Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Coordinator - Starting early July 2025

If you love a challenge, working with children, and are looking to make a difference, we need you!

The Tanzanian Children’s Fund (TCF) works to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of marginalized children and families in the Oldeani area of northern Tanzania. With a budget of approximately $3 million USD, our goal is to ensure that all children and families in this region have the opportunity to lead healthy, secure, and fulfilling lives. Through four programmatic areas - a children’s home (Rift Valley Children’s Village - RVCV), a health clinic, educational partnerships with local schools, and an economic opportunity program - we endeavor to provide a community of 10,000 with all the tools, systems, and opportunities they need to find a path out of generational poverty.

We are looking for an adventurous, energetic, and child focused individual with excellent interpersonal skills to oversee the volunteer program and assist with children’s activities. Understanding of Tanzanian or East African culture is important. RVCF is located in a rural village in Karatu District, adjacent to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

This full-time position will offer you the opportunity to make an important difference in the lives of the RVCV children by engaging with them daily. You will also help our volunteers have a positive impact on the Village and a meaningful experience during their stay.

The Volunteer Coordinator is a member of the senior staff and reports to the Managing Director of Programs and Operations. The duties of the Volunteer Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

Volunteer Program Management

• Pre-arrival & Recruitment:
  • Schedule and prepare volunteers for their trip through regular communication beginning with pre-arrival information through the volunteer’s departure
    • Respond to all email inquiries regarding the volunteer program
    • Screen potential volunteers to determine if they will be a good fit for the program
    • Assist with in country travel arrangements, including transport, hotels, safaris, etc. as needed for volunteers and visitors
    • Assist volunteers and foreign staff in applying for Work and Residence Permits; assisting volunteers and visitors completing online permit applications
    • Set expectations about what the experience on the ground will entail
  • Maintain a detailed volunteer calendar of arrivals, departures, housing arrangements, etc.
  • Liaise with the U.S. office on volunteer and visitor trip details
  • Collaborate with U.S. office staff and RVCF Sponsorship and Communications Coordinator to manage volunteer postings online and partnerships with volunteer placement organizations to aid in the recruitment of volunteers
• Volunteer Management:
  • Daily management of volunteers; determining, scheduling and supervising volunteer job duties; providing support, counsel and training to volunteers as needed
    • Meet and greet all volunteers along with overnight visitors as requested
    • Conduct volunteer program orientation as well as coordinate with RVCV Senior Staff to set up other department’s volunteer orientations
    • Conduct weekly group meetings with the volunteers to discuss plans, problems, and concerns
    • Schedule days off for long-term volunteers and Sundays off for all volunteers and foreign staff
  • Communicate with the Managing Director and U.S. Director on volunteer/staff relations
• Volunteer Departure and Continued Connection:
  • Connect the Volunteer Alumni representative with volunteers once they have completed their time at RVCV

Programs with RVCV Children:

• Assist in coordinating activities for RVCV kids through discussions with the Social Work team like weekend activities, holiday events, and school break planning.
• Host movie nights for the RVCV kids
• Promote appropriate norms of conduct while interacting with the RVCV kids for all volunteers and visitors
• Collaborate with the Director of Child Welfare and the Social Work team on kid-related issues reported by volunteers and visitors
• Coordinate the staffing of the RVCV Early Childhood Care and Education Program (ECCE) with volunteers in collaboration with the ECCE Head Teacher to ensure program vitality
• Oversee volunteers during classes, activities, playtimes, evening events

Resource Management

• Keep the library, ECCE center, and all materials for ECCE classes and activities stocked and organized
• Oversee and manage the inventory of toys, games, and educational items for RVCV kids and ECCE students
• Organize and maintain volunteer resources and materials in the Volunteer House
• Coordinate with the Volunteer House cook on meal planning

Qualifications:

• Candidate must be outgoing, friendly, easygoing, and patient, as well as open-minded to different experiences and cultures
• Experience or training in teaching or childhood development is strongly encouraged. A background in Social Work is helpful, but not required.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Initiative driven and ability to work independently
• Team oriented and collaborative
• Ability to thrive living in rural, but very beautiful rural setting in Africa
• Experience living abroad for six months or more is helpful but not required
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Strict minimum commitment of 1 year required; 2 year commitment preferred

Package:

• This is a paid position, with a competitive monthly stipend
• Room and board including private apartment, all meals, work internet, and housekeeping support; transport to town as needed.
• Health insurance for term of service
• One month annual leave per year of commitment
• Relocation and airfare allowance for applicable candidates