Serengeti Pride Safaris applauds the charity projects below. There are many other worthwhile causes in Tanzania, but you can make a tax-deductible (USA) donation to these causes easily (other than Uraki school, where we'd love to set up a quick visit and have you bring school supplies to donate). The charities also accept volunteers. Why not add extra time and volunteer during your trip? Or, send a monetary donation or drop off donated supplies during your trip. We can help arrange the details for you.
Uraki Primary School, Usa River, Tanzania
Uraki Primary School is the local elementary school near the headquarters of Serengeti Pride Safaris, and near co-founder Lema Peter's home. Like all public schools in Tanzania, they suffer from insufficient government funds to maintain and expand the school facilities for a growing student base. It's really fun and rewarding to visit the school - please let us know if we can arrange this for you, it only takes a short time and often ends up being a highlight of the trip. Donations of paper, pens, pencils, and other school supplies are welcome. If you'd like to help on a larger scale, the school needs funds for ongoing classroom construction as well as other projects. Started in 1954 with one classroom, today the school has 1200 students and 40 teachers.
Cradle of Love is a very special place located in Usa River, which is the home village of Serengeti Pride Safaris Co-Founder Lema Peter. Cradle of Love accepts short and long-term volunteers, with housing available. Please consider making a monetary donation as they have a lot of medical expenses as well as staff salaries for the Tanzanian nannies who care for the babies, birth to age 2, who were orphaned or whose families cannot care for them. Some have medical problems including HIV. We can easily arrange for you to drop by Cradle of Love so you can bring much-needed donations of hand sanitizer gel, newborn disposable diapers, baby wet wipes, etc. (Baby clothes are not needed at this time).
Serengeti Pride Safaris clients giving back to Cradle of Love:
June 2009: Jessica raised $1,000 in donations from friends, family, and co-workers. Jessica and Cara volunteered at Cradle of Love after their safari and Jessica's Kilimanjaro climb. Yisel volunteered at Cradle of Love.
July 2009: Angela brought occupational therapy supplies to Cradle of Love and hopes to arrange an OT student internship opportunity there to benefit both the students and the babies.
August 2009: Mary and Stephanie volunteered at Cradle of Love after their safari.
Rift Valley Children's Village, Oldeani Village, Tanzania.
http://www.tanzanianchildrensfund.org/rift_valley.htm
The Rift Valley Children’s Village is an orphanage located in Oldeani Village, Tanzania, which is adjacent to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the Rift Valley. The Children’s Village provides a home, family and community for orphaned and vulnerable children. They prepare them to become informed, resourceful and responsible citizens in their community and Tanzania. The Children's Village accepts volunteers for three weeks or longer. Monetary donations are needed of course. We can also arrange for you to visit the Children's Village on your safari as almost every safari visits the nearby Ngorongoro Crater area. Please ask us for more details.
Global Service Corps' Tanzania Volunteer Program
http://globalservicecorps.org/site/Tanzania-service-learning-programs
Global Service Corps, a longstanding (NGO) in Tanzania, offers a unique way to experience Tanzania through two-week to six-month service learning programs that focus on HIV/AIDS Educaiton and Prevention, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, and International Health. GSC's Tanzania volunteer programs include in-depth cultural orientation and technical training, Swahili lessons, and often a homestay with a local family.
Serengeti Pride Safaris
Serengeti Pride Company, Ltd.
PO Box 764
Usa River, Arusha, Tanzania
619-316-8399 (Lema-USA Number))
508-951-1001 (Erika-USA Number)