About Us

"Volunteering is not only a process of giving"

It is rather a process of exchange. We have much to learn from the communities that we aim to support.
One of my personal aims for International Volunteers is to empower women and young girls with the access to education because that is a primary tool for empowerment.

It is an honor to be a part of International Volunteers team to help facilitate compassion towards fellow human beings and to encourage intercultural experiences. Growing up in a multi-cultural background I learned to respect and value the complexity of human diversity. There is much to be appreciated and celebrated about the intercultural learning process. I believe that volunteering abroad will significantly help to develop emotional intelligence as well as integral soft skills needed to bring our societies forward.

Aysha’s is an architect and is currently a PhD candidate and lecturer at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany at the faculty of Cultural Geography.

“I strive to get out of my comfort zone.”

Mohamed has been volunteering abroad since 2012. When he volunteers abroad, his helping communities – a community of global citizens and fellow humans. He has become a more open-minded citizen with an international perspective in the process.

His experiences as an international volunteer has had a profound impact on him. It has changed the way he viewed travel, global issues, and even his own future. It has given him a purpose to encourage and give opportunities to the Omani people to volunteer abroad through International Volunteers. “To experience a better understanding of how we are each capable of making a difference, and how our lives become richer when we work together and empower each other towards positive change and global impact.”

These experiences inspired him to found International Volunteers so that the Omani people and others could have the opportunity to contribute to global development and to expand their horizons at the same time.

“A leader in experiential cross-cultural learning.”

Edward has been involved in volunteering work for over 15 years. He manages and develops all our programs and projects in Tanzania and Zanzibar as well as organizes all field trips, tours and makes our volunteers feel at home.

He is passionate about volunteer work and enjoys working at International Volunteers because of the programs and projects, contact with volunteers and the chance to meet new people from other cultures. He is passionate about making long lasting friendships around the world. He is a wildlife lover, an avid traveller and a sports fanatic (his favourite football team is Manchester United). He has a huge respect for nature and strongly believes in taking care of the planet by being environmentally friendly and using sustainable products.

He is also the director and cofounder of the Busungu Community Center in Madale, Tanzania.

“I hope that the moments I share here speak to you.”

Ash has been taking pictures most of his life. He started taking pictures when he was in school after his father brought a small camera from his electronics shop. He sold all sorts of small electronic appliances including cameras and he brought one home for the family. It was a treasure, almost a piece of art itself. No one touched it.

Volunteering, coupled with his passion for photography, made it possible to accumulate an extensive gallery of work from around the world. Ash has been fortunate to have several selections of his work recognized in prints and competitions. In June 2018, Ash was awarded second prize in the UNESCO African World Heritage Day Photo Contest.

Friends and family have encouraged him to do something more with his photography skills. ASH GALLERY is that endeavor. His goal has always been to capture moments that inspire everyone so that he can share them with others. Ash is predominantly drawn to images of beautiful landscapes, glorious sunrises and sunsets, impressive cities, architecture and volunteering work, and awe-inspiring plants and animals.

“We all have dreams, so why not dream together.”

At its core, the heart of volunteering lies in a foundation built upon commitment at the grassroots level, where we play an active role in the communities we wish to contribute to.

By sharing our time and our abilities, we are able to imprint positive change, returning home reinvigorated and refreshed to meet our own respective challenges. Most of all, volunteering opens us up to a changing of perspective where personal gain is not the end goal, whereby the process is what defines the experience. And what a process it is: one consisting of an interlacing of narratives, cultures, and aims that together form the finished product. For we all have dreams, so why not dream together.

“Be open-minded and respectful – you still have so much to learn from others.”

I believe we are all here to do something, to make some sort of change. What motivates us is different, but we are all here to make something with our lives. What we choose to do is up to us and depends on the chances we are given. I was fortunate to have been born in a place where I was able to dream big, get an education and to save enough money to go abroad and I want to use that opportunity. Nothing gives you more insight than leaving home – it is not until you go out that you can look back and see what you are coming from.

When you are away from home, you are constantly experiencing things that are different than what you are used to. Situations and actions that you might find strange or even incomprehensible. These situations can be confusing or sometimes uncomfortable, but I believe that they are the greatest opportunity for you to learn something new and broaden your own perspective on life. You simply have to bear in mind that everyone is acting in exactly the way that makes sense to them. Instead of judging people, try to be curious and humble and find out in what way that is a meaningful solution for them.

I believe that cultural differences enrich rather than limits us. Be open-minded and respectful - you still have so much to learn from others.

“It was a huge culture shock in the most beautiful way!”

As this was my first volunteering experience in Africa, I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I can say with 100% confidence that there is little that could have made my 2 months in Zanzibar more memorable.

Firstly, the whole family do an exceptional job at welcoming you and getting you to experience the local culture. They emphasize your initial need for rest after your flight/travel, and then make sure your initiation into Zanzibar is smooth. You get a full background on the organization whilst also being emerged into the Tanzanian way of living. Within the first week you get to see everything there is to see on the island, which for me was very eye-opening and one of my favorite parts of the visit (it was a huge culture shock in the most beautiful way!).

Secondly, the work that this organization does is truly inspiring. They are comprised of hard-working and unique individuals, and the work is directly focused on the local community. I was surprised by how hands on the efforts are and how immediate the effect to the community is. Edward and the team always bring value to the work every part of their organization does, and they make sure the volunteers know that whatever they choose to do, it will benefit the organization and people in its own way.

The first day, I met the children, they automatically greeted me with open arms and were so happy to see me. I could not believe that these wonderful children could be so sweet towards someone they have never met before! I spent some time teaching them some more English words/expressions and some Swahili words here and there. I taught them new games and made sure they were productive for the day. The children were very open on learning new things, I did not have any issues with any of them. They were amazing, sweet and adorable. For kids, that don’t have much, they always managed to keep a smile on their faces & a positive attitude.

A big thank you for this experience and I really hope to come back and meet you all again!

“The people I work with remind me how to be happy.”

Topher has been volunteering abroad since 2011. With his diverse background of scientific study and artistic interests, he values the importance of environmental sustainability and cultural sustainability in building communities.

As a science and mathematics teacher, he values the importance of quality public education that is available to all. Topher assembles mathematics contests to measure student achievement, and he trains math teachers in Zanzibar, with plans for the program to expand elsewhere in Tanzania.

“With each international trip I take, I find more personally meaningful ways to help others and support communities. Each time I go, I try to invest myself in the community, and the community gives me lessons in return. Not only do we have a duty to help others when we are fortunate enough, but we owe it to ourselves to learn from the cultures we visit.”

“A safe and supportive early learning environment for children.”

Mohammed, better known as Edi, was born and raised on the beautiful island of Zanzibar. He is a jack of all trades. In the daytime you'll find him managing volunteer projects at 'International Volunteers', leading tourist groups to the most famous historical sites or educating primary and high school students on the native flora and fauna. In the nighttime, you'll find him playing on the national Zanzibar soccer team, doing Capoeira on the beach or studying for his engineering degree. Above all, Edi's greatest passion is education.

With over ten years’ experience in education, Edi's dream is to revolutionize the school system in Zanzibar. He sees the damaging effects of the current system that involves archaic methods such as physical punishment to discipline students. He wants to provide a safe and supportive early learning environment for children to better prepare them for primary school and in turn, success later on.

Edi wishes to set an example for how all schools in Zanzibar should operate.