

Working with animals.

Each animal pen needs to be cleaned out daily and the manure transferred to the compost. This requires the use of a spade and a bucket. The animals must be fed and watered daily. It may be that the cows and goats need milking; this will need to be done daily and will require warm hands, a stool and a bucket. The eggs from the chickens and ducks need to be collected daily. All produce must be recorded in the log to ensure transparency.

The land

Depending on the season there might be a need to either terrace, plough, plant, nurture, irrigate or harvest the land. Whatever the season, there is always something that needs to done on our 5 acres of farm land. With the community being subsistence farmers our farm is designed to be a demonstration plot and so we need to test out ideas and prove to the community that they work before they consider adopting them. Digging irrigation channels or mini water pans might be one of theideas we trail while you are with us.

Interacting with Children

Primary School.

Unless you have a teaching qualification you will not be asked to teach any children. However you will be asked to hold English conversation classes with them. The aim is to encourage them to practice their English and for you to correct any grammar or pronunciation errors. You may want to think about this and bring along some word cards. It is best to talk about things they know about or will use daily. Try and make these sessions fun.

Kindergarten.

You will be given an opportunity to interact with the kindergarten children. Helping them with their English and basic maths is a great way to get themto learn. Feel free to bring learning cards or a pack of cards and play families with them. All ideas welcome

Sports.

You are always welcome to join in games with the students be it football, netball, Frisbee, catch, hopscotch or other games you know. Please feel free to bring a ball or Frisbee with you. If we have time we might even organise a sports day.

Working at the Residential Agricultural Training Centre.

This is a new project that we are starting  in 2011. We need to build a fence around the land, identify the plots for houses, farming, water, restaurants, and toilets and start the process of building.

Living on site

Chores.

Working with a buddy you will be asked to do household chores on a rota basis. This will involve shopping for and making all the meals and washing up, keeping the living areas clean including the toilets, collecting the mid morning snacks and doing odd jobs like keeping the water bucket filled.

Swahili lessons.

Each day we will hold a Swahili lesson. We will learn some basic greetings, the names of the fruit and vegetables, useful building terms, colours and numbers. There is no exam so this is just for fun.

Time out.

Saturday afternoons and Sundays will be times when there is no work. This is your free time, although chores still apply. During this time you are free to go to town, walk in the community or do group activities. Please ensure that you always gowith someone else and you let the team leader know where you are going.