Volunteers

MACAO welcomes volunteers who are willing to support and give care to HIV/AIDS patients, orphans, and widows.  In our programs, international volunteers work together alongside local volunteers and visit different villages to learn some of the African lifestyle.  For the first week, all international volunteers are given instruction to acquaint them with the Swahili language.  The goal is to provide useful words and phrases that volunteers may encounter while working in some Tanzanian villages.  Some of the volunteers will also be taught how to educate the communities about HIV/AIDS.
International volunteers will have the freedom to choose any type of work they are able to do, so you never have to be concerned about doing a job you are not capable of completing.

MACAO invites international volunteers to help build orphanages and schools, painting buildings, and other activities which will contribute to the development of these communities.

Local volunteers help widows cope with raising children without a monthly income, organizing weekly home care clinics at the local hospital, assisting home-based care nurses run local community clinics, administer AIDS control programs, and distribute medication and food supplements.

The Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering with MACAO provides an unparalleled wealth of opportunities to see and explore the best of Africa’s breathtaking scenery and diverse wildlife. 

Volunteers will first come out to our headquarters in Arusha. To reach Loliondo, volunteers will travel through three national parks (Lake Manard, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti) that are home to many species of animals native to Africa.  Some of the most popular animals seen include giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and elephants in addition to the numerous birds migrating from all over the world.

They will also see the shifting sand that moves to different parts of Ngorongoro every year.

Ngorongoro is the Home of Attractions

In Ngorongoro there are several mountains, such as Oldonyo Lengai which means "The Mountain of God" in the Masaai Language.

The Oldonyo Lengai Mountain, situated near the Ngaresero village, is an active volcanic mountain and is a source of many earthquakes in the Arusha region. The Masaai believe that the Oldonyo Lengai Mountain is a god, to which they worship and pray for their daily needs, such as food and money.  This mountain can only be climbed at night because of the high temperatures reached during the day.

Volunteers can visit other attractions in Tanzania, such as Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, which attracts many people around the world.   Also, in Lake Natron, volunteers will be sure to find thousands of flamingos.

Tanzania is an incredibly beautiful country and we would like our volunteers to experience all that our country has to offer.

Project Lengths

MACAO volunteer programs are flexible to your needs. We encourage volunteers to stay for at least one month, but volunteers may serve for any length of time. Many volunteers combine their stay with tourism elsewhere in East Africa.  No matter how long you decide to volunteer, you will have a remarkable experience and you will have personally helped MACAO to realize its vision of an AIDS-free Africa.

Program Fees

Please note that airfare and expenses incurred for travels elsewhere in Arusha during free time are not included.

MACAO uses a portion of the money raised from volunteer fees to cover administrative costs, food supplies and other project costs to serve people in need. We encourage volunteers to raise funds through their community, friends, family, place of work, and local religious establishments. All volunteers who receive a letter of acceptance to the MACAO organization will be required to send a deposit of $300 to secure their stay in Arusha, Tanzania.

Apply Online

If you are ready to apply to volunteer with MACAO, please fill out the online application here.