Pamoja. EDSA Tanzania Volunteer Work Programme. East Africa

East Africa

Serengeti National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro

Tanzania, 2014
A population of 46 million
22 % live in cities
36% below poverty line
45% under 15 years old

MUHAS
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)
School of Dentistry in Dar es Salaam
Only dental school in Tanzania
30 dental students graduate each year

Project History
Collaboration between EDSA, the Tanzanian Dental Students’ Association (TDSA) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)
Supported by Dr Juha Ruotoistenmaki and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland
Idea discussed at ADEE Birmingham August 2013
2 years planning, including 2 visits to Tanzania
August 2015: Hugely successful project distributing over 2800 toothbrushes and toothpaste. Over 650 children provided with treatment.

Project Aims
Set up dental outreach camps:
Educate school children in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro about oral health
Reinforce the WHO’s Fit for School’s initiative set up by the Finnish dental team in the Morogoro schools
Provide children with a supply of toothbrushes and toothpaste
Screen school children for oral diseases and provide treatment if required

Project Location
Dar es Salaam
Largest city in Tanzania
Located on the south east coast
Morogoro
200km west of Dar es Salaam
Located in the southern highlands

Project Schedule
2 busy working weeks (Monday-Friday)
First week in a school in Dar es Salaam
Second week in a school in Morogoro

Click for more photos on Facebook
August 2015

Cultural and Societal Awareness
Basic living conditions
Mosquitos
Dress modestly – it is predominantly a Muslim country (Muslims 35 %, Christians 30 %, Other 35 %)
Basic food
Long days - 8 hour working days
Hard work

Finances
Fundraising target = 20,000 EUR
Participants fund their own vaccinations, visa and flights to and from Dar es Salaam
Transport, food and accommodation will be provided by the project whilst in Tanzania.
Achieving 20,000 EUR fundraising target:
Each delegate must make an effort to fundraise - we need your help to make the project possible
The school which fundraises the most money before applications close will have a guaranteed position on the project!

When
The project will take place over 2 weeks in early August 2016
30+ volunteers in total:
15 EDSA students
15 TDSA students
4 supervising dental clinicians

Application Requirements
Only students with at least 2 years of clinical experience at the time of the project (August 2016) are eligible.
Documents required:-
*Letter of Recommendation from faculty
* Curriculum Vitae
*One page statement of intent
Closing date: Monday 7th December 2015